Author: Derek Gardiner

Derek Gardiner

Derek is a postgraduate law student at the University of Aberdeen. He is a co-founder of the University of Aberdeen Law Reform Society which researches areas in which the law can be reformed and improved and publishes annual reports. He also serves on the committee of the Aberdeen Student Parliament which debates current and political issues and is a regular contributor to the Aberdeen University newspaper The Gaudie.

British Politics, COVID-19, Economy, Extended Reads, Most Recent

COVID-19 presents an opportunity to reshape our economy for the better

Illustrations by Hannah Robinson The COVID-19 pandemic has created the biggest upheaval that many of us have lived through. Freedoms we have taken for granted throughout our University years, such as…

Derek Gardiner, 8 months ago 4 min read

Brexit, British Politics, Most Recent, Scottish independence, Scottish Politics

Scottish Independence is not an escape route from a “No Deal” Brexit.

Illustration by Hannah Robinson Election results in Scotland remain in stark contrast to that of England. The 2019 election turned England blue and Scotland yellow, with the Conservatives losing 7 of…

Derek Gardiner, 1 year ago 3 min read

Brexit, British Politics

Has the Supreme Court declared itself all-powerful?

Illustration by Hannah Robinson We are living through perhaps the most significant time for the development of our unwritten constitution since the 1688-9 “glorious revolution” which laid the foundations for…

Derek Gardiner, 1 year ago 3 min read

women

Brexit, British Politics, Monarchy

The Fixed-term Parliaments Act is unfit for purpose

This week we find Parliament in an unprecedented mess. It cannot agree on any way forward in the Brexit process other than to extend Article 50 indefinitely. Many agree now…

Derek Gardiner, 1 year ago 3 min read

British Politics, Scottish Politics

The Scottish Conservatives are doomed without Ruth Davidson, but I’m glad she is gone

I was quite shocked by the news that Ruth Davidson has quit as leader of the Scottish Conservatives after nearly eight years in the role. She led the Scottish Tories…

Derek Gardiner, 1 year ago 3 min read

British Politics, Environment

The real doom merchants: how the left’s obsession with environmentalism has made it anti-progress

When Boris Johnson first stood outside Downing Street as Prime Minister he championed optimism and said he would take on the ‘the doubters, the doomsters, [and] the gloomsters’. So I…

Derek Gardiner, 1 year ago 3 min read

Brexit, British Politics

The SNP want Scotland to choose between two Unions – independence is not an option

It’s neverendum here in Scotland. We have had two referenda in the past five years, one on Scottish independence and the other on Britain’s membership of the European Union. The…

Derek Gardiner, 1 year ago 3 min read

For many of us, myself included, we’re half-starved for well-written opinion among the swathes of online commentary among universities. Trashy, often unedited writing is published minute by minute. It seems where there is wifi, opinion is broadcast. So, here at The Broad we’ve decided to take a step back, a deep breath and focus. We have talent spotted and welcomed writers to the team, who have found a new home in the very collaborative environment created by our editors. Between writer and editor, we are hoping to challenge the current view of what it is to be a student journalist. We’re putting the way we feel about the world into words with a fresh take. Our entirely free online content is by students for students. We want to publish unbridled and beautifully written opinion. I hope the journalism on The Broad has the power to inspire, aggravate and sometimes silence. Essentially, if the girls, the boys, the lefties, the righties and everyone in between find something to shout about we’re doing our job right.