n/a

Simon Barrow's blog

So which way will the referendum go?

That's what everyone would like to know. Tomorrow morning we will. In the meantime there is both curiosity and speculation about Scotland's independence vote.

It's about justice and democracy, not nationalism

One of the most ingrained, and mistaken, ideas about the 'Yes' side of the Scottish independence referendum is that, as a friend from England wrote to me, "really its all about nationalism, identity and flag-waving."

We trust the big banks caught fiddling… but not the people?

One of the big last-ditch Scottish referendum pitches by the three dominant Westminster parties and their friends in the City of London is to appeal to voters to reject self-government and instead accept the opinion and sway of the giant transnational banks – the likes of Goldman Sachs, J P Morgan and Deutsche Bank.

Easter: actually it's 50 days, and nothing to do with 'Christian country' ideology

Easter is not one day. It is not a week. Easter is not 40 days. Easter is actually a season of 50 days in the churches' calendar.

Think-tankery and digital policy power: two perspectives

Two independent researchers whose work is greatly valued by Ekklesia are among the presenters at the British Sociological Association conference 2014, ‘Changing Society’, taking place at the University of Leeds from 23-25 April.

Combatting sexism on college campuses

The University and College Union (UCU) in Scotland has responded to the report by Rashida Manjoo, a United Nations human rights expert and rapporteur, who says Britain's sexist culture is more 'pervasive' and 'in your face' than any other country she has visited, by getting the backing of unions across Scotland for action on campuses.

Working for the repeal of the Lobbying Act

Yesterday (16 April 2014) I moved the unanimously accepted composite motion on the UK Government’s Lobbying Act at the STUC congress in Dundee.

The media argument over welfare reform

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), meeting in Dundee from 14-16 April 2014), has passed an extensive motion on welfare reform and the effects of poverty in the UK.

Listen to disabled people, says Baroness Lister

One of Britain's leading academic and policy experts on poverty and disadvantage, and how to combat them, has commended the new Spartacus Network Report, Beyond the Barriers which was produced wholly by disabled and sick people, and co-published by Ekklesia yesterday (9 April 2014).

Not a recovery but a relapse, NEF research shows

"With fresh figures showing a return to economic growth over last year, George Osborne has a spring in his step. Growth is back, jobs are being created; his plan is vindicated in time for today's budget. There’s work still to do, but he’s building a 'resilient economy' he believes.