Doug Gay
@douggay.bsky.social
Theology Lecturer Glasgow Uni, Kirk Minister, Nat - art, music, ethics, politics, economics.
From Galloway now in Govan
Ministry work at Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church
From Galloway now in Govan
Ministry work at Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church
What is digital governance?🖥️👩💻
"It refers to the wider system in which governments use digital technologies. This includes data systems, digital IDs, real-time dashboards, and civic tech platforms."
"It refers to the wider system in which governments use digital technologies. This includes data systems, digital IDs, real-time dashboards, and civic tech platforms."
Why Democracy Needs to Go Digital | Journal of Democracy
Faith in democracy is fading, as citizens increasingly find self-rule slow, tired, and opaque. It’s time for democratic institutions to lean into the tech revolution. Digital governance isn’t a gadget…
www.journalofdemocracy.org
December 1, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Reposted by Doug Gay
Skint, baw ragged, poackets ful eh ma
fingers, cannae afford tae burn toast an
it’s November. Christmas is close…
—William Letford, “This is it”
Published in DIRT, @carcanet.bsky.social 2016
#poem #poetry
www.carcanet.co.uk/978178410200...
fingers, cannae afford tae burn toast an
it’s November. Christmas is close…
—William Letford, “This is it”
Published in DIRT, @carcanet.bsky.social 2016
#poem #poetry
www.carcanet.co.uk/978178410200...
November 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Skint, baw ragged, poackets ful eh ma
fingers, cannae afford tae burn toast an
it’s November. Christmas is close…
—William Letford, “This is it”
Published in DIRT, @carcanet.bsky.social 2016
#poem #poetry
www.carcanet.co.uk/978178410200...
fingers, cannae afford tae burn toast an
it’s November. Christmas is close…
—William Letford, “This is it”
Published in DIRT, @carcanet.bsky.social 2016
#poem #poetry
www.carcanet.co.uk/978178410200...
Reposted by Doug Gay
Calls are being made for a mural of 'Scotland's best goal ever', just a stone's throw from where it was scored in Glasgow
Calls for mural just a stone's throw from where 'Scotland's best goal' scored
www.thenational.scot
November 27, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Calls are being made for a mural of 'Scotland's best goal ever', just a stone's throw from where it was scored in Glasgow
Reposted by Doug Gay
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
November 27, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
Reposted by Doug Gay
Net migration to UK drops 69% year on year, ONS says
Net migration to UK drops 69% year on year, ONS says
Figure of 204,000 in 12 months to June 2025 is lowest since 2021, statistics body says
*
UK politics live – latest updates
Net migration to the UK was an estimated 204,000 in the 12 months to June 2025, down 69% year on year and the lowest annual figure since 2021, the Office for National Statistics said.
More details soon …
Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Net migration to UK drops 69% year on year, ONS says
Reposted by Doug Gay
Dinnae get mad at this patronising twaddle – it’s a sure sign of Labour’s nerves, writes Lesley Riddoch ✍️
🔗 www.thenational.scot/politi...
🔗 www.thenational.scot/politi...
November 27, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Dinnae get mad at this patronising twaddle – it’s a sure sign of Labour’s nerves, writes Lesley Riddoch ✍️
🔗 www.thenational.scot/politi...
🔗 www.thenational.scot/politi...
Reposted by Doug Gay
NEW: I wrote about Thermify's HeatHub technology, which acts as a mini data centre. Installed in sheds or outhouses, it gets hot enough to heat people's homes!
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
Sheds and garages to become mini data centres in low-cost heating drive
A UK firm says distributed computing can tackle fuel poverty
www.thereengineer.pro
November 27, 2025 at 9:02 AM
NEW: I wrote about Thermify's HeatHub technology, which acts as a mini data centre. Installed in sheds or outhouses, it gets hot enough to heat people's homes!
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
www.thereengineer.pro/p/sheds-and-...
Reposted by Doug Gay
New net migration figures at 930am.
Net migration fell half a million to 344,000 in 2024 from 848k in 2023
56% of people think it went up last year
17% think stayed the same
14% think it went down
2025 figure to be lower again
16% expect that
38% think it will be up
31% about the same
Net migration fell half a million to 344,000 in 2024 from 848k in 2023
56% of people think it went up last year
17% think stayed the same
14% think it went down
2025 figure to be lower again
16% expect that
38% think it will be up
31% about the same
November 27, 2025 at 7:54 AM
New net migration figures at 930am.
