CommonSpace editor Ben Wray analyses Nicola Sturgeon’s major announcement on indyref2 in the Scottish Parliament today [24 April]

Common Weal Director Robin McAlpine says compromise to agree a Scottish Budget would be a great signal that Scotland still has a shared project – but that opportunity may have been blown

THE problems the SNP seems to be having getting its budget through is a valuable reminder of something we've forgotten in Scotland – our democracy was designed with the expectation of at least a degree of 'togetherness'. We would all do well to remember it.

Neil Cowan, Policy and Parliamentary Officer at Poverty Alliance, says we should spare a thought for MSPs on their first day back at parliament from their summer recess – and remind them that stopping the growing scourge of poverty in Scotland needs to be at the top of their to-do list

Huda Elmi, standing for election to Labour's ruling national executive, also criticised the sale of a racist comic at the shop linked to the MSP

A RACIST comic book on sale in a shop linked to Edinburgh Southern MSP Daniel Johnson has prompted criticism of the Labour MSP, with his response to the discovery branded "unsatisfactory" by a senior Scottish Labour figure. 

The Herald reported on Wednesday that Paper Tiger, a stationary shop in Edinburgh, was stocking the book "Tintin in the Congo" alongside related merchandise.

New proposals would tackle the growth of short term lets or holiday homes by requiring council planning permission for a change in use

SCOTTISH GREEN MSPs will seek to amend upcoming Scottish Government planning legislation at Holyrood to require council planning permission before owners can turn homes into holiday homes or short term lets, in a bid to tackle the housing crisis.

Green housing spokesperson Andy Wightman MSP will lead a debate in Holyrood about the proposed change after the parliament returns from its summer break.

The Medicinal Cannabis Reform Campaign Scotland meet with MSPs to discuss decriminalisation

THE MEDICINAL CANNABIS REFORM CAMPAIGN SCOTLAND, a group advocating the decriminalisation of cannabis for medical purposes, is meeting at Holyrood for the second time this year to discuss the possibility of future legal reform on the issue.

Scottish Labour inequalities spokesperson Monica Lennon to launch member’s bill over the next few months to tackle “period poverty” in  Scotland. 

A SCOTTISH LABOUR MSP is planning to bring forward a bill that will tackle “period poverty” across the country.

Monica Lennon will launch a private member's bill over the next few months to help women and girls who cannot access or afford sanitary products.

Scottish Greens shun Labour to focus on negotiating with Scottish Government ahead of budget talks

SCOTTISH LABOUR has received a rebuke from the Scottish Green party for walking away from the prospect of any negotiation on the deadlock over the Scottish budget this week.

The comments follow an open letter sent to Green co-convener Patrick Harvie by Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale asking for a “progressive alliance” against the Scottish Government.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie spoke to CommonSpace about a broad range of issues affecting local government at the party’s national conference

THE SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS have held their autumn conference in Dunfermline (12 November), where they geared up for next year’s local government elections. They voted on motions to do with planning, and members got introduced to council candidates.