THE SCOPE Issue 12
Meet the Team
Seaworld: a place where lockdown is a reality Olivia Gardner investigates the negative sides of Sea World.
In 2013 the world became outraged at Seaworld after the release of the Blackfish documentary. The documentary showed the appalling abuse and horrifying conditions that the orcas captured by Seaworld face. Now, 7 years on, I wonder if Seaworld has made any drastic changes to the way their parks are run, or if their animal welfare has increased. Seaworld is a tourist attraction which houses aquatic animals and offers the chance to get up close and personal with marine life. There are 3 parks, which are all in the United States, one in Orlando, one in San Antonio and one in San Diegeo. Although there have been major changes made to the way Seaworld is run, there are still several things that the parks have kept the same. Firstly, Seaworld is still continuing to advertise to the public that the ocean is an unhealthy place for sea animals to asafer living in Seaworld. In fact in 2015, Seaworld spent a large sum of money on a campaign that tried to convince viewers that it was extremely dangerous for orcas to live in the ocean. Yes, you read that correctly, the Seaworld owner actually believes that orcas don’t belong in the place that they were born and raised. Instead, he believes they should be kept in captivity. The advert was a massive fail and was mocked by thousands of people for being so ridiculous and ignorant. Seaworld was also visited and cited by OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration), for the second time, as there were claims that they were failing to comply with the proper safety training for their staff. This resulted in them being fined $25,770. This was obviously very dangerous and put the staff’s lives at risk, as orcas are five times bigger than humans. The fact that this was OSHA’s second visit proves that Seaworld does not put their employees safety first. Additionally, Seaworld is continuing to separate mother and baby orcas far too early. In 2014, Seaworld released a photograph of a mother orca swimming with her baby. This photo was released be-
cause Seaworld was trying to prove that they do care about the importance of bonding between mother and child. However, this caused major backlash once people found out that the mother orca, Takara, had been separated from her calf, Kohana, when she was just 4 years old. Zoologists confirmed that this is very young for a calf to be separated as it is still dependent on its mother and in the wild orcas usually stick with their calves for their entire lives. Takara was kept in the Seaworld in San Antonio, Texas whilst Kohana was moved to Loro Parque in Tenerife, which proves once again that Seaworld is only interested in making money. One the other hand, the good news is that there have been several changes since the release of the Blackfish documentary. One of the big major adjustments at Seaworld is that a new CEO was appointed. Joel Manby was appointed CEO after Jim Atchinson resigned following the release of the documentary. Many suggested various improvements to the way the parks are run such as banning orca breeding and the remodelling of enclosures. Unfortunately, Joe Manby stepped down as CEO in 2018 after failing to make the severe changes he promised to make. Another major change that was made was the Blue World Project being introduced. The Blue World Project was a one million dollar program which was initiated to remodel and convert the old enclosures into more spacious, modern ones. This project was brought into place after the documentary brought to light the true size of the tanks that the sea animals were being kept in. Another significant change was that the parks began to advertise the attractions rather than the animals. After the release of Blackfish, the amount of people visiting Seaworld dramatically decreased. Several new attractions were added to the parks to attract more customers. In all 3 locations, theme parks were introduced. These included several thrill rides such
as Infinity Falls, a river rapid, and Mako, a high speed hyper coaster. Not only were these rides brought in to bring new customers but some were based on the animals living in the park. Such as the Manta roller coaster which is meant to make you feel like a giant ray gliding through the ocean. One of the biggest and most important changes that was made is that the Orca Protection Act was brought in throughout all of the parks. The Orca Protection Act was a law that was brought in to ban the breeding of orcas. This was something that Seaworld had previously engaged in so it was a step in the right direction for animal welfare groups, the fact that this law was passed. The final change that was made to the parks is that the orca shows have been phased out. Instead of there being short periods of time between orca shows, they have now been spread out so that there are now at least two and a half hours between each show. Now, the show focuses more on educating viewers about orcas and their lifestyle rather than only using them for entertainment purposes. As you can see, although several new changes have been made to the way the parks are run, there are still a massive amount of changes that need to be made to not only increase the animals welfare but also to increase the animals happiness. The fact that the CEO of Seaworld has changed numerous times also shows the problems of Seaworld. Someone who actually cares about the animals, rather than the money needs to be appointed. Either that or these parks need to be shut down. So you should think about this one question: how would you feel being stuck in a cage your whole life without your family?
