The Rise of 'Scotlandism' and a Huge Media Announcement

Out with the old and in with the new. From Starmerism to Burnhamism, in less than three weeks' time, the UK will get its seventh Prime Minister since 2010. Andy Burnham, the newly elected MP for Makerfield, has pledged to "rewire" Britain with "further devolution" at the heart of his government, along with ambitions that will see a newly created Number 10 operation based in Manchester.

As I write in my piece in The Scotsman, I remain hopeful and want to see Andy succeed. However, for a considerable time, politics has been defined by the use of "isms": Blairism, Corbynism, and now "Manchesterism," which may eventually evolve into Burnhamism. Such "isms" denote a specific system of beliefs, principles, doctrines, or behaviours. We have turned a suffix into a noun that represents an ideology, philosophy, or social movement.

The one ism I want to hear about is "Scotlandism." Why? Because I believe in Scotland. I believe in our potential to succeed and to be a better, more progressive country. But to do so, we need to have both the UK and Scottish Governments working together to deliver for the country. You can read my full op-ed on why we must put aside hyper-partisan politics online:

It was also good to see our friend and Scotland's National Chef, Gary MacLean, in The Scotsman this week. He was talking about the future of Scotland in a way that chimes with the core ethos of Scotland 2050, reminding us that the world often has more confidence in Scotland than we have in ourselves, and urging us to rediscover our natural state of ambition to compete globally. Catch his excellent piece on The Scotsman website:

Finally, from everyone at Team Scotland 2050, we want to give a big shout-out to Steve Clarke and the Scotland team. You did us proud and acted as great ambassadors for Scotland on the world stage. On the topic of great partnerships, I'll hand you over to the team for an exciting announcement regarding next year's conference.

Best wishes,

Barrie Cunning
Founder, Scotland 2050

The Scotsman Renews as Official Media Partner!

Following the incredible momentum of our recent events, we are absolutely thrilled to share that The Scotsman has officially renewed its commitment to our mission as our official media partner for next year's conference.

To mark our continued collaboration, here is a note from Alan Young, Editor of The Scotsman:

"We are delighted to announce that we will continue to be the official media partner for next year's Scotland 2050 conference. Building on this year's success we are looking forward to supporting Scotland's leading one day conference, that brings together people from the world of business, politics and civic society with a collective shared passion and discussion about Scotland's future."

Alan Young, Editor, The Scotsman

Shape the Movement: Call for Scotland 2050 Volunteers

Scotland 2050 is a platform for everyone who wants a voice in our nation's future. As we grow, we are looking for passionate individuals to join us behind the scenes as volunteers.

While we welcome anyone eager to contribute, we are particularly keen to connect with people who can bring specific skills, professional expertise, or community connections to the table. Whether your background is in event planning, community organising, or creative arts, your unique toolkit can help supercharge the Scotland 2050 movement.

Want a quick reminder of the vision you'll be helping us build?

If you are ready to bring your skills to the journey, we want to hear from you!

Get in Touch

Barrie always keeps an open door and is genuinely keen to hear views from absolutely everyone who wants to be part of the conversation about Scotland's future.

Whether you want to pitch in as a volunteer, share an idea, or ask a question, drop us a line at: hello@scotland-2050.co.uk

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