CommonSpace editor Ben Wray looks ahead to the Scottish Budget next week, and finds a choice for Finance Minister Derek Mackay – take wealth inequality seriously and scrap the Council Tax, or continue with the “don’t scare the middle classes” government-by-tweak politics

SINCE the devolution of Income Tax, there is now a common dynamic in the run-up to a Scottish Budget, which will be announced by Finance Minister Derek Mackay next Wednesday [12 December].

CommonSpace editor Ben Wray finds no one seems to want to talk about the big substance issues affecting Scotland’s fishing communities, the three most important being inequality, ownership and technological change

FIRST Minister’s Questions on Thursday [29 November] saw another round of turgid debate on the future of Scotland’s fisheries.

Common Weal director Robin Mcalpine argues our society does not place value on people with creativity and energy, instead rewarding mediocrity and bureaucracy

AT THE weekend I hunted out Karine Polwart's truly wonderful 2012 album Traces for a re-listen. I'm glad I did. It reminded me how good it is.

But it also pissed me off. Not the music I hasten to add, the fact that what prompted me to play it again was an interview with Karine in which she talked about the financial difficulty of trying to make a living making music in Scotland.

Dr Craig Dalzell, Head of Policy and Research for the Common Weal think tank, explains why it’s time for Scotland to grow beyond our obsession with GERS

THERE’S NO DAY that’s guaranteed to set the heather alight amongst Scottish political social media sects like the release day of the annual Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland report – also known as GERS.

Wealth of Gordon-Grant whisky family grown 5000 per cent since 1989, the fastest growth of anyone on the UK rich list since records began

THE Sunday Times Rich list 2018 has been published, revealing Scotland’s billionaires jumping from nine to 11 this year, with a combined fortune of £16.2bn. It was only 11 years ago when the first Scottish billionaire, Tom Hunter, was announced.

Robert Watts, compiler of the list, said: "Our list of Scotland's wealthiest people epitomises the seismic change we've seen over 30 editions of The Sunday Times Rich List.

Green MSP Andy Wightman argues that more council housing and progressive taxation will do more good that a ‘citizen’s inheritance’

National Tenants Union back student action against Glasgow’s rogue landlords

UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW students fed-up with high rents for rubbish flats and financial malpractice by rogue landlords are taking matters into their own hands by establishing a vetting service of local accommodation lets.