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The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
The real problem with ‘diversity', from a man who knows
I bring this up because the subject of demonstrations has been on my mind since a conversation I had with Darren McGarvey the other day. Darren is the writer and rapper who won the Orwell prize for his book Poverty Safari, which explores the causes of deprivation and tells the story of his own difficult childhood in Pollok. I also saw Darren's show at the Fringe which is based on his latest book, Trauma Industrial Complex, and it was a vivid experience. At one point, rap-style, he reeled off some of the worst moments of his childhood and the audience was uncomfortable because he wanted them to be. Change, the radical sort, doesn't come from comfort. When I met Darren after the show, we talked about a lot of things but I was especially interested in his views on class which is when the subject of demos came up. The biggest sign of middle-class priorities in the UK, said Darren, came in the fury about Brexit. 'That was when middle class people decided to get out on the street to protect the right of their kids to go and live and work abroad,' he said, 'But they never came out on the streets for austerity, they never came out when the bankers got away with throwing our economy in the toilet, and that's fine, everybody has the right to protect their own interests. But sometimes people like to drape themselves in the veils of diversity and inclusion and forget the equity part of it.' Read more Book festival defends itself against claims of excluding working class in 'stitch-up' The big downside of electric buses. I'm living it every day This is all that remains. But there's hope in these ruins Darren gave me plenty of examples – public institutions that have high-profile policies on diversity and inclusion but low pay for their staff, for example, or prices that exclude the working class. But he feels like he's actually lived the issue himself this year by failing to make the programme for the Edinburgh Book Festival. He rightly points out the festival has a certain aesthetic that doesn't sit with writers like him. He also points out that lots of writers don't have the publicists and agents to lobby for them and many of those writers are working class. 'It's a stitch-up,' he told me, 'an industry stitch-up.' Interestingly, now that Darren has kicked up a stink, the festival tell me that they're speaking to Darren and would like to include him in the line-up for next year, but it does feel like the damage has been done already, or that the point has been made. Policies on diversity, inclusion and equity very loudly and publicly focus on diversity of gender, sexuality and race but rarely, if ever, focus on diversity of class. It's absolutely true that working class writers are less likely to make it on to the line-up of the book festival, or any festival, and it's because, in Darren's words, we forget the equity part. I suppose what did surprise me a bit as Darren and I talked some more, me a middle-class conservative, Darren a working-class socialist, is that the two of us often agreed on the way forward, the right approach to fixing the problem. Darren spoke about the differences he sees on trips to Europe where there's more balance between neoliberal economics and a social contract and believes there are lessons for the UK to learn, if only we'd listen. Partly because of what he's seen in Europe, and party because of what he's learned from his days of addiction and days of recovery, he says there's a balance to be struck between the role of government and the role of the individual. You could create a utopia, he says, where there's a public service to meet every need and still not get an alcoholic to stop unless they decide to. Personal responsibility has a part to play. (Image: Newsquest) I said to Darren, a little tongue in cheek, that this is the kind of talk that could get him labelled a Tory – and he has had flak from certain sections of the Left for his opinions. But he said that to deny the role of personal responsibility would be to deny the evidence of his own life and the lives of people around him in order to maintain some kind of ideological conformity and he isn't willing to do it. I also admire the way he's torn into the festival, because he absolutely should have been on the programme but mainly because he's right: the festival has a problem with equity, class equity, which needs fixing. The hope now is that the book festival people have got the message – their invitation to Darren to attend next year is perhaps an indication they have. But the despair kicks in, I'm afraid, when we start to think of practical solutions to the wider problem. I asked Darren what he made of the current version of the SNP and his sigh was long, very long indeed: 'a bunch of caretakers' he said, making caretakers sound like a swear word. He also believes there needs to be radical change in the way we organise society, the economy and our politics for true equity to be achieved. But the other big problem here – and it's persistent – is that the concept of diversity, equity and inclusion that guides events such as the book festival is still ignoring one of the biggest issues that divides us. Darren says class is the defining facet of his identity and why wouldn't he: it's one of the defining facets for all of us, still, and the society we live in. And yet here we are, apparently in an age of greater diversity, equity and inclusion and we aren't talking about class, not really. Which is where disruptors like Darren come in. He's going to talk about it anyway. And make us listen. Good on him.