Net migration fell half a million to 344,000 in 2024 from 848k in 2023
56% of people think it went up last year
17% think stayed the same
14% think it went down
2025 figure to be lower again
16% expect that
38% think it will be up
31% about the same
Net migration fell half a million to 344,000 in 2024 from 848k in 2023
56% of people think it went up last year
17% think stayed the same
14% think it went down
2025 figure to be lower again
16% expect that
38% think it will be up
31% about the same
Reposted by Doug Gay
"What is the best-kept secret in British politics? It must be falling immigration. Almost everyone knows that immigration hit record highs... Few realise the last couple of years have seen some of the biggest ever reductions too." @sundersays.bsky.social
www.easterneye.biz/uk-immigrati...
www.easterneye.biz/uk-immigrati...
November 27, 2025 at 10:35 AM
"What is the best-kept secret in British politics? It must be falling immigration. Almost everyone knows that immigration hit record highs... Few realise the last couple of years have seen some of the biggest ever reductions too." @sundersays.bsky.social
www.easterneye.biz/uk-immigrati...
www.easterneye.biz/uk-immigrati...
Reposted by Doug Gay
Ex Dresdner Kleinwort investment banker Tim Horlick, who was previously married to City Superwoman Nicola Horlick (née Gayford), bought an £8.5m Pimlico flat after supplying 50 million faulty PPE masks. He has now had a criminal restraint order imposed on the property. Ben Ellery in @thetimes.com
Financier’s £8.5m flat frozen amid tax investigation over PPE deal
Tim Horlick bought the Pimlico property shortly after his company was awarded the now-contentious £255m contract by the government
www.thetimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Ex Dresdner Kleinwort investment banker Tim Horlick, who was previously married to City Superwoman Nicola Horlick (née Gayford), bought an £8.5m Pimlico flat after supplying 50 million faulty PPE masks. He has now had a criminal restraint order imposed on the property. Ben Ellery in @thetimes.com
Reposted by Doug Gay
A gable and turret from a neighbouring 1860s Victorian gothic church reflected in a window of the 2010s Gurdwara Singh Sahba on Claremonth Street in the West End of Glasgow.
Cont./
#glasgow #architecture #architecturephotography #reflection
Cont./
#glasgow #architecture #architecturephotography #reflection
November 25, 2025 at 9:09 AM
A gable and turret from a neighbouring 1860s Victorian gothic church reflected in a window of the 2010s Gurdwara Singh Sahba on Claremonth Street in the West End of Glasgow.
Cont./
#glasgow #architecture #architecturephotography #reflection
Cont./
#glasgow #architecture #architecturephotography #reflection
Reposted by Doug Gay
Portrait of Frances Eaton
(mid 19th c) by British painter Joanna Boyce. The sitter was a Jamaican-born Londoner & artists´ model for the Pre-Raphaelites who moved to England as a child, and appeared in a number of paintings #womensart
(mid 19th c) by British painter Joanna Boyce. The sitter was a Jamaican-born Londoner & artists´ model for the Pre-Raphaelites who moved to England as a child, and appeared in a number of paintings #womensart
November 27, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Portrait of Frances Eaton
(mid 19th c) by British painter Joanna Boyce. The sitter was a Jamaican-born Londoner & artists´ model for the Pre-Raphaelites who moved to England as a child, and appeared in a number of paintings #womensart
(mid 19th c) by British painter Joanna Boyce. The sitter was a Jamaican-born Londoner & artists´ model for the Pre-Raphaelites who moved to England as a child, and appeared in a number of paintings #womensart
Reposted by Doug Gay
The five they haven't done:
Allow councils to keep right to buy money; scrap tuition fees for teacher training; halt HS2 sell-offs; scrap salary rule for foreign partners of British citizens).
They had to be ideas that didn't require legislation and were collectively broadly cost neutral.
Allow councils to keep right to buy money; scrap tuition fees for teacher training; halt HS2 sell-offs; scrap salary rule for foreign partners of British citizens).
They had to be ideas that didn't require legislation and were collectively broadly cost neutral.
November 27, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The five they haven't done:
Allow councils to keep right to buy money; scrap tuition fees for teacher training; halt HS2 sell-offs; scrap salary rule for foreign partners of British citizens).
They had to be ideas that didn't require legislation and were collectively broadly cost neutral.
Allow councils to keep right to buy money; scrap tuition fees for teacher training; halt HS2 sell-offs; scrap salary rule for foreign partners of British citizens).
They had to be ideas that didn't require legislation and were collectively broadly cost neutral.
Reposted by Doug Gay
Just occured to me that following the budget the government has now done five of the ten "quick wins" I suggested for their their first few months. Took them a little longer...
(Two child limit; processing asylum seekers; indexing tuition fees; increasing depts delegated authority; ethics rules)
(Two child limit; processing asylum seekers; indexing tuition fees; increasing depts delegated authority; ethics rules)
November 27, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Just occured to me that following the budget the government has now done five of the ten "quick wins" I suggested for their their first few months. Took them a little longer...
