Latest news with #Govanhill
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
5 communities across Scotland that are boycotting Israel
It's called Apartheid Free Zones (AFZ) Scotland – an initiative launched by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity campaign (SPSC) that is looking to sign up shops, restaurants, businesses, community organisations, and trade unions across Scotland to commit to BDS practices. The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement has existed since 2005. It was initiated by a coalition of more than 170 Palestinian civil society organisations in an effort to put pressure on the Israeli economy in the mould of the anti-apartheid boycott of South Africa. READ MORE: Scottish Labour panned over £200k in 'shadowy' private healthcare-linked donations But a more concerted and coordinated effort in Scotland started on May 15, 2024 – Nakba Day, which commemorates the wholesale destruction and displacement of Palestinian society and Palestinians by Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Now, there are five communities across Scotland that have dedicated AFZ groups and many individual businesses across Scotland that have signed up too. Aberdeen AFZ (Image: Dave Black) Launched in the latter half of 2024 with the help of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), the Aberdeen group has signed up 40 businesses – ranging from restaurants and barbers to a whisky shop and a tobacconist – to its apartheid-free zone. Organisers like Dave Black emphasise its grassroots, community‑driven essence, with locals meeting in cafés to spread the message and gain more sign-ups. Govanhill AFZ (Image: Tony) Established with the help of community organisers, Govanhill's boycott group has seen 54 local businesses – cafés, corner shops, restaurants – formally commit. Many were already informally boycotting companies like Coca‑Cola. But the group aimed to make that solidarity more visible, grounded in a shared frustration at the situation in Gaza. Leith AFZ The Leith group, Zionism-Free Leith, was started by the Edinburgh branch of Industrial Workers of the World, an international labour union. It looks to sign up business across Leith, runs a number of fundraisers to support Palestinian families and runs regular events. Isle of Eigg The small, community-owned Isle of Eigg (population ~120) recently declared a full boycott of Israel through its Residents Association (IERA). The island's only shop ceased stocking Israeli-linked products, including Coca‑Cola, citing its alleged ties to settlements. Organisers have highlighted Eigg's 'history of taking action' and framed the decision as a local step toward 'collective action' that can influence broader policy and stand in solidarity with Palestinians. Glasgow West End AFZ The National understands that a new group has just started in Glasgow's West End after being inspired by Govanhill.
The National
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Details emerge of Scottish arm of new Jeremy Corbyn party
The former Labour leader hinted at plans to form a new party earlier this week, suggesting he would be at the helm of a 'left independent party of socialist view[s]'. The day after Corbyn's announcement, suspended Labour MP Zarah Sultana announced she had quit to join the new party, which she said she would co-lead with Corbyn. Rumours quickly flew around whether or not there would be a Scottish branch of the new party when it is eventually set up. A source told The National that a small group of left-leaning Scots have been working behind the scenes to prepare the Scottish arm ahead of the Holyrood election. However, with the party not yet fully-fledged, how many, if any, candidates it will stand is still up in the air. Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA)On Saturday, a group called Collective Scotland published a statement confirming it had indeed been working towards a new party. Collective is a movement which is working to build towards and begin a mass-membership party of the left. It is behind the new party referenced by Sultana, but is not a new party in its own right. The statement by the Collective Scotland, the group's Scottish branch, was shared by several figures on social media, such as pro-independence outlet Bella Caledonia, Govanhill writer and poet Jim Monaghan, and the Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition. In it, the group indicated it was looking to build "a full-fledged electoral alliance of the Scottish left" for next year's election. READ MORE: Devolved relations reset with Labour has 'failed', says SNP official While the statement did not mention Corbyn or Sultana directly, it said that "as the left across Britain comes together to form a new political party, the Scottish left now has a similar opportunity to unite". It added: "With the SNP stagnant after 18 years of government, with the Labour party a hollow shell of itself, and the looming threat of Reform and the far-right, the time is ripe for a new progressive, left-wing consensus to form in Scotland. "Collective Scotland is already engaged in discussions towards a conference of progressives and socialists to take place on October 4th in Glasgow. We invite all those groups and parties not already engaged in this project to join us. "At that conference, we will look to build a