Holyrood 476 / 15 November 2021

After COP26: Has anything been achieved or was it all just hollow rhetoric?
Plus a look at how Scotland is tackling fast fashion and a roundup of the Holyrood COP26 Fringe Festival

3 Editor’s note
There are few laughs to be gained from your prime minister being traduced as a scoundrel on the global stage

5 Roundup
Pictures and numbers from the past two weeks

6 Talking Point
Joseph Anderson on masculinity, male suicide and macho taboos

8 In Context
The Miners’ Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced last month

9 Overview: Cooling Off Period
With COP26 billed as the “last best chance” to save the planet, has Glasgow managed to find a lifeline for the world?

12 Feature: Fast Fashion
Scottish businesses are acting to tackle the enormous impact what we wear has on the environment

18 Interview: Lord McConnell
Reflections on devolution and where Scotland is today on the 20th anniversary of becoming first minister

23 Feature: Educating Scotland
Despite navigating the challenges of both Brexit and Covid, there are still testing times ahead for colleges and universities

27 Interview: Jamie Hepburn
The Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training talks skills and Covid

30 Event Spotlight
Ideas to save the planet at Holyrood’s COP26 fringe festival

34 Getting to know...
Conservative MSP Tess White tells us about being a black belt at karate

36 Comment
Scotland needs to stop locking up its children, says Kenneth Murray

37 Politicians’ pets
SNP MSP Jim Fairlie and “co-worker” Jack the collie

38 Diary
Toy trains, foul play and a lone Wolf lost in Edinburgh

39 Last Word
Sketch: A Jester and a Prince play for the COP26 crowds

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