Eco-Fascism Meredith Rae explores the worrying attempts to link the damage of corona-virus with an environmental ‘fightback’ Coronavirus. Normal life has come to a rearing halt. An increasing number of governments across the globe are enforcing lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19. No more rush hour traffic. No more busy public transport. No more normal. The farthest we leave our house is to take the wheelie bins out. Whilst, individually, we can only help in micro ways, the country as a whole has pulled together. As our lives are increasingly becoming consumed by the threat of coronavirus, and our homes becoming our world, the way we report on the virus is becoming more and more important. With all of this news coverage in the world right now, we usually find ourselves asking similar questions. How will it impact our economy? How will it impact our environment? Many news articles, graphs and stories show us how Earth is thriving without humans during the (almost) global lockdown. Naturally, in moments like this, we are trying to look on the bright side and focus on the positive things that could come from this. For example, the growing community spirit and the increased support for our NHS. In other ways, we could appreciate the ways our environment is benefitting. The recent stillness in the world has meant that in northeast areas of the US air pollution has dropped by an impressive 30 percent. Isn’t that incredible?! Yet when reading this I cannot help but think it is dangerously teetering on providing ecofascism as a narrative. Simply put, ecofascism refers to the idea that, in order to fix our environment, it has to come with a price; we would need
to sacrifice our own citizens and counterparts. An example of this is the typical rhetoric like population control and notions that minority groups are an invasive species that are a threat to the environment itself - interacting with the racism, xenophobia and nationalism present in the region. However, in today’s context, everyday people are arguing that COVID-19 is going to be earth’s vaccine against humans and is a ‘sign’ or a ‘punishment’ for the damage we have done. A well-published example is the viral images of dolphins returning to Venice’s canals and the fact we are finding ourselves with cleaner air. National Geographic has since debunked these pictures as they were filmed at a port in Sardinia, hundreds of miles away. However, this could be a slippery slope when these articles go beyond rejoicing the return of nature and the improvement of our environment to justifying human deaths to preserve the environment. I feel that it’s a tad morbid to suggest that we should allow people to die because a few rivers are looking healthier in (fake) photos. Instead, should we not be using this time to reevaluate our systems, identifying how to adapt for the climate crisis and build safety nets like paid leave and universal child care? This would be a stronger response to allow developing a planet where it is a better place for us all to live. At this current moment in time, globally, coronavirus is disproportionately affecting minorities - largely affecting the disabled community and our ageing population, whilst also putting impoverished
people massively at risk respectively. However, it doesn’t take a scientist to tell you that there are no advantages from lives being lost and that the most vulnerable people in our country being put in danger will never bring any benefits. We have to be really careful and sensitive in the way that we discuss and report on this issue and its effects. In all honesty I find the argument that COVID-19 is the earth’s vaccine against humans whilst the virus wreaks havoc all over the world, and kills thousands of people daily very distasteful. Especially as the majority being affected are working-class and many of whom, worldwide, don’t have access to suitable healthcare. Not only is this attitude extremely unhelpful at times like these but is also verging on being dangerous if we continue this perspective. Ecofascism won’t slow the devastation that is climate change, especially during a global pandemic. Currently we are seeing conversations on social media of people arguing that the impoverished, disabled and ageing population should sacrifice themselves in order for the rest of us to live. I view this as not only being distasteful and morally reprehensible, but is also a misunderstanding of the larger problem occurring. Coronavirus isn’t a “detox” for Earth; it’s disrupting the destructive systems that we have become accustomed to.
