Common Weal director Robin McAlpine looks at questionnaire responses from the pro-independence movement about what the challenges it faces are – and finds there is a lot of work to do

IN THE last few months I've been immersing myself in the positive case for independence; there really is a lot to be optimistic about. But let's not kid ourselves on that we don't face some problems as well, or that we can dodge them.

Two-thirds of Scots would accept movement of workers between the EU and UK if it was necessary to secure a post-Brexit trade deal

A NEW poll has shown that Scots have the most favourable attitude towards migration in the UK, with 44 per cent agreeing that migrants had a positive impact compared to 30 per cent who disagreed.

The Survation poll on behalf of Channel 4 asked people in every part of the UK “do you believe immigration has had a positive or negative impact on Britain?”

Common Weal director Robin McAlpine argues that yet to be released public attitude research on Scottish independence has convinced him that the messages coming out from the top of the Yes movement are way out of kilter with what needs to be done and said to win converts to independence

THE interminable game of armchair indy strategy continues apace – all you need is an anecdote or two, a half-remembered statistic and a couple of untested assumptions and you too can talk confidently about how to win Scottish independence.

Poll boost for SNP at Holyrood and Westminster, with Labour down

A NEW Social Attitudes Survey has shown independence is the most popular constitutional option in Scotland, while a poll published in The Times shows voting intentions are up for SNP and down for Labour, in a double poll boost for the party as its spring conference begins in Aberdeen.

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).

Survation polling shows widespread public support for an end to Tory austerity

TORY AUSTERITY has gone “too far” according to polling by Survation on behalf of GMB, which found that the UK public support an end to the austerity agenda ahead of the UK Government's Spring budget statement.

Survation, the only company to predict the 2017 general election correctly, also predicted a "storming" seven per cent lead for Labour over the Conservatives at Westminster. 

New polling released by Survation shows Labour down two points at Westminster

POLLING conducted by Survation on behalf of the Daily Record has shown support for the Conservatives falter as it predicts the SNP could gain a further nine seats at Westminster. 

Campaigners pledge to “refine arguments” and give a sense of assurance and comfort to those intimidated by radical change

WOMEN OVER 55, could be won back over to the pro-independence position in a second referendum with the “security and dignity” of a universal basic income (UBI), the Scottish Independence Convention (SIC) conference has heard.

Support for the measure from delegates came in response to Panelbase data showing that support for independence from women over 55 had fallen by over 30 per cent since 2014.