I don't think that adopting #OpenSource software for government administration functions would leave Scotland 'stuck with choosing between US... or EU cloud services', @thecommongreen.

After all, 'cloud' is just space you've hired on someone else's server infrastructure, and it would be more economic long term for #ScotGov to invest in its own.

#ScotPol

https://thecommongreen.scot/2026/01/17/scotland-could-lead-the-uk-by-upholding-international-law/

I don't think that adopting #OpenSource software for government administration functions would leave Scotland 'stuck with choosing between US... or EU cloud services', @thecommongreen.

After all, 'cloud' is just space you've hired on someone else's server infrastructure, and it would be more economic long term for #ScotGov to invest in its own.

#ScotPol

https://thecommongreen.scot/2026/01/17/scotland-could-lead-the-uk-by-upholding-international-law/

With all the fuss over Jenrick, news of the appointment of a Tory multimillionaire as "leader" of Reform in Scotland was in danger of getting missed.

He's a Tory peer picked by Farage. No accountability to members (does Reform have members?) and very different views to the majority of Scottish voters (viz the NHS).

He's standing for Holyrood and will probably get in on the list.

"Multimillionaire leader of Reform in Scotland refuses to reveal net worth."

#ScotPol
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/15/multimillionaire-leader-reform-scotland-net-worth-malcolm-offord?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

With all the fuss over Jenrick, news of the appointment of a Tory multimillionaire as "leader" of Reform in Scotland was in danger of getting missed.

He's a Tory peer picked by Farage. No accountability to members (does Reform have members?) and very different views to the majority of Scottish voters (viz the NHS).

He's standing for Holyrood and will probably get in on the list.

"Multimillionaire leader of Reform in Scotland refuses to reveal net worth."

#ScotPol
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/15/multimillionaire-leader-reform-scotland-net-worth-malcolm-offord?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

A handy reminder of how voting actually works in Scotland for the May elections.

https://bylines.scot/politics/holyrood/election-2026/why-the-electoral-system-matters-holyrood-election-2026/

I will be SNP 1 Greens 2 in the hope that my tiny contribution will help an independence majority in Holyrood, as well as appreciation (partial) for some of the policies of both parties.

#ScotPol #Elections #May #Curtis

Pro-indy SNP supporters should vote for Scottish Greens on the list vote in May if they don't want to waste their 2nd vote and want to help keep Reform down:

"The [SNP]’s likely success in [constituency contests] would mean that, despite not being awarded a single list seat, the nationalists will have 45% or so of the seats in the chamber, well above the party’s 29% share of the list vote"

https://bylines.scot/politics/holyrood/election-2026/why-the-electoral-system-matters-holyrood-election-2026/

#scotpol #holyrood2026 #SNP #SGP

A handy reminder of how voting actually works in Scotland for the May elections.

https://bylines.scot/politics/holyrood/election-2026/why-the-electoral-system-matters-holyrood-election-2026/

I will be SNP 1 Greens 2 in the hope that my tiny contribution will help an independence majority in Holyrood, as well as appreciation (partial) for some of the policies of both parties.

#ScotPol #Elections #May #Curtis

Pro-indy SNP supporters should vote for Scottish Greens on the list vote in May if they don't want to waste their 2nd vote and want to help keep Reform down:

"The [SNP]’s likely success in [constituency contests] would mean that, despite not being awarded a single list seat, the nationalists will have 45% or so of the seats in the chamber, well above the party’s 29% share of the list vote"

https://bylines.scot/politics/holyrood/election-2026/why-the-electoral-system-matters-holyrood-election-2026/

#scotpol #holyrood2026 #SNP #SGP

The facts behind the reporting - not that you would know from much of the coverage by the MSM

Media coverage of the tribunal ruling on Sandie Peggie vs NHS Fife has one common characteristic: a disconnect from what the tribunal ruling actually says.

Crucially, the only four (of 47) points on which Peggie succeeded concerned only NHS Fife’s handling of her complaint, not her interactions with Upton.

http://archive.today/2025.12.09-174616/https://www.thenational.scot/news/25685500.nine-key-points-media-missed-312-page-sandie-peggie-ruling/

#Trans #Scotland #Peggie #Law #LGBT #EqualityAct #ScotPol #UKPol

The facts behind the reporting - not that you would know from much of the coverage by the MSM

Media coverage of the tribunal ruling on Sandie Peggie vs NHS Fife has one common characteristic: a disconnect from what the tribunal ruling actually says.

Crucially, the only four (of 47) points on which Peggie succeeded concerned only NHS Fife’s handling of her complaint, not her interactions with Upton.

http://archive.today/2025.12.09-174616/https://www.thenational.scot/news/25685500.nine-key-points-media-missed-312-page-sandie-peggie-ruling/

#Trans #Scotland #Peggie #Law #LGBT #EqualityAct #ScotPol #UKPol

@otfrom I have a lot of time for Humza Yousaf. He was a better First Minister than Swinney will ever be, and it is a loss to Scotland that he stood down.

#ScotPol

Pippa Crerar and colleague interviewing Nicola #Sturgeon for the Grauniad — and Sturgeon puts up a damned good defence of her record in government.

#ScotPol

Politics Weekly UK: Nicola Sturgeon on leadership, scandal and trolling the trolls

Episode webpage: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/series/politicsweekly

Media file: https://flex.acast.com/audio.guim.co.uk/2025/11/06-61883-gdn.PW.07112025.hm.nicola_sturgeon.mp3

Pippa Crerar and colleague interviewing Nicola #Sturgeon for the Grauniad — and Sturgeon puts up a damned good defence of her record in government.

#ScotPol

Politics Weekly UK: Nicola Sturgeon on leadership, scandal and trolling the trolls

Episode webpage: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/series/politicsweekly

Media file: https://flex.acast.com/audio.guim.co.uk/2025/11/06-61883-gdn.PW.07112025.hm.nicola_sturgeon.mp3

I'm quoted here, talking about the impact of foreign investors on Glasgow and Edinburgh and how they'll lead to profits being extracted from those cities rather than reinvested in its people.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/25592649.glasgow-edinburgh-top-10-attractive-uk-cities-fdi/

#ScottishPolitics #ScotPol

Today's Common Weal Daily Briefing

Zohran Mamdani has shown that the rising tide of the Right can be turned back by a campaign of exciting progressive policies.

Many of his policies are ones that Common Weal has already campaigned for.

https://www.commonweal.scot/daily-briefings/briefing-rx5kn

#ScottishPolitics #ScotPol #USPolitics #NewYork

@onepict Indeed. And he's not alone. I'd also cite Stephen Flynn, although others may disagree. It seems to me that he's made himself a cosy niche in which he has influence and exposure without responsibility.

#ScotPol
#SNP

If you're interested in the reform of #CouncilTax -- which you should be -- there's a current consultation you can respond to, and should. It isn't, of course, nearly radical enough -- it's an exercise in turd-polishing, not in seriously trying to address the problem. But the more people who say so, the more likely we are to get real change.

#ScotPol

https://www.gov.scot/publications/consultation-future-council-tax-scotland/