The Herald Scotland
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Darren McGarvey: Politics holds back child poverty action
He spoke to The Herald as part of the series on child poverty, where the newsbrand has joined forces with 23 leading charities to call on First Minister John Swinney to take "urgent action" on child poverty. That action would require the Scottish Government to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 each week, per child. An open letter was also addressed to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, with The Herald warning the two-child benefit cap must be abolished to make progress. Child poverty is an issue McGarvey is acutely aware of, with his own life experience leading him to become one of the country's leading social commentators on poverty, class and addiction. The Orwell Prize winner grew up in poverty in Pollok, in the south side of Glasgow, raised alongside his siblings by his single father. His mother, who McGarvey described as a violent alcoholic, left when he was 10 and he has battled his own addiction issues. In an extensive interview with The Herald, McGarvey said: "Growing up in the 80s and 90s in the south side in Pollok, I remember it being really, in hindsight, pretty bleak. Read more: The Herald unites with 23 charities to push First Minister on child poverty The staggering cost of poverty and hardship on Scotland's economy revealed 'Matter of shame': Swinney opens up on the toll of tackling child poverty in Scotland Find all articles in our Scotland's Forgotten Children series here "There was so much violence in the community, there was so much alcoholism in the community, and it wasn't really until the Labour government of 1997 came in, the mood started to change a little bit, community centres started open, there was funding for youth projects. "While all of the stuff did make a difference, in a sense, I think that the fundamentals of our society remain the same in terms of any extra benefits that a poor person is getting, or any extra benefits that a child is getting. "It's almost like compensation for the fact that society isn't actually changing and that means your postcode still really determines the quality of your education, the quality of your health, and that's my sort of take on it anyway." With that, he said, comes a sense of "imposter syndrome" for those from working class backgrounds who are able to escape the cycle. In 2013, McGarvey quit drinking and attended Glasgow Clyde College, gaining a journalism qualification. His first book, Poverty Safari, was released in 2017 and received acclaim. It landed McGarvey the Orwell Prize in 2018 for its auto-biographical account of growing up in poverty, while also challenging how the issues are solved. Around that time though, his drug use began to spiral out of control and he subsequently checked into the Abbeycare rehabilitation clinic in Erskine, beginning his recovery journey. His second book, The Social Distance Between us, challenges the divide between decision-makers and society. McGarvey told The Herald the challenge for politicians lies in standing by their commitments while in government and winning votes from the electorate. The First Minister said his main ambition in office was to eradicate child poverty, with the Scottish Government aiming to reduce relative poverty to 10%. The interim target of 18% in 2023-24 was missed, however. McGarvey said: "Even someone who is sincere about doing it, there is also the electoral calculus that has just got to be taken into consideration. "A lot of the people affected by poverty don't engage in the democratic process, so they don't have a voice. "What happens is the politician who is sincere in their desire to alleviate poverty, they first have to get the most affluent voters on voters on board and you don't get the most affluent voters on board by levelling the playing field. "The playing field has been unfair for so long that levelling it begins to feel like a very personal attack on middle class people and their children." Read more: 'Devastating': Charity boss reveals essential items children in poverty are missing In full: The Herald's open letter to John Swinney on Scottish Child Payment In full: The Herald's open letter calling for Sir Keir Starmer to scrap benefit cap He uses the example private school fees being subjected to a 20% VAT rate from January this year. McGarvey said last month that private education should be abolished to tackle the "gross inequality" in the industry. "The people with the sharpest elbows get the megaphones out and the politicians get frightened to stand up to them and this means that you can't deal with the poorest until the most affluent feel secure that their medium and long-term interests are being looked after, and they'll always be looked after no what party is in (government), and that is a result of the electoral reality in this country," he said. McGarvey also reflected on what it is like to escape the cycle of poverty. "'I'm embarrassed to say that there has been points in my career over the last few years when I've had no real reason to have financial anxiety, but it's the kind of mindset that you have acquired and you have to work very hard to say 'do you know what, I have enough, I'm ok.' "I definitely have at point, particularly early in my career, when money felt like it was flooding in from everywhere, and my first instinct was to enjoy a sense of accomplishment and I guess the power that comes from being the person that can pay for the meal, and the person who can pay for the taxi, who can buy the expensive gifts and take people on holiday, and I think sometimes that was out of a desire to make others comfortable - that's a genuine part of my nature - but it was also a false sense of esteem that came out of having a feeling of status or being financially comfortable. "It was something that I wanted to exhibit to other people, almost as if me on my own is not enough. "I know a lot of people struggle with that in a materialistic society but I think a lot of us who get into financial problems, coming from poverty, part of having a little bit extra money is the first thing we want to do is to acquire the symbols of affluence so that we could throw people off the scent because we carry a lot of embarrassment." McGarvey's third book, Trauma Industrial Complex, is scheduled for release in August and unpacks the mechanics of sharing personal discourse on social media.