The Lasting Effects of the 2020 Exam Results
Amy Cardno explores the political impacts of the 2020 Exam Results scandal. Finally, the 75,000 candidates have received their teacher estimates, replacing their original grades and they have been given the replacement certificates being sent out by the SQA. However, this fiasco is far from over. These grades are something that are going to affect these candidates for the rest of their lives, and society isn’t letting the SQA and Scottish Government forget that. We all know the debacle that is the 2020 Scottish Exam Results, but this blunder isn’t going away anytime soon. The 2021 Scottish Exam Diet claims to be “going ahead as normal” but there has had to be ‘changes’ to the curriculum by the SQA. These “changes” have caused yet another outcry, but this time, among teachers. In order to ‘support’ the candidates heading into the 2021 exam timetable, the SQA have stated that some elements that make up the exam will be excluded. However, this will only happen in some subjects, not all, therefore causing teacher objections. How can some subjects still include all the elements of the course, and others need so much taken out in order to make it fair for candidates. It doesn’t make any sense. The power of the people forced the U-turn the government created to exam results. This showed how much capability this new generation holds.Protests were organised by SQA candidates on August 7th in George Square as well as the SQA headquarters in Dalkeith. Over 100 people joined in with the protest and more than 35,000 people showed their support online. These protests were organised in order to make the Scottish Government ‘see sense’. Ignoring the public never looks good for members of parliament. Even so, the power of the people is inspiring , and it’s something the general public has to cling onto. In this current pandemic we must get get answers to our questions and hold the government to account The SQA, the Scottish Qualifications Authority, is the statutory awarding body for qualifications in Scotland.However this year people will have gained a lot more knowledge about this organization; for all the wrong reasons. One of the questions that keeps circling round and round again is: are we undoubtedly in need of the SQA? Will the teachers be unsupported without the SQA? Can we really just depend on the teachers? The actual answer is most likely, yes. We can. The majority of the teaching association have argued that the need for the SQA has slowly decreased over the years and this year that opinion has had a dramatic increase, and not only within the teaching association. The equal argument, however, is that the SQA does create the final exam paper for the candidates to sit. Without the SQA the struggle to uphold the need for exam papers may become too much. That would certainly cause some uproar amongst the public, and certainly the SQA candidates. Nevertheless, each individual school’s teachers create the prelim paper that students sit in November. So, surely if a prelim paper can be created by teachers (which is almost identical to final exam papers),a final exam paper can be created by teachers as well. Even the final exam papers could be ‘dished out’ amongst schooling teachers in order to
be marked. Therefore, if they have the capability to mark and create almost identical papers, fabricating the final exam paper shouldn’t cause any difficulty amongst teachers. Not certainly, as teachers have little time as it is. Throughout the school year teachers of the senior phase are expected to fit in homework, tests, assignments and all the marking that comes with it. Whilst also correcting assignments and also being there for support. Not to mention, they have a life outside of the school building that requires a lot of time also. As we can see,the importance of the SQA debate remains very much divided. Nonetheless, the SQA remains in place for the time being. The whole exam disaster has also led some to pose the question as to whether exams are needed at all.Exams are the starting point for a young person’s career and is one of the most stressful and important things in life. However, the pressure and anxiety that gets built up by adults affects pupils massively and in the worst way possible. Many have even let the stress and anxiety affect them that much that they don’t perform to their full potential. This most likely ends up damaging their future career and their lives. Is all this pressure and stress put on our young generation really worth it? These confrontations spiked the argument that exams are perhaps not needed. Many people argue that teachers’ grades are just as good an estimate as an examination sitting. Due to the fact that the teachers get the opportunity to see students in the classroom, away from the stress of an exam paper. With class assessments and assignments, teachers get to see the inquisitive side of the students, something that gets completely avoided by the SQA and is a quality that deserves to be acknowledged. We all know who everybody is pointing the finger at for this catastrophe - Mr John Swinney. The number of backtracks made by this man has confused the general public. His ‘system’ has almost totally lost all its meaning and how it works. Can we really trust the system considering all the secrets and information that has been kept from us? Probably not. And from a student’s perspective I certainly don’t. Mr Swinney certainly has lost a lot of support during this pandemic.The students and parents haven’t been scared to show their anger, from messages to emails to protests. Swinney certainly hasn’t been feeling the love, and it doesn’t look like this will be changing anytime soon. With all the uncertainty of next year’s exam diet, Swinney most certainly isn’t ‘learning from his mistakes’. He is still withholding important information and leaving teachers and students left wandering in the dark. John Swinney has undoubtedly damaged his reputation for the people of Scotland and for his ‘system’ and he’s getting no sympathy from anybody. The future of exams is still unknown, much like John Swinney’s future career but one thing is for certain, 2020 certainly isn’t going to be forgotten. Unfortunately it’s all for the wrong reasons. Society isn’t letting the SQA and Scottish Government forget the disaster that they caused this year.
