Show threadClaire McNabNov 1

@simon_brooke Indeed, #MikeSmall does great work both as a writer and as editor of the wonderful @BellaCaledonia. Bella is one of the key forums for cerebral analysis of the independence movement and the breakup of #UKania.

I also owe Mike a huge personal debt for his gentle encouragement of my writing, including my two recent pieces on the Irish Presidential election #Aras25 #Aras2025:

https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/10/24/messy-democracy-irelands-reshaped-presidency/

https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2025/10/26/catherine-connolly-wins-the-irish-presidency-what-next/

Messy Democracy: Ireland’s Reshaped Presidency

As Ireland elects its new President, Claire McNab offers a historical overview of the role and its prospects.  Ireland is on its fifteenth instance of a task which Scotland has never done: electing…

Bella Caledonia
Claire McNabNov 1

Excellent, timely work by #MikeSmall on the spiralling crisis of feudal relic that increasingly fails to bind the so-called "United Kingdom".

I enjoyed Mike's implicit nod to Betjeman's magnificent 1973 snark at "a tradition that stretches back to 1952".
https://substack.com/inbox/post/177717624

Late Britain

The Prince Andrew scandal is only the latest crisis of legitimacy for the British state. It's being presented as a personal tragedy when it's a profoundly political one.

Welcome to Broadcasting Scotland - Broadcasting ScotlandSep 28

On this week’s Full Scottish, Brian Liddy and guests, Mike Small and Maureen Watt discuss the weeks top Scottish and international news, including Ukraine, Gaza, ID Cards, Labour Conference, STV job cuts and support for Scottish Independence.

The post appeared first on Broadcasting Scotland.

Show threadbs2Sep 15, 2022
> A woman who lived a.. privileged life.. to a grand old age. There is very little sad about that. Few senior editors or producers will have the nous to sense an of this such is the level of hysteria we are in. For someone to take a stand and suggest a change of tone or some diversity or an iota of critical thinking would risk their career.. there’s a risk that this completely over-the-top coverage will backfire as..
https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2022/09/11/kitsch-colonialism-and-continuity-britain/
#MikeSmall on #BritishRoyalty and #Britain The #UK
Show threadbs2Sep 15, 2022
> It’s been announced that the #StoneOfDestiny will be returned for the coronation, and of course that William will become the Prince of #Wales, immediately inspiring a petition created after the #Queen’s death calling for the Royals to “end #PrinceOfWales title out of respect for Wales” which surged to 10,000 signatures over just 24 hours.
https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2022/09/12/game-of-thrones-2/
#MikeSmall on #British #Royalty #UK
bs2Sep 15, 2022
> #Britain is riddled with this nonsense.. baubles and semi-feudal detritus., #Viscounts, #RearAdmirals and #MajorGenerals do their stuff.. nobody really minds if retired people want to play with hats and medals and swords from the #British dressing-up box, but.. We could instead of this network have a genuinely useful contemporary network of people who’s prime duty would not be to “uphold the dignity of #TheCrown” but to support people..
https://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2020/04/03/on-colonels-lord-lieutenants-and-old-britain-in-times-of-crisis/
#MikeSmall
Greum Maol StevensonJun 2, 2020
Journalists and Activists Should Not Expose Their Sources and Comrades for... https://stevenson.scot/x704fpjel9tbfdz8
Journalists and Activists Should Not Expose Their Sources and Comrades for Convenience

by Greum M. Stevenson There are activists, and journalists, and people who are both, who have blind spots about the dangers of surveilla...