Roddy MacAskill
@rmacaskill.bsky.social
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
Symbols matter. Yesterday's European Council was not about the narrow question of financing Ukraine (or how that's achieved), but the geopolitics: It was essential to demonstrate decisiveness, unity and strength and the EU vm failed to deliver 1/
December 20, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Symbols matter. Yesterday's European Council was not about the narrow question of financing Ukraine (or how that's achieved), but the geopolitics: It was essential to demonstrate decisiveness, unity and strength and the EU vm failed to deliver 1/
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
Huge new poll puts Plaid ahead of Reform with Labour and the Conservatives on just 10% each. willhaywardwales.substack.com/p/bombshell-...
Bombshell polling for Wales
If this is correct we are seeing a seismic shift
willhaywardwales.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Huge new poll puts Plaid ahead of Reform with Labour and the Conservatives on just 10% each. willhaywardwales.substack.com/p/bombshell-...
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
'What the Scottish people need is for their elected representatives to be the champions of democracy, rather than the managers of mediocrity, which is the status quo' bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/12/18/t...
To Touch the Impossible
TO TOUCH THE IMPOSSIBLE: From The Province Of The Cat by George Gunn All Highland sporting estates are the creations of surplus wealth accrued during and after the Industrial Revolution of the 18h …
bellacaledonia.org.uk
December 18, 2025 at 3:56 PM
'What the Scottish people need is for their elected representatives to be the champions of democracy, rather than the managers of mediocrity, which is the status quo' bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/12/18/t...
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
“Europe is losing confidence, sinking into fatalism and justifying its passivity with the soothing thought that it has no real choice, as its cards are weak. Besides, in the long run, things will work out. Just wait for the U.S. midterms.”
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
Europe’s psychology of weakness
It’s time the EU ditched its failing strategy of “react, hope, repeat.”
www.politico.eu
December 1, 2025 at 9:43 PM
“Europe is losing confidence, sinking into fatalism and justifying its passivity with the soothing thought that it has no real choice, as its cards are weak. Besides, in the long run, things will work out. Just wait for the U.S. midterms.”
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
The trans issue is particularly instructive because you can actually see how the spike in anti-trans newspaper articles significantly anticipated any shift in public polling. It very much started in the U.K. as an elite obsession.
November 25, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The trans issue is particularly instructive because you can actually see how the spike in anti-trans newspaper articles significantly anticipated any shift in public polling. It very much started in the U.K. as an elite obsession.
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 AM
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
Analysis in @thetimes.com by @leaskyd.bsky.social & Anna Dowell of the sharp decline in British identity uncovered by the Scottish Social Attitudes survey.
With comment from Sir John Curtice on the polarising of Scottish politics and from myself on the decoupling of Scottish and British identities:
With comment from Sir John Curtice on the polarising of Scottish politics and from myself on the decoupling of Scottish and British identities:
Why Scots are losing their British identity
With only a quarter of respondents to the Scottish Social Attitudes survey identifying with Britishness, Scotland faces a generational political split
www.thetimes.com
October 12, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Analysis in @thetimes.com by @leaskyd.bsky.social & Anna Dowell of the sharp decline in British identity uncovered by the Scottish Social Attitudes survey.
With comment from Sir John Curtice on the polarising of Scottish politics and from myself on the decoupling of Scottish and British identities:
With comment from Sir John Curtice on the polarising of Scottish politics and from myself on the decoupling of Scottish and British identities:
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
SP26: Where are Reform's votes coming from?
A longer read for the weekend, taking a look at the rise of Reform. If you're the Conservatives or Labour, this isn't good news. The SNP meanwhile lose few voters and benefit from the split elsewhere.
A longer read for the weekend, taking a look at the rise of Reform. If you're the Conservatives or Labour, this isn't good news. The SNP meanwhile lose few voters and benefit from the split elsewhere.
SP26: Where are Reform’s votes coming from?
With Reform on the rise, how has that affected other parties? In short, Reform are lapping up the 2021 Conservative and 2024 Labour votes, but barely registering amongst past SNP voters.
ballotbox.scot
October 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM
SP26: Where are Reform's votes coming from?
A longer read for the weekend, taking a look at the rise of Reform. If you're the Conservatives or Labour, this isn't good news. The SNP meanwhile lose few voters and benefit from the split elsewhere.
A longer read for the weekend, taking a look at the rise of Reform. If you're the Conservatives or Labour, this isn't good news. The SNP meanwhile lose few voters and benefit from the split elsewhere.
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
In the light of The Guardian’s last report on sewage in English and Welsh rivers.