The UK is Not Innocent Neve Moore takes a look at the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement and its relevance in the UK. Following the tragic death of George Floyd, an innocent black man who was a victim of extreme police brutality, America decided to fight back against the mistreatment of black people in society through rallies, riots and remonstrance. Although many were peaceful, protestors quickly got a bad reputation amongst news outlets. They were portrayed as violent, aggressive and belligerent looters who were only searching for an excuse to riot. The protests received incredible amounts of media attention and became known all over the world. Despite measures put in place to shut demonstrations down, such as curfews and threats, thousands of protesters attended. Before long, the UK began their own protests in major cities like London, Manchester and Glasgow to show support for the black community. People wanted to ensure that the Black Lives Matter movement’s manifesto was spread even further across the globe. However many seemed to question the motives behind the protests, asking why the UK were protesting when George Floyd was an American citizen and police brutality is a predominantly American issue. They claimed the young people of the UK wanted any opportunity to evoke havoc after the long quarantine period. Nevertheless, protests for equality in the UK are essential as well. On the surface, police prejudice and brutality against people of colour may seem like a problem of the past for the UKbut this,quite frankly, is not true. Even out-
side of the police, racism and discrimation is still a major problem in the UK - British people are not as accepting as they appear . An clear example of this is that the UK electorate willingingly voted for a man with an openly racist background to become their Prime Minister and make major decisions for their country.
All officers denied seeing any severe physical injuries on Rigg. Yet there were several images of obvious injuries to his face and right shoulder, where he had also been restrained. Only one officer was prosecuted but found not guilty. No officer was arrested or convicted for the blatant assault and excessive force used against Sean Riggs.
The law enforcement system in the USA is very often viewed as corrupt. Officers within law enforcement are heavily protected from facing real punishments for crimes that they commit - many people believe that justice is never served to its full extent if the perpetrator is an officer. Although, the UK police system is not quite as amoral. Most people receive the same treatment within a courtroom, regardless of profession, but this doesn’t mean some UK officers don’t take their authoritative presence to the extreme.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has also reported that over the last decade, 164 people have died in police custody in the UK. Although only 23 of these deaths were from ethnic minority groups, when this is compared to how much of the UK population these groups make up, people from an ethnic minority are more than twice as likely to die in police custody. But how is this possible when the UK ‘isn’t’ a racist country?
A prime example of this is Sean Rigg. Sean Rigg was a 40 year old black man from London, making his way as a musician and producer. He was arrested for assaulting a police officer, public disorder and alleged theft of a passport, which later turned out to be his own. When arrested, Sean was handcuffed and thrown face down into the footwell of the police van. He tragically died in custody in the Brixton police station in 2008. Following his death, an investigation was carried out and it was suspected that the officers who arrested him had used ‘unsuitable’ force for an ‘unnecessarily’ long time which, in turn, aided his death.
The UK and America have extremely similar historic backgrounds when it comes to radicalisation and prejudice. Both countries only banned racial segregation in the 1960’s, a lot later than commonly believed. In essence, the UK is yet to overcome their racist and xenophobic past. Protests to promote equality and education for our youth are imperative for the success of future Britain - which doesn’t have a place for this corrupt justice system.
period products The Period Products (Free Provision) Bill is a piece of groundbreaking legislation leading the world in the fight against period poverty. The Bill was brought in by Monica Lennon MSP on the 23rd of April 2019 and passed unanimously on the 24th of November 2020. This Bill is the first of its kind, outlining the right for every person in Scotland to have access to free sanitary products. This Bill will make sanitary products available in key community hubs up and down the country so that no person who menstruates ever has to go Lennon has fought tirelessly without products.
for this Bill and it’s principles for almost 10 years and as a result of her determination has accumulated a fierce following of supporters; one of which is the Larbert High School based action group: Lady Business.
