Writer and journalist Alastair Stewart argues that a new breed of pundits who wear their political affiliations on their sleeve undermines the balance in politics between commentators and politicians

SEVERAL years ago there was a Question Time moment that has stuck in my head ever since. Russell Brand was going through a phase of being seriously considered as a new maverick politico with a legitimate argument to make. He even released a book, Revolution (it really was just a stream of conscious though strung together with non-sequiturs and the odd chapter). 

Last week, far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro was elected in Brazil. He has said leftists will have to "go overseas, or go to jail", is an open admirer of when Brazil was a military dictatorship and takes pride in his misogyny and homophobia. His rise is part of a far-right wave, including in Donald Trump's election in the US and Matteo Salvini in Italy.

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.

Beyond the Noise with David Jamieson is a new weekly podcast with CommonSpace journalist David Jamieson, where he gets behind the 24/7 outrage-driven social media news circus and gets to heart of issues, trying to finding the substance behind the headlines.

IN THIS episode, Jamieson looks at the crisis and decline of the media in Scotland and the UK on the weekend of the Sunday Herald's last edition.

Colette Walker, women for Indy national committee member and disabled carer, says that there is still huge barriers for women to get into politics which must be overcome  – doubly so for disabled women and carers

IN 2018 women all over the UK have been celebrating 100 years since some women were given Suffrage; the right to vote.

There were conditions to this; you had to be at least thirty and own property. Not exactly what I am sure members of the Women's Social and Political Union were entirely happy with but it was a step in the right direction.

This is your opportunity to work with us to build a Common Weal Scotland

WE ARE RECRUITING a new Policy Officer and a new Campaigns Officer to join the ambitious Common Weal team as we continue to develop policy ideas and campaigns that we believe can transform Scotland into the best society, economy and culture it can possibly be.

Knowledge and interest in politics among Scots has coincided with growing cynicism about the UK political system

A NEW study has found that just 14 per cent of Scots are satisfied with the UK political system, the least of any part of the UK.

The Hansard Society has published its 2018 audit of political engagement, and found a 22 point drop in Scottish satisfication with the UK political system since the first audit in 2004 (three points since 2017).

Following the death of esteemed physicist Stephen Hawking, Morgane Colinet – who is a journalism student at the University of the West of Scotland and is completing a work experience placement at CommonSpace – takes a look at the lesser known political side of the scientist

CommonSpace looks at the policy issue now overwhelming this year’s General Election campaign: security

SECURITY AND COUNTER TERRORISM have come to dominate the UK General Election following the attacks in Manchester a fortnight ago and London Bridge on Saturday (4 June,) which took 29 lives combined and left many injured.

CommonSpace columnist Kirsty Strickland says there is no excuse in 2017 for continued imbalance in political commentary

DURING every election campaign, there is – or at least should be – a heightened focus on balance.

This usually applies to the balance of party representation, but regularly in Scotland there are calls for it also to extend to balance across the Yes/No divide.