The SANE Collective

Solidarity Against Neoliberal Extremism

About us

The SANE Collective is an activist group working to develop solidarity against neoliberal extremism. Our shared perspective is that neoliberal capitalist ideology is responsible for promoting and perpetuating, amongst other ills, extreme social and economic inequality, global inaction on climate justice and patriarchal structures and norms. Our shared aim is to educate, agitate and organise around progressive democratic values to assist in building a powerful counter social movement,  that offers positive anti-capitalist alternatives which support communities and individuals to live in harmony with each other and the planet. Glasgow has many activist groups standing up to defend human rights, democracy and the common good which could similarly make a sustained impact yet  there is currently a lack of synergy and solidarity in their work and a huge need to reach beyond our current activist bases to involve the wider population of the city.

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Photographs of Glasgow captured by GovanLens for the SANE Collective, exploring representations of hopes and fears for Glasgow, and the relationships between Glaswegians and the built environment

Funded by Necessity

SANE Reports:

Glasgow's Money
Glasgow's Alchemy
Glasgow Strife Report cover artwork

Latest News

16th January 2025

Developing a Wellbeing Economy strategy in Scotland

Members of SANE in their roles within the People’s Health Movement Scotland have supported conversations around the development of a Wellbeing Economy strategy for Scotland. This working paper, co-authored by by Gerry McCartney, Clemmie Hill O’Connor, Sue Laughlin, Tony Robertson, …

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17th April 2024

Cities in Action: Democratising Local Governance

This report provides the findings and implications of the Democratising Local Governance research project, which has used the case studies of two cities – Glasgow and Sheffield – to investigate the relationships between local campaigns and democracy and governance.  Inspired …

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22nd February 2024

Why we are radical municipalists

Last year we produced a series of blogs aimed at highlighting the ways in which political decisions and policy making in Glasgow have had a largely negative effect on the city’s supposed aims of being fair and sustainable. Although the …

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30th December 2023

An ode to 2023 in Glasgow

Glasgow Council often criesThat all is well in the cityBut SANE thinks they should stop the liesSo have penned this ditty Glasgow bears a lot, without thanksIt really affects our healthOur profits sent to Barclays BankWe never see our wealth …

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27th November 2023

Glasgow’s Economy: What a State We’re In!

On Friday 25th November, Glasgow City Council hosted its annual State of the City Economy Conference at the Radisson Hotel. SANE was due to attend but decided along with others to boycott the event because of the involvement of arms …

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Glasgow’s Finances: In Numbers

Taken from SANE’s report Glasgow’s Money.

  • £0: The amount of tax paid by the owners of the Glasgow schools PFI consortium.
  • £562 million: The amount still owed to the Glasgow schools PFI consortium by the council, 19 years after the project began.
  • £346 million: The asset value of the Glasgow schools built by the PFI consortium.
  • £11 million: The amount per annum the council could save if it re-financed its ‘Lobo’ loans, equivalent to the cost of running four primary schools.
  • 13%: The number of owner-occupiers in the new housing built in Dalmarnock as part of the CommonWealth Games 2014 regeneration project who have a prior connection to the area.
  • £249,256: The amount earned in 2020/21 by Dr Graham Paterson, executive director of council owned City Buildings (Contracts) LLP, whose contract was terminated on 12 March 2021.
  • 13: The number of senior council staff who earn over £100,000 per annum (up from six in 2016/17)
  • 62: The number of Glasgow Life venues which remain closed in 2021/22 (out of 172)
  • 71.6%: The % of council services expenditure which is going towards Education and Social Work in 2021/22.
  • 14.3%: The rise in cost of Band D council tax in Glasgow over the past five years.
  • 45p: The pence in every pound of Council Tax income which went towards paying off the council’s debt in 2020/21.
  • 40.9%: The growth in the cost of private rents in Glasgow City from 2010 to 2020. Private renters have to pay the increased cost of council tax while private landlords do not.
  • 3.5: The times more which Band H local taxpayers pay than those in Band A.
  • 15: The times more which Band H properties are worth than those in Band A.
  • £270: The drop in real terms revenue funding per head from the Scottish Government to Glasgow City Council from 2013/14 to 2019/20, the highest reduction in Scotland.

Glasgow Finances: In Numbers

PDF poster available to download here:

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Glasgow Finances: In Numbers