Lady Business is a group of four 17 year old school pupils: Tilly O’Donnell, Meredith Rae, Abby Reid and Elle-Rose Fotheringham. The group was formed in early 2020 with the goal of implementing the legislation to have period products available in schools and universities. In order to make sure these products were consistently stocked in their own school they first had to tackle the stigma of period poverty in Larbert High School.
Despite all their success as an individual group Lady Business are beyond proud to have been even a small part of the campaign for world leading legislation. Furthermore it was a huge achievement to have been mentioned by name by Monica Lennon during her closing speech after the Free Period Products Bill had passed. Ultimately, although the Bill is now being implemented, the work of Lady Business is far from done. The misconceptions and lack of education around periods still remains prominent despite the Bill having passed and until this is combatted, Lady Business and the future activists will continue to fight.
The lack of conversation and education around the issue of period poverty was causing the small number of products that were available to be vandalised. This vandalism made it clear that assemblies were needed to educate other pupils on the seriousness of the issue. After these assemblies took place there was a significant decrease in the vandalism of the products and the container they were held in.
Lady Business then began following the development of the Free Period Products Bill and attended the rally and initial debate for the Bill. Being a small part of this legislation in its infancy cememented their determination to continue their fight against period poverty, and now become part of the movement. Since then Lady Business have expanded the access to sanitary products within LHS, produced content for World Menstrual Hygiene Day and continued to be avid supporters of the Free Period Products Bill.
The reincarnation of nineties fashion Abby Reid delves into the resurrection of old trends “What goes around comes around” is the best way to phrase the world of fashion. It is always evolving. Like all trends, certain clothing pieces eventually become less popular… So, basically, they die. Although some phases make a quicker return than others. Nineties fashion is making a serious comeback into today’s clothing trends, and I think that all of us fashion fanatics are totally here for it. From colourful crop tops to baggy mom jeans, your favourite staple pieces may be nineties born - and you don’t even know it. Being a 2000’s baby, I am intrigued by the industry and how people expressed themselves through their clothing before I was alive. Has it had any influence on my clothing style? So, let’s take a blast to the past. The nineties were the perfect time to be a young and talented designer, with all of the major fashion brands entering the scene. Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, Miuccia Prada and many more designers hit their peak during this time and quickly established their style. Chanel’s Spring 1994 Runway showcased pastel tweed suits partnered with chunky rappers chains. These elements being the complete embodiment of the twenty-first century’s Instagram model aesthetic. Chokers, bum bags and silk slip dresses have all revolved. Calvin Klein utilises models to recreate their vintage campaign shoots. Today, you can relive the nineties fashion through crop tops - they are a must have. A midriff-exposing top paired with baggy mom
jeans is an iconic statement bred from the past. The chic combination is a look that you can easily throw together. A fresh wave of feminism was reflected in these nineties runway shows with the late Gianni Versace’s Fall 1992 Collection, controversially named ‘Miss S&M’. Versace was at, arguably, the very peak of his creativity during this time and used them to his advantage. The bondage theme of his pieces were aggressively sexual. The dark metallic bodice straps were complimented by gold embellishments and didn’t leave much to the imagination. As you can imagine, a lot of discussion built up around Versace as this was during the time of the HIV epidemic and he was both praised and condemned for his designs. Designers such as Versace helped women prove that what they wore does not define them and it gives a “look but don’t touch” quality about themselves, which some feminists today comend. The bondage theme lives on with current celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga and Kat Graham recreating the look at high-profile events. Nowadays, we associate the term ‘supermodel’ with women such as Kendall Jenner, Ashley Graham and Gigi Hadid. But the supermodels of the nineties were their own breed. With figures such as Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss leading the industry. In my eyes, Kate Moss’ sleek allure sits her in the throne as the ‘Queen of nineties fashion’. Her grungy, yet
