Heckle

Scotland deserves a better debate on drugs Opponents of harm reduction cannot be allowed to dominate Scotland's drugs debate in the tragic absence of its most prominent champion, argues Sean Bell.

“Capitalism has never existed without also producing the kind of deprivation that inspires those trapped within it to seek escape by whatever means they can, even if that escape leads to oblivion.”

Thank you to everyone who came along to our sold-out event with Peter Oborne, discussing his new book Complicit - about UK complicity in Israel's genocide in Gaza.

We're still adding up all the raffle money but the event has raised over £2000 for Medical Aid for Palestinians!

Scotland deserves a better debate on drugs Opponents of harm reduction cannot be allowed to dominate Scotland's drugs debate in the tragic absence of its most prominent champion, argues Sean Bell.

Opponents of harm reduction cannot be allowed to dominate Scotland’s drugs debate in the tragic absence of its most prominent champion, argues Sean Bell. @seancmbell.bsky.social

The curious case of two empty stadiums in Hungary Football’s governing bodies have failed to take action against Israel in a shameful illustration of double standards, writes Jason Henderson.

#ICYMI: Football’s governing bodies have failed to take action against Israel in a shameful illustration of double standards, wrote Jason Henderson in August. #SCOBEL

Sailing for Palestine: Interview with a member of the Global Sumud Flotilla Heckle's Jennifer Debs speaks to Nico Calabrese, an Argentinian-Brazilian activist sailing to Gaza with the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Heckle’s Jennifer Debs speaks to Nico Calabrese, an Argentinian-Brazilian activist sailing to Gaza with the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Obviously, this article was filed before it happened, so my thanks to Keir Starmer for proving my point with his latest characteristically stupid intervention.

‘Progressive patriotism’ cannot distract from fight against the far-right As flags force their way to the forefront of political discourse, Sean Bell urges those on the left to resist the lure of so-called

As flags force their way to the forefront of political discourse, Sean Bell urges those on the left to resist the lure of so-called “progressive patriotism”. @seancmbell.bsky.social

I Have Friends Everywhere: An ‘Andor’ radical discussion group Fans of the Star Wars series Andor are planning a six-week discussion group to explore and develop its radical political themes.

Fans of the Star Wars series Andor are planning a six-week discussion group to explore and develop its radical political themes.

The UK’s ‘recognition’ of a Palestinian state is worse than worthless Keir Starmer’s plan to reluctantly recognise a Palestinian state is too little, too late – and will do nothing to bring an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, writes Sean Bell.

Keir Starmer’s plan to reluctantly recognise a Palestinian state is too little, too late – and will do nothing to bring an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, writes Sean Bell. @seancmbell.bsky.social heckle.scot/2025/08/the-...

The curious case of two empty Hungarian football stadiums Football’s governing bodies have failed to take action against Israel in a shameful illustration of double standards, writes Jason Henderson.

Football’s governing bodies have failed to take action against Israel in a shameful illustration of double standards, writes Jason Henderson.

Living Rent and the fight for an affordable Edinburgh Fringe Heckle speaks to Living Rent’s Edinburgh City Chair, Joshua Climax, about what needs to be done to deliver a fairer Fringe.

Heckle speaks to Living Rent’s Edinburgh City Chair, Joshua Climax, about what needs to be done to deliver a fairer Fringe. @living-rent.bsky.social @seancmbell.bsky.social

‘The worst people in American politics are so mad’: Zohran Mamdani’s victory and its aftermath Sean Bell explores how Zohran Mamdani overcame the panicked red-baiting of New York's great and good to become the Democratic candidate for mayor.

Sean Bell explores how Zohran Mamdani overcame the panicked red-baiting of New York’s great and good to become the Democratic candidate for mayor. @seancmbell.bsky.social

STATEMENT: Palestine Action ban is latest UK assault on democracy - Republican Socialist Platform Labour’s plan to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation is a disgraceful assault on the right to protest and the latest illustration of the UK state’s authoritarianism. Palestine Actio...

The Republican Socialist Platform has described the proposed banning of Palestine Action by Keir Starmer’s UK government as another move to suppress criticism of Israel, as seen by the criminal prosecution of Kneecap while UK ministers meet and aid the actual war criminals of Israel.

I love LA.

The Battle for Los Angeles Sean Bell writes in solidarity with the protesters confronting ICE in Los Angeles and across the United States.

Sean Bell writes in solidarity with the protesters facing down ICE and Trump’s war on immigrants in Los Angeles. @seancmbell.bsky.social

Review: An October in Catalonia Nearly seven years on from Catalonia's so-called illegal referendum, Sean Bell reviews a new Marxist analysis of events which garnered much attention and sympathy in Scotland.

Nearly seven years on from Catalonia’s so-called illegal referendum, Sean Bell reviews a new Marxist analysis of the events which garnered much attention and sympathy in Scotland. @seancmbell.bsky.social

The Heckle editorial board expresses our deepest condolences to Peter’s family, including his two sons, and all of his friends and colleagues. 5/5

Historic step forward will not end Scottish drug deaths Harm reduction campaigner Peter Krykant challenges the Scottish Government to do much more to tackle the drug deaths crisis.

Writing for Heckle in January, Peter welcomed the opening of The Thistle while warning that much more was necessary to tackle the drug deaths emergency, including widening access to street drug alternatives. We encourage readers to revisit that article today. 4/5

It is hard to imagine that The Thistle, the “official” safer drug consumption facility opened on a pilot basis by Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership earlier this year, would exist if not for Peter’s initiative. 3/5

Five years ago, Peter carried out what will be remembered as one of the most effective acts of civil disobedience in modern Scottish history when he established an unofficial overdose prevention site in Glasgow. 2/5

Heckle is deeply upset to learn of the sudden passing this week of harm reduction campaigner Peter Krykant. 1/5

Scotland needs a new left party to fight the far-right Chairperson Owen Maitland sets out why the Scottish Socialist Youth have called for the establishment of a new left party.

Chairperson Owen Maitland sets out why the Scottish Socialist Youth (@ssynational.bsky.social) have called for the establishment of a new left party.

Ending Democracy: Lessons and Warnings from South Korea Ewan Forrest discusses the recent Martial Law crisis in South Korea, what it tells us about democratic backsliding, and how to resist a coup d'etat.

As South Korea elects a new president, we’re revisiting this piece from last month where Ewan Forrest explored the country’s martial law crisis, what it tells us about democratic backsliding, and how to resist a coup d’état.

Apologies to anyone who found themselves unable to access the heckle.scot website earlier today.

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By-election Q&A: Katy Loudon, Scottish National Party Katy Loudon, the Scottish National Party candidate in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, answers three questions posed by Heckle.

We're pleased to now have responses from @katyloudonsnp.bsky.social, the @snp.org candidate.

She told Heckle that Nigel Farage “should be apologising to the people of Scotland for the harm he has caused”.

By-election Q&A: Collette Bradley, Scottish Socialist Party Collette Bradley, the Scottish Socialist Party candidate in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, answers three questions posed by Heckle.

Collette Bradley, standing for @thessp.bsky.social, told Heckle she would “reject the big £75k MSP salary all other candidates will happily pocket”. 4/6

By-election Q&A: Ann McGuinness, Scottish Green Party Ann McGuinness, the Scottish Green Party candidate in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, answers three questions posed by Heckle.

Ann McGuinness, the @scottishgreens.org candidate, told Heckle about her focus on “using the tools in the hands of the Scottish Parliament to make life better for normal people”. 3/6