“The Commission has also learnt from Scotland’s ethical based regulation model the benefit of close supervisory engagement with the company to understand more deeply its challenges and capabilities and build trust.”
“The Commission has also learnt from Scotland’s ethical based regulation model the benefit of close supervisory engagement with the company to understand more deeply its challenges and capabilities and build trust.”
Is it true that Scotland’s water pollution levels are bad? - Bylines Scotland
The Independent Water Commission confirms Scotland's water meets high standards, contradicting recent political claims of poor quality
bylines.scot
September 16, 2025 at 9:58 AM
In the light of The Guardian’s last report on sewage in English and Welsh rivers.
“The Commission has also learnt from Scotland’s ethical based regulation model the benefit of close supervisory engagement with the company to understand more deeply its challenges and capabilities and build trust.”
“The Commission has also learnt from Scotland’s ethical based regulation model the benefit of close supervisory engagement with the company to understand more deeply its challenges and capabilities and build trust.”
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
Next year’s Scottish election must move beyond business-as-usual
Read our new briefing setting out 11 policy priorities for transformative change👇
Read our new briefing setting out 11 policy priorities for transformative change👇
NEW: Scotland is at a crossroads of crises. The 2026 election must be a turning point towards transformative action.
Our new briefing sets out 11 bold, practical ideas to tackle the country’s biggest challenges.
It’s time to move beyond business-as-usual 👇
Our new briefing sets out 11 bold, practical ideas to tackle the country’s biggest challenges.
It’s time to move beyond business-as-usual 👇
August 21, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Next year’s Scottish election must move beyond business-as-usual
Read our new briefing setting out 11 policy priorities for transformative change👇
Read our new briefing setting out 11 policy priorities for transformative change👇
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
“In an increasingly volatile world, small economies like Scotland face a stark choice: either act boldly to shape markets, or be shaped by global market forces.”
Read the latest blog by @lmacfarlane.bsky.social, analysing Alexander Dennis and the erosion of Scotland’s industrial base.
Read the latest blog by @lmacfarlane.bsky.social, analysing Alexander Dennis and the erosion of Scotland’s industrial base.
Missing the bus: Alexander Dennis and Scotland’s industrial decline
How public money helped to erode Scotland’s industrial base and offshore jobs abroad
www.futureeconomy.scot
July 22, 2025 at 1:15 PM
“In an increasingly volatile world, small economies like Scotland face a stark choice: either act boldly to shape markets, or be shaped by global market forces.”
Read the latest blog by @lmacfarlane.bsky.social, analysing Alexander Dennis and the erosion of Scotland’s industrial base.
Read the latest blog by @lmacfarlane.bsky.social, analysing Alexander Dennis and the erosion of Scotland’s industrial base.
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
Given ongoing discussion over where Reform UK supporters in Scotland are switching from, he's a Sankey diagram showing voter flows between the 2019 GE, 2024 GE, and constituency voting intention for the 2026 SE.
84% of Reform UK voters have switched from the Tories or Labour, just 12% from the SNP.
84% of Reform UK voters have switched from the Tories or Labour, just 12% from the SNP.
June 12, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Given ongoing discussion over where Reform UK supporters in Scotland are switching from, he's a Sankey diagram showing voter flows between the 2019 GE, 2024 GE, and constituency voting intention for the 2026 SE.
84% of Reform UK voters have switched from the Tories or Labour, just 12% from the SNP.
84% of Reform UK voters have switched from the Tories or Labour, just 12% from the SNP.
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
Some thoughts on the European response to the chaos now emanating from the White House - on Ukraine and more broadly, based on chats with senior European policymakers directly or indirectly involved in formulating the bloc's response 1/
March 7, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Some thoughts on the European response to the chaos now emanating from the White House - on Ukraine and more broadly, based on chats with senior European policymakers directly or indirectly involved in formulating the bloc's response 1/
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
Just America & Israel voting with Russia, Iran, North Korea...
...against Ukraine.
...against Ukraine.
February 24, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Just America & Israel voting with Russia, Iran, North Korea...
...against Ukraine.
...against Ukraine.
Reposted by Roddy MacAskill
Powerful. Tomorrow’s front page of the most influential weekly publication in Germany.
“BETRAYED. First Zelensky, Soon Us? The radical departure of the US from its allies.”
“BETRAYED. First Zelensky, Soon Us? The radical departure of the US from its allies.”
February 21, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Powerful. Tomorrow’s front page of the most influential weekly publication in Germany.
“BETRAYED. First Zelensky, Soon Us? The radical departure of the US from its allies.”
“BETRAYED. First Zelensky, Soon Us? The radical departure of the US from its allies.”