minimalistic, looks totally resonate with current trends and is more relevant now than ever. Moss’ infamous yellow silk dress controlled magazines for days on end. The “yellow dress” mania is still prominent today with stores such as TopShop endlessly trying to recreate the look. Although it can be fun to fill ourselves with nostalgia and compare the fashion industry and the circle of its life; we must not forget how far the fashion industry has come along in the representation of their fashion models. The world of fashion and modelling do sadly come hand in hand, and it is always important to remember that it is definitely a good thing that not all traditions stay. As a whole, the modelling corporation has been positively modernised and invites different ethnicities, body sizes and sexes into the business, which hasn’t always been so diverse. From plus-size models being introduced in the seventies and people who suffer from skin conditions such as Winnie Harlow proudly strutting today’s runways. However, I am aware that, even in this day and age, significant strides still need to be taken to ensure complete diversity in this business. Whether someone feels their best self in an oversized jumper or in a vinyl dress which envelopes their figure - fashion has always been a fun accessory to life and a cool way for us all to convey our unique personalities. And I hope that will never change.
The anatomy of Dad Fashion Michelle Yu breaks down the latest look
Fashion Picks: Holly McKie give us some in trend fashion advice for this coming season. The long awaited change of season, from summer to autumn, is now in term. Everyone will be re-evaluating their wardrobes as a way to make sure they have enough layers for the new season that is rolling in. Here is the rundown of the predicted autumn trends for this year;
L e a t h e r A classic leather jacket will always be in fashion no matter the season. Although this year, it has been reimagined into a new look of a leather blazer. This jacket has the cut of a retro 70s suit. The long A-line jacket allows for new silhouettes to be explored by current fashion lovers. An alternative to a leather jacket Once upon a time, we may have laughed at how our dads dressed, or coat would be leather trousers. however this is not the case anymore. “Dad fashion” has taken over Even though these have been around the world by storm, splashed across social media sites like Instagram, for decades, they have only recently TikTok and Pinterest. At the core of this look are loose fitting, practical made a comeback in all new forms; for pieces but how do you build an outfit without looking like you’re playing example skinny jeans or even in the dress up with your dad’s wardrobe? Here’s my take, with some help a shape of wide leg trousers. Leggings Firstly, we need some trousers. A Danny Tanner, Full House in- are also available in a coated leather spired dad jean or a pair of khakis are popular amongst mod- which allows comfort as well as style. els and streetwear enthusiasts alike. Their straight cut, This leather obsession will hopefully relaxed fit means you can pull off a comfortable yet still put together look. continue throughout the winter months! Next, a top. Think golf dad. A smart sweater, layered crew neck or a knit vest, seen commonly on Uncle Phil, are a must-have for the cooler weather as we move into autumn. Argyle print is particularly in right now! These look great worn over a polo shirt or simple tee.
Now for a dad staple- the windbreaker. A weather-proof, sporty piece that’s guaranteed to come in handy this time of year. Worn in both bright colours and more muted tones such as beige and navy and often sported by ex-POTUS Obama, no dad outfit is complete without. One of the most popular trends has to be the chunky dad trainer. Fashion house Balenciaga have created a whole line inspired by such shoes. These everyday kicks can be worn anywhere, go with most outfits and are generally paired with crew socks. Finally, accessorise! Try a baseball cap- perfect for shielding from the sun or hiding a bad hair day. Most of these staples are bound to be found hiding at the back of dad or grandad’s closet which means you don’t have to buy an all new wardrobe for this season. Instead, have a rummage around and see what you can find, this way you can save some money all the whilst reducing your contributions towards the fast fashion industry and helping our planet!
Chunky boots The perfect shoe for this month is a pair of thick sole boots. These boots are perfect for colder and wetter weather as it keeps you dry and warm. The most popular colour palettes for these boots are the typical black, deep red or khaki. These boots come in many different styles, ranging from knee-high leather boots to the ankle boots. These are the perfect footwear for harvest season as they are universal and can be worn with anything.