full-fledged electoral alliance of the Scottish left to run in the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, and build towards longer-term campaigns in our local communities for the 2027 Scottish local elections. "In partnership with our left allies, we will seek to present a programme which takes away greed and personal enrichment from Scotland's political structures, and gives renewal to our local public services and democracy." The statement continued: "A trend that must be broken in our political traditions is to assume that all politics happens at just Holyrood or one's local council chamber. We want to be more than just an electoral alliance for Scotland's left; we want to be the link to a wider progressive social movement. "We look forward now, as an autonomous party of Scotland's progressives and socialists, to the coalition and partnerships we must build for all of Scotland's left to succeed, not just as a set of parties, but as a wider movement." The focus of Collective has primarily been in the UK Parliament, as this is where the elected representatives that would form a party are based. However, The National understands that the Collective Scotland branch and other left groups have been working since the end of 2024 towards some form of alliance or coalition for next year's Holyrood election. READ MORE: Cabinet minister refuses to confirm if two-child cap will be scrapped A source close to the organisation told The National: "In Scotland, we have been working as a small group of people in Collective since the end of last year, meeting with other left groups in Scotland who already have initiatives going about how to work together. "There's only a very small group of people, all we're really doing is preparing the way for a new party to happen. In the end, it'll be up to the members to decide how to proceed from there." The National understands that the group is not clear on whether it will be standing candidates under a new party at next year's Holyrood election. While the group may stand candidates in a few constituencies, it may also decide to back another coalition or alliance. On independence, the source stressed that the party's policy would be determined by its members, and could be changed or altered. But they said: "We, at least in Collective Scotland, support the idea of self-determination and support the power to call and hold a referendum." They added that they believed this power "should lie with the Scottish Parliament, not the UK Parliament."
The National
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Scottish arm of Corbyn party set to run in Holyrood elections
The former Labour leader confirmed plans to form a new party earlier this week, suggesting he would be at the helm of a 'left independent party of socialist view[s]'. Following an announcement that suspended Labour MP Zarah Sultana had quit to join the new party, Govanhill writer and poet Jim Monaghan wrote on Twitter/X that he is part of the "interim Scottish Secretariat" of the group, which has been working to prepare for the new party. More details have now emerged of the Scottish arm of Corbyn's new project, after several figures – including Monaghan – shared a statement by group Collective Scotland which indicated it was looking to build "a full-fledged electoral alliance of the Scottish left" to run in next year's election. Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA) While the statement did not mention Corbyn directly, it said that "as the left across Britain comes together to form a new political party, the Scottish left now has a similar opportunity to unite". It added: "With the SNP stagnant after 18 years of government, with the Labour party a hollow shell of itself, and the looming threat of Reform and the far-right, the time is ripe for a new progressive, left-wing consensus to form in Scotland. "Collective Scotland is already engaged in discussions towards a conference of progressives and socialists to take place on October 4th in Glasgow. We invite all those groups and parties not already engaged in this project to join us. "At that conference, we will look to build a full-fledged electoral alliance of the Scottish left to run in the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, and build towards longer-term campaigns in our local communities for the 2027 Scottish local elections. "In partnership with our left allies, we will seek to present a programme which takes away greed and personal enrichment from Scotland's political structures, and gives renewal to our local public services and democracy." READ MORE: 'Stupid': Journalists blast BBC after binning 'high risk' Glastonbury shows The statement continued: "A trend that must be broken in our political traditions is to assume that all politics happens at just Holyrood or one's local council chamber. We want to be more than just an electoral alliance for Scotland's left; we want to be the link to a wider progressive social movement. "We look forward now, as an autonomous party of Scotland's progressives and socialists, to the coalition and partnerships we must build for all of Scotland's left to succeed, not just as a set of parties, but as a wider movement." Other figures to have shared the statement include pro-independence outlet Bella Caledonia and the Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.
