Writer Naya Koulocheri says it's vital that health and social inequalities are really understood by those most affected

"WONDERFUL weather, isn't it?"

"Are you travelling for business or pleasure?"

My 65-year-old fellow passenger on a busy four-hour flight was extremely bored and desperately trying to talk to anyone around him. But then, he said something that I will never forget. 

It isn’t some sort of philosophical quote, but, it seems pretty deep to me. He told me that "health is a business that is always going to be around".

Renewable funds success boost Sutherland community land buyout plans 

A THEE-THOUSAND ACRE community buyout plan on the east coast of Sutherland has now secured a double victory in locating financial support for the purchase from the Sutherland private estate. 

Garbh Allt Community Initiative, for the townships of Marrel, West Helmsdale, Gartymore and Portgower, have achieved substantial progress towards a buyout of land surrounding Helmsdale. 

Kensington housing crisis revealed by Grenfell fire deaths 

THE WEALTHY BOROUGH of Kensington and Chelsea, where the disastrous Grenfell Tower fire disaster took place, represents the extreme segregation of UK housing policy, according to new figures released by researchers. 

There are 1,399 vacant dwellings are in the borough according to Kensington and Chelsea council research, with many properties linked to offshore tax haven ownership - the mechanism of the property speculation industry. 

Campaigners help mum in Glasgow housing fees and eviction scandal 

SCOTLAND’S TENANTS’ UNION has scored an early victory in a tenants dispute over “illegal fees” by helping an eviction-threatened tenant reclaim charges and move into a new property. 

Amanda Gallagher, a tenant under letting agency AVJ Homes, received a notice to quit after she challenged administration fees that were being paid on top of her lease agreement. 

Thinktank preparing policy for the new independence fight

COMMON WEAL, Scotland’s pro-independence thinktank, has hit its initial fundraising target of £25,000 to support work on it’s White Paper Project, which aims to offer the answers to the big questions facing the next Scottish independence campaign.

As revelations shock the nation, the Scottish Government joins charities to end the homeless tragedy for good

SCOTLAND’S CHARITIES AND GOVERNMENT have pledged to increase efforts to wipe out homelessness in the nation as new revelations exposed that one person a week dies on Glasgow’s streets from sleeping out in the open.

Kevin Stewart MSP told an audience today (Monday 15 May) that the Scottish Government would cooperate fully with charities such as Crisis Scotland to build a plan to end homelessness in Scotland for good.

Historian Sir Tom Devine criticises inequality study as “historically illiterate”, but academics are adamant in supporting new equality legislation

RESEARCHERS from Queen’s University Belfast have defended the conclusions of a study showing higher death rates for Scottish catholics after drawing criticism from eminent Scottish historian and sectarianism expert, University of Edinburgh professor Sir Tom Devine.

New public agency launches to progress land reform agenda 

THE NEW COMMISSION DEDICATED to land politics in Scotland has officially launched a year after parliament passed key land reform legislation. 

The Scottish Land Commission, head quartered in Inverness, will provide a stronger foundation for land policy work at a time when the land reform movement is pressing for further changes in who owns and benefits from the land. 

Scottish budget passed by 68 votes to 57 

THE SNP-GREEN budget has been passed by the Scottish Parliament following a long-running conflict over taxation rates. 

Voted through by 68 votes to 57, the deal confirms the financial plan for the year ahead and sets the Scottish rate of income tax following the extension of taxation powers. 

The financial deal was likely to pass after the Scottish Greens pledged to back the budget after a deal on income tax thresholds with the SNP minority government. 

Immediate victory for Living Rent: Santander admits error on high rent mortgage clause 

HOUSING JUSTICE CAMPAIGNERS have won an immediate victory by calling protests against corporate greed and high rents at Santander bank this weekend. (Saturday 18 February)

Activists from Living Rent in Scotland and Acorn in England planned simultaneous demos at Santander branches over a legal clause so landlords hiked “maximum” rents from cash strapped tenants.