C o l o u r s The main colour arrangements used for this year are neutrals. The 2020 Fashion Weeks shows were able to showcase new looks where designers presented new tones and colour mixing that allowed for more interpretations and trends to be born. These neutral colour schemes have always been a staple for the fall season. Whites, creams, beiges and browns are raring and ready to go as a change to the light and bright colours of summer. These neutral colours can create basic outfits that can be altered to fit anyone’s style. Another forecasted popular colour for autumn is the power colour, red. Whilst it has always been an infamous shade for this time of year, it was seen all over fall fashion weeks in February and March and now known as the iconic colour for 2020’s runways.
P r i n t s Prints and patterns are sometimes a little too loud for some, but if it is for you then there are new patterns ready to break through. Animal prints have been in for a while, now especially cheetah and leopard print. However, this autumn has put a twist on this as their counterpart, zebra print, has been seen to be very popular. This season in particular, zebra print has gained significant popularity amongst influencers on social media. The print comes in many colours but the most popular remain being the neutral colours as seen above. The iconic opposite colours, black and white, are very simple, yet sophisticated, producing a very tasteful and trendy look, perfect for the coming months.
The Rise of the Labour Party Ryan Hunt takes a look at the future of the Labour Party.
After five years of turmoil and uncertainty, the Labour Party has turned its back on Corbynism, electing Keir Starmer as its new leader. This is an exciting prospect for democracy and one that comes at what is certainly a very strange time for modernday politics. After devastating losses in the 2019 General Election, which saw many Labour heartlands turn blue, will Mr Starmer be capable of restoring the public’s faith in the party and governing once again? Keir Starmer joined the Labour Party as a teenager and is currently the MP in the Labour safe seat, Holborn and St. Pancras. He has held this position since he was first elected in 2015. Before he was elected as an MP, Starmer served as a Barrister, a role he first took up in 1987. Mr Starmer is well respected by MPs and politicians from all parties, both for his political conviction and his stance on what have become fundamental Labour values. Mr Starmer is a prominent critic of Britain’s departure from the European Union and has been very vocal about his preference to remain a member. Keir Starmer was elected as the party’s new leader in April this year, receiving over fifty percent of Labour Party members’ votes. It was clear that by appointing Mr Starmer as leader, the party would have a far better
chance of defeating Boris in 2024, than the likes of Rebecca Long-Bailey, Starmer’s competitor for the role. Mr Starmer needed to restore unity within a deeply divided party, a task which would require great courage. His intentions were clear and admirable. He had to undo the damage that had been caused under five years of Corbyn and bring Labour back in touch with the electorate. Jeremy Corbyn’s lack of diplomacy and non-existent stance on key issues simply could not capture the electorate. It is without question, that Jeremy Corbyn has had a very controversial history in politics. Mr Corbyn has previously defended the work of the Irish Republican Army, labelled middle eastern dictators as friends, and made little or no attempt to address the issue of antisemitism within his party, to name a few. As a result of Corbyn’s leadership, the party began to crumble, with loyal supporters across the country resigning their membership, MPs standing down, and various investigations into the party’s behaviour being conducted. Corbyn’s time was up, and he was the only one who couldn’t see it. It was time for him to come to terms with his losses, and stand down. Within days of his appointment, Mr Starmer had overhauled many aspects of the par-
ty. Most significantly, the shadow cabinet. Within hours of his appointment, the entire opposition bench had changed, in a decision that saw familiar faces, such as former leader Ed Miliband, make a comeback. This decision highlighted the approach to leadership that Mr Starmer would take and gave the electorate a glimpse of what was to come. Mr Starmer made it clear from the moment he began his bid to lead the party, that he would not tolerate antisemitism in the party. His attempts to tackle such issues were made visible within a matter of days, through his dismissal of controversial left-winger, Rebecca Long-Bailey, following alleged antiJewish articles she had shared online. Mr Starmer has made an excellent start as leader. He has shown that his word is his bond and demonstrated the approach he will take as leader. Within his first few days, he made leaps and bounds toward success, becoming the new favourite for PM and overtaking the current Tory Government in the polls. The public are standing by, and cannot wait to see what he does next. Can the ‘soft-left’ Starmer save the party? The General Election cannot come quick enough.