Glasgow Times
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow broadcaster reveals struggle with alcohol and drugs
Scottish star Darren McGarvey, also known by his stage name Loki, said he used to spend 'vast sums of money' on alcohol, which he says became his 'whole personality'. The author, broadcaster and musician is known for his work on issues such as poverty, addiction, and politics. Having battled his own personal demons in his youth, McGarvey, who was born in Pollok, Glasgow, opened up about addiction on the second episode of Listen Up, a new podcast on recovery launched by Abbeycare. It is an alcohol and drug treatment centre in Erskine, Renfrewshire, where he was previously treated. McGarvey said he turned to drugs and alcohol for several reasons, including to cope with the death of his mother, as well as dealing with the ups and downs of fame. Glasgow broadcaster reveals struggle with alcohol and drugs (Image: Abbeycare/PA Wire) He said his addictions initially stemmed from his desire to cope with his anxiety, prompting him to use alcohol as well as drugs such as Valium and temazepam. During his appearance on the show, McGarvey said his addiction to drink began at the age of 16, shortly after the death of his mother, who was also an alcoholic. READ MORE: 'Street festival' to be held at popular Glasgow shopping centre this weekend He said: 'I got handed a beer after the funeral. It wasn't just the alcohol, it was the whole situation. I was the centre of attention that day. 'I was dressed in a suit, long coat, black tie, being handed a cold beer… all that came together and activated something where I was like, 'Ah, this is what I should be doing'. 'I remember actually going back to school that day… it was like the alcohol provided a suit of armour that I immediately wanted to try out.' In 2013, McGarvey quit drinking and attended college, where he gained a qualification in journalism. In 2017, he released his first book, Poverty Safari, which won the Orwell Prize in 2018. READ MORE: Glasgow's Barras to transform into Hong Kong street market for one weekend However, around the same time, he says his drug use began to spiral out of control, citing an occasion where a scheduled broadcast interview in London was cancelled. He said: 'When that interview got pulled, it felt as if the whole thing had crumbled. It was as if I had failed, and I couldn't cope with it. 'I ran round a Boots pharmacy and bought over-the-counter painkillers with enough codeine in them to take away the feelings that I had.' A year later, after he had been using similar drugs frequently, he checked into Abbeycare's rehabilitation clinic in Erskine, where his recovery journey began. He said: 'It was the first time I had been around ordinary folk for about two years, where I wasn't the keynote speaker, I wasn't special. 'There's no ceremony in there. It was humbling in a way that I needed.' READ MORE: Pair nicked after 'thefts at several properties' in busy area Hosted by Abbeycare's outreach manager Eddie Clarke, the show features a new guest each month who is invited to talk about their first-hand experience of addiction and recovery. It aims to reduce the stigma around drug and alcohol addiction through honest conversations, as well as demonstrating that recovery is possible. Mr Clarke said: 'I first met Darren when he had just checked into rehab with us, so it was brilliant to see how well he is doing now and to have such an honest conversation with him. 'His experiences show that even when people are enjoying great success in their careers, they can still be struggling with unaddressed addictions in the background. 'Given the levels of alcohol and drug-related harm in Scotland, it's more important than ever that we talk honestly about addiction, and that is what our podcast set out to do. 'We hope that people who might be struggling alone will listen and take heart from our guests' stories and insights over the coming months.'