(Two child limit; processing asylum seekers; indexing tuition fees; increasing depts delegated authority; ethics rules)
(Two child limit; processing asylum seekers; indexing tuition fees; increasing depts delegated authority; ethics rules)
Reposted by Doug Gay
Also new today @migrationscotland.bsky.social is their latest study of Scottish attitudes: 45% would like reduced overall numbers, but favour maintaining current flows for work & study. Some hardening & some political polarisation in Scotland but nuanced public views beneath the political clashes
Out today: MPS Attitudes to Immigration in Scotland survey 2025
migrationpolicyscotland.org.uk/publications...
migrationpolicyscotland.org.uk/publications...
Attitudes to Immigration in Scotland: Changing, complex, contradictory - Migration Policy Scotland
The third wave of Migration Policy Scotland’s annual representative survey provides a detailed picture of how views are evolving. This attitudinal survey series provides policymakers and others with e...
migrationpolicyscotland.org.uk
November 27, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Also new today @migrationscotland.bsky.social is their latest study of Scottish attitudes: 45% would like reduced overall numbers, but favour maintaining current flows for work & study. Some hardening & some political polarisation in Scotland but nuanced public views beneath the political clashes
Reposted by Doug Gay
i mean not to prejudge this, but the cyber expert is likely to say 'yeah you hit publish, mate'
OBR calls in cyber expert over botched release of Budget analysis
OBR calls in cyber expert over botched release of Budget analysis
Rachel Reeves's statement was thrown into chaos after journalists were able to access the document early.
www.bbc.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:25 AM
i mean not to prejudge this, but the cyber expert is likely to say 'yeah you hit publish, mate'
Reposted by Doug Gay
Given that the BBC endlessly gives platforms to lobbyists from the dark money junktanks without revealing their interests, shouldn't we be seeing such apologies every day?
Better still, how about not doing it? If they want to appear, we should know on whose behalf they are speaking.
Better still, how about not doing it? If they want to appear, we should know on whose behalf they are speaking.
Exclusive: The BBC has issued an apology after one of its presenters failed to challenge a climate-sceptic lobbyist who runs a group that has received funding from fossil-fuel interests
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/b...
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/b...
BBC Apologises for Failing to Challenge 'Dark Money' Climate-Denial Lobbyist
EXCLUSIVE: BBC faces fresh allegations of bias after corporation admits interview with ‘Net Zero Watch’ lobbying chief Andrew Montford 'fell below usual standards'
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Given that the BBC endlessly gives platforms to lobbyists from the dark money junktanks without revealing their interests, shouldn't we be seeing such apologies every day?
Better still, how about not doing it? If they want to appear, we should know on whose behalf they are speaking.
Better still, how about not doing it? If they want to appear, we should know on whose behalf they are speaking.
Reposted by Doug Gay
“Scottishness is not some pedigree lineage. This is a mongrel tradition!”
William McIlvanney (1936–2015) – author & poet (& provider, at a rally in Edinburgh in 1992, of our profile header, as quoted in Neal Ascherson’s 2002 book STONE VOICES) – was born #OTD, 25 November
A 🎂 🧵
💙📚
1/9
William McIlvanney (1936–2015) – author & poet (& provider, at a rally in Edinburgh in 1992, of our profile header, as quoted in Neal Ascherson’s 2002 book STONE VOICES) – was born #OTD, 25 November
A 🎂 🧵
💙📚
1/9
November 25, 2025 at 2:06 PM
“Scottishness is not some pedigree lineage. This is a mongrel tradition!”
William McIlvanney (1936–2015) – author & poet (& provider, at a rally in Edinburgh in 1992, of our profile header, as quoted in Neal Ascherson’s 2002 book STONE VOICES) – was born #OTD, 25 November
A 🎂 🧵
💙📚
1/9
William McIlvanney (1936–2015) – author & poet (& provider, at a rally in Edinburgh in 1992, of our profile header, as quoted in Neal Ascherson’s 2002 book STONE VOICES) – was born #OTD, 25 November
A 🎂 🧵
💙📚
1/9
Reposted by Doug Gay
The case of Hungary shows how autocrats can rig elections legally, using legislative majorities to change the law and neutralize the opposition at every turn, no matter what strategy they adopt.
How Viktor Orbán Wins | Journal of Democracy
The case of Hungary shows how autocrats can rig elections legally, using legislative majorities to change the law and neutralize the opposition at every turn, no matter what strategy they adopt.
www.journalofdemocracy.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The case of Hungary shows how autocrats can rig elections legally, using legislative majorities to change the law and neutralize the opposition at every turn, no matter what strategy they adopt.
Reposted by Doug Gay
1/ This is a devastatingly good article on RFK Jr by @michaelscherer.bsky.social. Even if you’re someone, like me, who has followed this arc and his devastating impact on public health, it’s a must read. Gift link: www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Why Is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. So Convinced He’s Right?