Why Beatrice Gove is A CulTural Icon Tilly O’Donnell investigates the challanges of being a modern day teen. The families of politicians is not often a group we find ourselves thinking about. In fact, in most cases they’re somewhat of an accessory; a husband or wife and some children to pose for photos in order to confirm that they fit into our social norms. However, there is someone breaking this mould. Beatrice Gove. The teenage daughter of Michael Gove. Gove, a Conservative MP and a member of Boris Johnston’s Cabinet has been making waves in the political world for over 15 years. Most notably for his 4 radical years as Education Secretary. However, his (estimated) 17 year old has been starting her own revolution since the beginning of this year through her secret TikTok accounts. Now on her 4th account, having had others taken down, she uses her platform to promote her solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, her bisexuality and her personal struggles with mental health. Boasting over 30,000 followers on her current account, she represents a much larger movement amongst young people. The confrontation of adults. In the current political climate, we’re all being asked to have those uncomfortable conversations with our families and, in
regards to this, she is a pioneer; but if nothing else, she demonstrates a painfully relatable teenage experience. In her TikToks she jokes about her parent’s criticism of her outfits, messy room, partying and more. She brings humour to her account by joking about being the brunt of abuse at school as it was her dad who changed the GCSE structure. It is clear she has developed a quick wit and lighthearted attitude due to her family’s position. Her extremely left wing social views would make anyone beg to be a fly on the wall at a Gove dinner table as her beliefs could not be further away from her father’s bourgeois opinions. However, I believe her distance and chastisement of her father’s policies empower others. If she can stand so boldly against her parent’s views, why can’t we all? If her TikToks joking about her struggles motivates someone to confront their racist, sexist or homophobic relatives about their probalamtic attitudes, that’s a win in my book. Her confidence, openness and persistence with her platforms and independence are nothing short of admirable. What the critics of her ‘scandalous’ posts and promotion of ‘dangerous’
behaviours seem to forget is that she didn’t choose to be born into this family. The idea of a politician’s family not aligning with their views is not actually something many of us have thought about the fallout of. I imagine it’s not as uncommon as it may appear, however usually the family member can be silenced, but with the accessibility of social media I hope to see more siblings, children and spouses challenging their relatives. It is clear from Beatrice’s (or Beast as her mother calls her) videos that she has been trying to gain control of her social media accounts for years, after being limited on what she could post. Now fully rebelling, her personality shines through her posts, and quite frankly, is someone I want to be friends with. The popularity of politicians’ children is actually a growing trend. Not long ago it was rumoured that Donald Trump’s son Barron Trump had a secret Roblox account in which he expressed a love of anime and a dislike for hate and nastiness. It was never confirmed if the account was really his but people dug a little deeper into Barron, finding out that he is allegedly banned from all social media, not allowed to hang out with friends but is still described by his classmates as a kind and gentle boy. The disconnect we find in politics
between candidates and the public nowadays makes us see these people and all those who are associated with them as almost subhuman. We forget that the children of this other race have dirty bedrooms, just like us. Or want to play video games with their friends, just like us. And we never stop to consider the fact that they might not totally support their parents, just like us. Despite the ‘scandal’ that Beatrice’s TikToks should be, I think they bring a real sense of humanity to politics. We are taught so often that politics is taboo dinner table talk but in this social rule we lose the true notion of debate, and argument. We also forget that even though we may disagree with someone’s views, they’re still a person. The Goves are obviously experiencing the fine line of how much difference in opinion can you tolerate before you lose respect, care or even love for a person. Can she truly love her father if his opinions not only differ so vastly from hers, but actively work against the causes she supports? That’s for them to discover. But at least the conversation is happening. What we, as a society, cannot do is avoid these difficult conversations, or forget that those we want to approach, are merely people too.
A Larbert High Publication February 2021