The National
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
New Scottish left wing party to be set up after Corbyn announcement
It comes after former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn confirmed plans to form a new party earlier this week. He is set to be joined by Zarah Sultana, a suspended Labour MP who quit the party earlier this week, saying she would "co-lead the founding of a new party" with the ex-Labour leader. Corbyn did not directly confirm he would be co-leading with Sultana, instead saying that "discussions are ongoing" and that he was "delighted" that Sultana "will help us build a real alternative". (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA) After Sultana's announcement, Govanhill writer and poet Jim Monaghan wrote on Twitter/X that he is part of the "interim Scottish Secretariat" of the group. He later went on to clarify that he is part of the working group in Scotland which has been working in Scotland and UK-wide to prepare for the new party. Monaghan is one of several figures to have shared a statement by Collective Scotland on Saturday evening, which indicated the group is looking to build "a full-fledged electoral alliance of the Scottish left" to run in next year's election. READ MORE: Cabinet minister refuses to confirm if two-child cap will be scrapped It is not clear if this is part of Corbyn's new party or a separate entity. The statement did not mention the Islington North MP directly, but said that "as the left across Britain comes together to form a new political party, the Scottish left now has a similar opportunity to unite". It added: "With the SNP stagnant after 18 years of government, with the Labour party a hollow shell of itself, and the looming threat of Reform and the far-right, the time is ripe for a new progressive, left-wing consensus to form in Scotland. "Collective Scotland is already engaged in discussions towards a conference of progressives and socialists to take place on October 4th in Glasgow. We invite all those groups and parties not already engaged in this project to join us. "At that conference, we will look to build a full-fledged electoral alliance of the Scottish left to run in the 2026 Scottish parliament elections, and build towards longer-term campaigns in our local communities for the 2027 Scottish local elections. "In partnership with our left allies, we will seek to present a programme which takes away greed and personal enrichment from Scotland's political structures, and gives renewal to our local public services and democracy." READ MORE: 'Stupid': Journalists blast BBC after binning 'high risk' Glastonbury shows The statement continued: "A trend that must be broken in our political traditions is to assume that all politics happens at just Holyrood or one's local council chamber. We want to be more than just an electoral alliance for Scotland's left; we want to be the link to a wider progressive social movement. "We look forward now, as an autonomous party of Scotland's progressives and socialists, to the coalition and partnerships we must build for all of Scotland's left to succeed, not just as a set of parties, but as a wider movement." Other figures to have shared the statement include pro-independence outlet Bella Caledonia and the Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.
Glasgow Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Hamilton student wins Miss Great Britain Glasgow title
Jenna Louise Kinnaird from Hamilton will go on to represent the city in the competition to become Miss Great Britain 2025. The business student and retail worker won the coveted beauty contest at the Radstone Hotel in Larkhall. Jenna Louise Kinnaird (Image: Supplied) Hamilton student wins Miss Great Britain Glasgow title (Image: Supplied) She said: 'I had to turn around to my family to make sure I'd heard it correctly, it didn't feel real at first. It was such an overwhelming moment of pride, knowing that all the hard work, preparation, and dedication had truly paid off. "It was a dream come true. 'I entered the competition because I wanted to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone. "I've always been the quiet girl, someone who kept to herself at school, and I knew that entering something like this would push me to confront my anxiety and confidence issues head-on. "Deep down, I've always had a passion to make a difference, and something told me this was my moment to finally put myself out there and start making that impact.' The 20-year-old will travel to Leicester on Friday, October 17, to face the others in the national final. (Image: Supplied) (Image: Supplied) READ NEXT:Govanhill festival set up to combat racism to return for ninth year She continued: 'My confidence has soared, and I've learned that with dedication and effort, anything is possible. "The friendships I've formed through this journey are truly unique—we're a group of passionate young women, each with different beliefs but united by a shared desire to create positive change. 'It's a true honour to represent Glasgow, a city full of incredible opportunities and rich culture. Being able to showcase Glasgow on the national stage is a dream come true." Having raised £600 already, Jenna plans to use her platform to support Dementia UK, with a special focus on their Still Me campaign. She also hopes to promote kids' clubs that support children with additional needs. Jenna added: 'I'm raising awareness for this cause means so much to me because it's incredibly close to my heart. "It motivates me to speak out as loudly as I can. Although my gran's condition can't be changed drastically, I am determined to do everything I can to help others and raise funds. "That gives me a deep sense of purpose and achievement, especially knowing how much my family's life has been impacted by dementia.'
