“When two people decide to get a divorce, it isn’t a sign that they ‘don’t understand’ one another, but a sign that they have, at last, begun to.” – Helen Rowland This article is an expanded version of a paper I wrote for the Scottish Independence Convention in 2021. You can read the original here … Continue reading Parting Ways

While big business gain subsidies and political access, small businesses drown in red tape, and individuals now risk being classified as terrorists for complaining about it. – Zac Goldsmith (This blog post previously appeared in Common Weal’s weekly newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter here.) Did you hear about the latest story in Scottish land reform policy and … Continue...

“Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male, head by head from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies. … Continue reading Complete Your Census!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ― Margaret Mead (This blog post previously appeared in Common Weal’s weekly newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter here.) I’ve talked before about how proud I am of our Care Reform Working Group. Two years ago … Continue reading Building...

“When you are in local government, you are on the ground, and you are looking into the eyes and hearts of the people you are there to serve. It teaches you to listen; it teaches you to be expansive in the people with whom you talk to, and I think that that engagement gives you … Continue reading Democracy on your Doorstep

Alex Cole Hamilton asks why the recent ScotWind auction was capped at £100,000 per square kilometre when similar auctions appear to be capable of raising far more than this.

Common Weal's reaction and analysis to the ScotWind project can be read here:...

“The two words ‘information’ and ‘communication’ are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through.” – Sydney J. Harris Scotland is now in full campaign mode for the Local Authority Elections so for the next few weeks we can all expect to be bombarded with messages …...

Disclosure and Disclaimer: Although I am politically active, this guide is intended to be objective and politically neutral. This is a guide on how to vote, not a blog trying to convince you to vote for or against any particular person or party. Introduction (2017 local authority election results map. Source: Wikipedia) On May 5th, … Continue reading How Scotland Votes: A Guide to the 2022...

“If it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, designed or removed from production.” – Pete Seeger (This blog post previously appeared in Common Weal’s weekly newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter here.) Like many of us, I try my best to do right by the waste my … Continue reading Wasted...

(This blog post previously appeared in Common Weal’s weekly newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter here.) As the local elections loom, Scottish voters should be considering not just which candidates or parties we vote for in those election but also what we expect them to do with the power we loan them with that vote. Party manifestos are … Continue reading Council Tax: Running Away...

(This blog post previously appeared in Common Weal’s weekly newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter here.) The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel. – William Gibson So began William Gibson’s 1984 novel Neuromancer and so began what is now known as the Cyberpunk genre. So began countless … Continue reading Solarpunk: Growing the Hope...

Alex Rowley asked question S6F-00815 at FMQs:

6. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the reported view from Common Weal that action is needed to address weaknesses in social care provision due to it being in a critical state, not fit for purpose, underfunded, rationed,...

Understanding is a three-edged sword. Your side, my side, and the truth. — J Michael Straczynski This week – amidst several weeks of some of the most fraught politics both south and north of the border – saw the re-emergence of a political topic that is both quite defining of my political career so far … Continue reading Penetrating Pension Politics

Jackie Baillie asks the Scottish Government why it is tendering private companies like KMPG to set up the National Care Service.

This clip contains information licensed under the Scottish Parliament Copyright Licence. More information can be found here
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Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar asks First Minister Nicola Sturgeon about the ScotWind auction and why Scotland hasn't launched a National Energy Company to capture the benefits of Scottish renewables in the way that countries like Sweden have been able to.

This clip contains information licensed under the...

Oil may be reserved but Scotland's devolved powers may yet be broad enough to stop it.

Why I'm Voting Against The SNP/Green Deal

Analysis of this year's annual GERS report.

Why Scotland should move beyond defending "Civic Nationalism" and advocate for a Post-Nationalist vision of independence.

This is a test of a new Youtube version of the Common Weal Policy Podcast. Please let me know how it looks and sounds - especially the quality and accuracy of the auto-captions.
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This week, Craig Dalzell is joined by two special guests. Alice Kinghorn-Gray from ERS Scotland and Will Stringer from the Sortition...