Author Archives: ceramurtagh

‘A Lasting Settlement’

Posted on 28/11/2013 by ceramurtagh

Cera Murtagh reports from a major speech by First Minister of Wales the Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, hosted by the Academy of Government, on the implications of the Scottish independence referendum for Scotland, Wales and the UK as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe and External Relations, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Scottish Government Plans on Immigration: Are they Feasible?

Posted on 27/11/2013 by ceramurtagh

Christina Boswell, Edinburgh Professor of Politics and leading authority on the politics of migration, assesses the Independence White Paper’s prospectus for asylum and immigration. She argues that public opinion, and cross-border pressures from rUK and the EU may constrain the … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe and External Relations | Leave a comment

Event: The Fiscal Implications of an Independent Scotland

Posted on 16/10/2013 by ceramurtagh

18 November 2013, 09:30 – 12:30 Royal College of Surgeons, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DW This event, organised by the Institute of Fiscal Studies, will see the launch of the first long term fiscal projections for an independent Scotland. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy and Currency, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Why Scotland is More than Capable of Defending Itself

Posted on 15/10/2013 by ceramurtagh

In this article, first published in The Sunday Herald , Colin Fleming challenges the argument presented in a recent UK Government report that an independent Scotland would be unable to deliver the same defence and security provisions as currently enjoyed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Defence and Security, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Can Independence Improve Services for Scotland’s Children?

Posted on 06/08/2013 by ceramurtagh

Professor Bronwen Cohen, Honorary Professor in Social Policy at the University of Edinburgh, suggests that transferring powers to the Scottish Parliament over tax and benefits could help bring Scotland’s Early Childhood Education and Care into the 21st century. Would independence … Continue reading →

Posted in Policy - General | 1 Comment

Future of the UK: The English Perspective

Posted on 11/07/2013 by ceramurtagh

A major survey reveals an added dimension to the debate over the future of the UK and it’s being driven by discontent among English voters, writes Charlie Jeffery It is easy to think that the future of the UK is … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitution | Leave a comment

‘Young people cannot be trusted with political decisions’ – Why actually?

Posted on 27/06/2013 by ceramurtagh

Following the first major survey of the views of young people on independence by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, Jan Eichhorn, a member of the research team, argues that whatever their current opinions, young Scots are keen to engage … Continue reading →

Posted in Referendum process, campaign and vote | Leave a comment

Engendering Debate

Posted on 20/02/2013 by ceramurtagh

What could constitutional change mean for gender equality? Cera Murtagh reports from the Women and Constitutional Futures seminar The political debate around the Scottish independence referendum could so far be characterised by two opposing constitutional options being trotted out against … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Referendum process, campaign and vote | 1 Comment