SNP Autumn conference opens with division as delegates turn down a debate on alternative routes to independence

Common Weal director Robin McAlpine takes a hard look at the state of Nicola Sturgeon’s government, and what its achievements and failures mean for the cause of independence

I BELIEVE the independence movement needs a government that is inspiring people by being bold and showing the kind of change that could be possible with independence. Most people accept that Nicola Sturgeon's government is not that.

She instead pitched her government as being about 'competent management' and asked that she be judged on her education track record.

Beyond the Noise with David Jamieson is a weekly podcast with CommonSpace journalist David Jamieson, where he gets behind the 24/7 news cycle and gets to the heart of issues, trying to find the substance behind the headlines.

IN this week’s podcast, Jamieson speaks to Walden Bello, one of the most prolific and articulate voices critiquing capitalism and globalisation in recent decades, and the author of three new books exploring the crisis of globalisation, the rise of the far right and the consequences of the Chinese model for the global system.

Common Weal director Robin McAlpine compares the current state of the Scottish and Welsh independence movements, and asks what they might learn from each other

I’M writing this in Cardiff. I've been down doing some meetings and am just about to head off to Swansea where I'm speaking at the Plaid Cymru conference. I was delighted to be invited because I've long believed that Scotland and Wales should be forming stronger links.

Other speakers will include Aamer Anwar, George Kerevan, Lesley Riddoch and Ross Greer

Calling for Boris Johnson’s resignation, the first minister told MPs that a General Election must be sought as soon as a No Deal Brexit has been prevented

Drugs decriminalisation, a Scottish Energy Development Agency and “reserved positions” for minority groups in party candidate selection on the agenda

THE SNP’s annual conference from 13-15 October in Aberdeen comes at a time of flux in British politics, with a General Election now highly likely either at the end of this year or the start of next.

CommonSpace has seen the agenda for the conference - we highlight some of the key motions to be debated, and what’s missing from the agenda.

No #indyref2 motions

Beyond the Noise with David Jamieson is a weekly podcast with CommonSpace journalist David Jamieson, where he gets behind the 24/7 news cycle and gets to the heart of issues, trying to find the substance behind the headlines.

IN this week’s podcast, Jamieson speaks to Bill Ramsay, veteran SNP, CND and trade union activist, about how a long term commitment to Scottish independence was impacted by the independence movement of 2014.

They discuss:

2:01 – What drew people into the SNP decades before Scottish independence would become a mass movement?