Common Weal director Robin McAlpine says that the assumption that the First Minister has a fully-formed indy strategy is a product of the independence movement’s cognitive biases

AT THE moment I spend a lot of my time answering emails, talking to people at events, being quizzed by activists who spot me in the supermarket...the question is asked in different ways and with a spectrum of profanity, but its basically the same question: “What's going on?”

Common Weal director Robin McAlpine argues that Scotland’s future self-sufficiency requires a bold strategy for the nation’s land

SUDDENLY, on Monday next week, Scotland's countryside will burst into productivity. Having resembled little more than a scrubby desert for most of the year, overnight it will spring into action, flooding 'wealth and vitality' into rural areas.

Common Weal Director Robin McAlpine looks at the state of the Brexit debate three years after the Leave vote, finding that both sides are causing long-term harm to democracy in Britain and Scotland

I WANT Brexit over. I favour a remain outcome but not quite as much as I just favour an outcome – because the polarisation of the debate has caused people on both sides to lose their minds and it is causing long-term harm to democracy in both Britain and Scotland.

Common Weal Director Robin McAlpine looks at a new academic report which finds that Boris Johnson’s conception of the London productivity miracle is illusory – and we should reject centralised economic strategies in Scotland as well as the UK

OUR new Prime Minister (jeez) famously said “A pound spent in Croydon is far more valuable to the country than a pound spent in Strathclyde. Indeed it would generate jobs and growth in Strathclyde far more effectively if you invested in Hackney, Croydon or other parts of London.”

Common Weal Director Robin McAlpine says a holiday to Sweden has brought home to him the extent to which Scotland’s political leadership is insipid and much too comfortable with the status quo

I RETURNED from a family holiday in Sweden this week to the farcical sight of the SNP's annual conference agenda. It has left me with worrying conclusions.

Common Weal Director Robin McAlpine argues Boris Johnson is not a silver bullet for Scottish independence – only a positive, well evidenced campaign will get Yes over 50+ per cent

HURRAY! We don't have to put any real work into campaigning for independence any more because Boris Johnston is going to be the Prime Minister. Our job is done for us.

Common Weal Director Robin McAlpine argues that the selling off of Scottish national assets has become routine and shows a lack of self-respect – which we will pay dearly for in the future

WHAT is more fundamental than your economy, your land, your energy system, your housing – your country? These (along with your people) are your biggest national assets. You should treat them with the respect they deserve.

Common Weal Director Robin McAlpine argues that unionists have no answer to the increasingly glaring fact that the UK economy is rigged in favour of London

Common Weal Director Robin McAlpine says a future where we successfully tackle the climate emergency can also be one of healthier and happier citizens, but only if we are genuinely willing to embrace change

THERE’S only one step to go before Scotland can be said finally to be taking climate change seriously – we must get past accepting that something has to be done and start to accept what actually has to be done. Only then can we do it.