How an outsider, once ignored by the public-health establishment, became the most powerful man in science
www.theatlantic.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
1/ This is a devastatingly good article on RFK Jr by @michaelscherer.bsky.social. Even if you’re someone, like me, who has followed this arc and his devastating impact on public health, it’s a must read. Gift link: www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by Doug Gay
In 2023/24, UK govt gave £78.2bn tax relief on pension contributions.
32% benefitted 29.2m basic rate (20%) taxpayers.
68% went to higher and additional rate (40% and 45%) tax payers.
Equalizing tax relief at 20% to all, leaves govt £14.5bn spare to alleviate poverty.
32% benefitted 29.2m basic rate (20%) taxpayers.
68% went to higher and additional rate (40% and 45%) tax payers.
Equalizing tax relief at 20% to all, leaves govt £14.5bn spare to alleviate poverty.
This is how Rachel Reeves could deliver a progressive budget
The chancellor has an opportunity to boost the public purpose and deliver redistribution
leftfootforward.org
November 23, 2025 at 10:01 AM
In 2023/24, UK govt gave £78.2bn tax relief on pension contributions.
32% benefitted 29.2m basic rate (20%) taxpayers.
68% went to higher and additional rate (40% and 45%) tax payers.
Equalizing tax relief at 20% to all, leaves govt £14.5bn spare to alleviate poverty.
32% benefitted 29.2m basic rate (20%) taxpayers.
68% went to higher and additional rate (40% and 45%) tax payers.
Equalizing tax relief at 20% to all, leaves govt £14.5bn spare to alleviate poverty.
Reposted by Doug Gay
Scrapping the two-child limit *is* welfare reform. Defining ‘reform’ solely as ‘cut’ is one reason why it’s proved so difficult
November 23, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Scrapping the two-child limit *is* welfare reform. Defining ‘reform’ solely as ‘cut’ is one reason why it’s proved so difficult
Reposted by Doug Gay
Smoke in the woods
like someone walking in a silent film
beside the tracks…
—John Burnside, “Signal Stop, Near Horsley”
published in SELECTED POEMS (Cape, 2006)
#poem #poetry
www.penguin.co.uk/books/389400...
like someone walking in a silent film
beside the tracks…
—John Burnside, “Signal Stop, Near Horsley”
published in SELECTED POEMS (Cape, 2006)
#poem #poetry
www.penguin.co.uk/books/389400...
November 18, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Smoke in the woods
like someone walking in a silent film
beside the tracks…
—John Burnside, “Signal Stop, Near Horsley”
published in SELECTED POEMS (Cape, 2006)
#poem #poetry
www.penguin.co.uk/books/389400...
like someone walking in a silent film
beside the tracks…
—John Burnside, “Signal Stop, Near Horsley”
published in SELECTED POEMS (Cape, 2006)
#poem #poetry
www.penguin.co.uk/books/389400...
Reposted by Doug Gay
More than four in 10 girls (44%) in Scotland do not feel safe outside by themselves, new research has found
4 in 10 Scottish girls do not feel safe outside alone, new survey reveals
www.thenational.scot
November 4, 2025 at 2:29 PM
More than four in 10 girls (44%) in Scotland do not feel safe outside by themselves, new research has found
Reposted by Doug Gay
Wan o the 1%:
Ian Hamilton Finlay
FOX
see me
wan time
ah wis a fox
an wis ah sleekit! ah
gaed slinkin
heh
an snappin
yeh
the blokes
aa sayed ah wis a GREAT fox
aw nae kiddin
ah wis pretty good
had a whole damn wood
in them days
hen
Ian Hamilton Finlay
FOX
see me
wan time
ah wis a fox
an wis ah sleekit! ah
gaed slinkin
heh
an snappin
yeh
the blokes
aa sayed ah wis a GREAT fox
aw nae kiddin
ah wis pretty good
had a whole damn wood
in them days
hen
Heads up: if you are describing a fox, there’s like a 99% chance that you will use the adjective ‘sly.’
November 4, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Wan o the 1%:
Ian Hamilton Finlay
FOX
see me
wan time
ah wis a fox
an wis ah sleekit! ah
gaed slinkin
heh
an snappin
yeh
the blokes
aa sayed ah wis a GREAT fox
aw nae kiddin
ah wis pretty good
had a whole damn wood
in them days
hen
Ian Hamilton Finlay
FOX
see me
wan time
ah wis a fox
an wis ah sleekit! ah
gaed slinkin
heh
an snappin
yeh
the blokes
aa sayed ah wis a GREAT fox
aw nae kiddin
ah wis pretty good
had a whole damn wood
in them days
hen