Common Weal director Robin McAlpine argues that the Yes movement desperately needs to identify a strategy to get to independence, and then pursue it without fear

‘WAIT until the autumn – just be patient. By the end of October there will be a firm date for an independence referendum and a clear strategy will be set out. You don't need to worry your head about it.’ Or so I have been told a number of times over the last year. So can we have a serious debate about strategy now?

Ahead of the SNP’s annual conference, Common Weal director Robin McAlpine argues that waiting for the SNP leadership to take the initiative is likely to only lead to more despondency – the members have to make it happen

I WAS at a conference this week where an important and influential group in Scotland debated the future.

Common Weal director Robin McAlpine argues that Richard Leonard shows all the morbid signs of being the latest Scottish Labour leader for whom the job of First Minister is never going to come

MOST OF Richard Leonard's performance as Scottish Labour leader has been exactly what I predicted. But not everything – and it's the surprises which should worry his party.

CommonSpace columnist and Common Weal director Robin McAlpine argues that political action matters more than personal background

I WAS BORN in a field.

No, literally. In a field. In the rain. And lightning. In fact, after being struck by lightning a family of ravens adopted me and fed me worms and bits of dirt to nurse me back to health. I was seven years old before I knew what socks were – before that my only clothing was made from moss and twigs. My ears fell off one winter.

Common Weal director Robin McAlpine says the SNP’s National Assemblies show the party membership has already made their mind up – they want a Scottish currency. Now there’s an opportunity to build a new indy vision together

WELL THAT was a weird kind of a campaign.

We were seriously worried that the substantial resources behind the Growth Commission would be used to push the case for Sterlingisation.

Common Weal director Robin McAlpine says the nature of public debate is becoming increasingly nasty and personalised – only the far-right will win from this

IT IS a sad truth about humanity that whenever we create a new piece of technology, someone will try to use it as a weapon, will try to use it to hurt others.

Common Weal director Robin McAlpine argues that the end of the Sunday Herald, which will publish its last paper on Sunday [2 September], must spark a serious debate about the future of media in Scotland

AS A NEW millennium was approaching and the new Scottish Parliament was just beginning, something happened in Scotland which reflected the future I hoped for.

Common Weal director Robin McAlpine argues that a politically-neutral monetary system specifically designed for the needs of the Scottish economy can be put in place in time for day one of independence

I DON’T WANT to be here and I don't want to be in this position. Common Weal is all about making constructive contributions and working with others collegiately to get good things done. We don't want to be oppositional; we don't spend our time being against things but for them.

Common Weal director Robin McAlpine argues that the Scottish Government has made a mess of education policy, principally because it’s approach to policy-making is uninformed, top-down and half-baked

AS THE Scottish school holidays peter out, parents' minds turn to all those little back to school jobs that need done. But the challenges for the Scottish Government over the coming school year are somewhat greater than buying lunchboxes and pencil sharpeners.