Mike Small
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bellacaledonia.bsky.social
Mike Small
@bellacaledonia.bsky.social
Imagining a Scottish Democracy since 2007.

Bylines at the Guardian, Open Democracy, Herald, DeSmog, Bella Caledonia, Sunday National.
Pinned
'Actually, this is brilliant'

In their response to the Anas Sarwar's failed coup d'état the Unionist press have created a new absurdist sub-genre of journalism ...

bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/11/a...
Daniel Gear on the UK Government’s ‘Local Power Plan’, finds that it neither empowers communities nor tackles the obstacles that prevent communities from claiming a meaningful stake in the transition @scottishbeacon.bsky.social #PowerShift www.shetnews.co.uk/2026/02/11/l...
Local communities excluded from gaining a meaningful stake in the clean energy transition
In this slightly longer piece, energy consultant Daniel Gear unpicks the UK Government’s ‘Local Power Plan’, published on Monday, and finds that it...
www.shetnews.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 3:09 PM
lower case highlights events, new releases, & publishes short reviews. Our focus is on micro press, radical publishers, and events from independent bookshops. Readers & bookshop events suggestions welcome.
February 12, 2026 at 12:14 PM
A checklist of some dystopian moments from the ‘commodification of everything’ to Ring's Search Party feature to Mrinank Sharma's departure from Anthropic to Detained Children open.substack.com/pub/fiftysix...
February 12, 2026 at 11:53 AM
'Actually, this is brilliant'

In their response to the Anas Sarwar's failed coup d'état the Unionist press have created a new absurdist sub-genre of journalism ...

bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/11/a...
February 11, 2026 at 4:02 PM
thanks!
February 10, 2026 at 5:06 PM
More Pootch than Putsch | On Sarwar's disastrous coup attempt and the fantasy propaganda that has followed it ... bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/10/t...
February 10, 2026 at 3:24 PM
"Brett Christophers argues, the problem is rooted in the absurdist nature of capitalist priorities: saving the planet on which our lives depend is not sufficiently profitable" - read William Thomson here bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/03/12/t...
February 10, 2026 at 1:09 PM
I think that's a very optimistic analysis Sev
February 9, 2026 at 7:45 PM
No
February 9, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Sarwar’s Gamble | Unless something dramatic changes in the next few days, it seems that Anas Sarwar has gambled everything in the most astonishing act of political misjudgment possible. It may be that it is he and not Keir Starmer who will have to resign. bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/09/s...
February 9, 2026 at 4:24 PM
On Sarwar's empty hot dog roll, the Dark Shit around Josh Simons and The Times Coup that Never Happens bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/09/m...
February 9, 2026 at 2:49 PM
On why McSweeney's departure won't stem the flow and why Anas Sarwar's campaign has become an empty hot-dog roll bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/09/m...
February 9, 2026 at 1:19 PM
The Filton 6 Verdict and what it means for Palestine solidarity @DefendOurJuries @PoetsGaza @EyeonPalestine #filton6 bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/07/t...
February 7, 2026 at 6:33 PM
should have come to me
February 6, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Your Party Scotland launches in Dundee bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/06/y...
February 6, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Bella Exclusive: on 'Scotland for Nuclear Energy' the Tory front group launching a campaign for new nuclear power in Glasgow tonight bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/05/a...
February 5, 2026 at 4:28 PM
February 5, 2026 at 11:36 AM
The media's reaction to Mandelson is reminiscent of Omar El Akkad: “One day, when it’s safe, when there’s no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it’s too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this.” bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/04/m...
February 4, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Scotland’s Economics Festival is coming to Leith, check out our preview here bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/04/s...
February 4, 2026 at 5:06 PM
February 4, 2026 at 2:56 PM
A Scandal Meets Its Moment bellacaledonia.org.uk/2026/02/03/a...
February 3, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Reposted by Mike Small
Cathy Newman, "While we've been on air its been reported that police are to review an allegation"

"That Jeffrey Epstein provided a woman to Andrew Windsor at the Royal Lodge for sexual purposes"
February 3, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Open Letter to every Edinburgh City Councillor ...
Oppose AI Data Centres In Edinburgh
bellacaledonia.org.uk/.../oppose-a...
February 3, 2026 at 4:53 PM
thanks David
February 3, 2026 at 4:44 PM