STV News
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Darren McGarvey says alcohol was once his ‘whole personality'
A Scottish rapper and activist has told of his plight in battling drug and alcohol addiction, saying he would 'move heaven and earth' in pursuit of his next hit. Darren McGarvey, also known by his stage name Loki, said he used to spend 'vast sums of money' on alcohol, which he says became his 'whole personality'. The author, broadcaster and musician is known for his work on issues such as poverty, addiction, and politics. Having battled his own personal demons in his youth, McGarvey opened up about addiction on the second episode of Listen Up, a new podcast on recovery launched by Abbeycare. It is an alcohol and drug treatment centre in Erskine, Renfrewshire, where he was previously treated. McGarvey said he turned to drugs and alcohol for a number of reasons, including to cope with the death of his mother, as well as dealing with the ups and downs of fame. He said his addictions initially stemmed from his desire to cope with his anxiety, prompting him to use alcohol as well as drugs such as Valium and temazepam. During his appearance on the show, McGarvey said his addiction to drink began at the age of 16, shortly after the death of his mother, who was also an alcoholic. He said: 'I got handed a beer after the funeral. It wasn't just the alcohol, it was the whole situation. I was the centre of attention that day. 'I was dressed in a suit, long coat, black tie, being handed a cold beer… all that came together and activated something where I was like, 'Ah, this is what I should be doing'. 'I remember actually going back to school that day… it was like the alcohol provided a suit of armour that I immediately wanted to try out.' In 2013, McGarvey quit drinking and attended college, where he gained a qualification in journalism. In 2017, he released his first book, Poverty Safari, which won the Orwell Prize in 2018. However, around the same time, he says his drug use began to spiral out of control, citing an occasion where a scheduled broadcast interview in London was cancelled. He said: 'When that interview got pulled, it felt as if the whole thing had crumbled. It was as if I had failed, and I couldn't cope with it. 'I ran round a Boots pharmacy and bought over-the-counter painkillers with enough codeine in them to take away the feelings that I had.' A year later, after he had been using similar drugs frequently, he checked into Abbeycare's rehabilitation clinic in Erskine, where his recovery journey began. He said: 'It was the first time I had been around ordinary folk for about two years, where I wasn't the keynote speaker, I wasn't special. 'There's no ceremony in there. It was humbling in a way that I needed.' Hosted by Abbeycare's outreach manager Eddie Clarke, the show features a new guest each month who is invited to talk about their first-hand experience of addiction and recovery. It aims to reduce the stigma around drug and alcohol addiction through honest conversations, as well as demonstrating that recovery is possible. Mr Clarke said: 'I first met Darren when he had just checked into rehab with us, so it was brilliant to see how well he is doing now and to have such an honest conversation with him. 'His experiences show that even when people are enjoying great success in their careers, they can still be struggling with unaddressed addictions in the background. 'Given the levels of alcohol and drug-related harm in Scotland, it's more important than ever that we talk honestly about addiction, and that is what our podcast set out to do. 'We hope that people who might be struggling alone will listen and take heart from our guests' stories and insights over the coming months.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
24-04-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Darren McGarvey says alcohol was once his ‘whole personality'
The author, broadcaster and musician is known for his work on issues such as poverty, addiction, and politics. Having battled his own personal demons in his youth, McGarvey opened up about addiction on the second episode of Listen Up, a new podcast on recovery launched by Abbeycare. It is an alcohol and drug treatment centre in Erskine, Renfrewshire, where he was previously treated. McGarvey said he turned to drugs and alcohol for a number of reasons, including to cope with the death of his mother, as well as dealing with the ups and downs of fame. He said his addictions initially stemmed from his desire to cope with his anxiety, prompting him to use alcohol as well as drugs such as Valium and temazepam. During his appearance on the show, McGarvey said his addiction to drink began at the age of 16, shortly after the death of his mother, who was also an alcoholic. He said: 'I got handed a beer after the funeral. It wasn't just the alcohol, it was the whole situation. I was the centre of attention that day. 'I was dressed in a suit, long coat, black tie, being handed a cold beer… all that came together and activated something where I was like, 'Ah, this is what I should be doing'. 'I remember actually going back to school that day… it was like the alcohol provided a suit of armour that I immediately wanted to try out.' In 2013, McGarvey quit drinking and attended college, where he gained a qualification in journalism. In 2017, he released his first book, Poverty Safari, which won the Orwell Prize in 2018. However, around the same time, he says his drug use began to spiral out of control, citing an occasion where a scheduled broadcast interview in London was cancelled. He said: 'When that interview got pulled, it felt as if the whole thing had crumbled. It was as if I had failed, and I couldn't cope with it. Darren McGarvey, also known as Loki, pictured on the new episode of Listen Up (Abbeycare/PA) 'I ran round a Boots pharmacy and bought over-the-counter painkillers with enough codeine in them to take away the feelings that I had.' A year later, after he had been using similar drugs frequently, he checked into Abbeycare's rehabilitation clinic in Erskine, where his recovery journey began. He said: 'It was the first time I had been around ordinary folk for about two years, where I wasn't the keynote speaker, I wasn't special. 'There's no ceremony in there. It was humbling in a way that I needed.' Hosted by Abbeycare's outreach manager Eddie Clarke, the show features a new guest each month who is invited to talk about their first-hand experience of addiction and recovery. It aims to reduce the stigma around drug and alcohol addiction through honest conversations, as well as demonstrating that recovery is possible. Mr Clarke said: 'I first met Darren when he had just checked into rehab with us, so it was brilliant to see how well he is doing now and to have such an honest conversation with him. 'His experiences show that even when people are enjoying great success in their careers, they can still be struggling with unaddressed addictions in the background. 'Given the levels of alcohol and drug-related harm in Scotland, it's more important than ever that we talk honestly about addiction, and that is what our podcast set out to do. 'We hope that people who might be struggling alone will listen and take heart from our guests' stories and insights over the coming months.'
