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This month's livestream of clips and chat covering a range of topics including: 00:00:42 Charles visits an Alloa foodbank 00:05:41 Colin Fox's prediction comes true 00:08:00 Dave Doogan calls out Starmer 00:10:16 Labour MP Brian Leishman finds out he has NO influence 00:14:43 The power of "devalation" 00:18:29 The cost of Scotgov mitigation 00:24:15 Patrick Harvie explains the "hoover up" economy 00:25:51 Housebuilding and Sarwar's empty rhetoric 00:31:57 Robin McAlpine schools the Energy Minister 00:37:40 Robert Reich - lessons from the US election 00:46:44 Mary Trump sniffs Donald's latest grift 00:48:18 Emma Harper brings Scots leid to Holyrood #scottishpolitics The Scottish Independence Podcasts team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. Remember to like and subscribe! Contact Us: indypodcasters@gmail.com Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes Subscribe for free to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips. video premieres most Tuesdays at 8pm If you've enjoyed this podcast you might like to buy us a coffee? https://ko-fi.com/scottishindependencepodcasts or choose us as your Easyfundraising good cause. Music: Inspired and Industrial Cinematic by Kevin MacLeod
Fiona and Marlene share their highlights from the Big Land Question conference. In November the Revive Coalition held their biggest conference yet bringing together organisations and individuals with a shared interest in Scotland's land. Who owns it? What do they do with it? Is there a better way? These, and many more questions were covered on the day and you can watch the full day's event on @IndependenceLive 's channel. This podcast covers our favourite bits from the following speakers: 00:01:43 - Lesley Riddoch introduces the event 00:07:42 - Kevin Cumming, Scottish Rewilding Alliance 00:16:07 - Josh Doble, Community Land Scotland 00:28:19 - Kirsty Jenkins. Onekind 00:30:32 - River Roding Interspecies Council 00:36:22- Jenny Barlow, Tarras Valley Nature Reserve 00:44:27 - Mhairi McFarlane, Diffley Partnership 00:51:09 - Donna Smith, Scottish Crofting Association 00:57:03 - Lesley Riddoch, Intro to part 2 01:02:03 - Robin McAlpine, Commonweal 01:09:41 - Mike Russell, Scottish Land Commission 01:14:05 - Max Wiesnowski, Revive Coalition Further info: Community Land Scotland https://www.communitylandscotland.org.uk/ Scottish Rewilding Nation Charter https://www.rewild.scot/charter The Scottish Independence Podcasts team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. Remember to like and subscribe! Contact Us: indypodcasters@gmail.com Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes Subscribe for free to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips. video premieres most Tuesdays at 8pm If you've enjoyed this podcast you might like to buy us a coffee? https://ko-fi.com/scottishindependencepodcasts or choose us as your Easyfundraising good cause. Music: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
It's welcome back to the podcast after our Christmas and New Year break.We kick off by reflecting on how we both spent Hogmanay in our different ways, Lesley's island sojourn sounds affy braw.Much criticism has been levelled at BBC Scotland in particular for its pallid Hogmanay programming and Lesley takes the opportunity to compare the "official" media offerings with the work of the late Martyn Bennett and the Grit Orchestra. Suffice to say the authorised ones don't stand the comparison well.....It seems now is the time for a complete rethink on BBC and STV Hogmanay fare.We also discuss the cancellation of the official Edinburgh celebrations. Is it time for the capital to have a complete rethink ?Martyn Bennett's music and Danny MacAskill's cycling on the Cuillin - 81 million views!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ_IQS3VKjAGrit Orchestra gig - just two seats left!!https://tickets.glasgowlife.org.uk/34209/34210Lesley talks about her new, self filmed, series of short videos she's filming on her travels around Scotland.Lesley also reflects on the recent funeral of 'John the Bird' Chester on Eigg.https://x.com/LesleyRiddoch/status/1876598275693859210Anas Sarwar in his most recent speech talked about reducing the number of quangos but was somewhat less than comprehensive in how he would do this and even less specific on what a Labour administration would cut other than reducing the number of Health Boards.However is there a kernel of truth in Sarwar's statement? Has the growth of quangos led to the creation, as Robin McAlpine said, of " A feudal system of nested fiefdoms each insulated from the transparency and accountability nominally radiating from the one above"?We also discuss Sarwar's appearance on Good Morning Scotland where Laura Maxwell grilled him on his stances on the 2 Child Benefit Cap, Winter Fuel Allowance, and the WASPI women. We also discuss Neil Mackay's recent Herald article analysing the growth in support for Scottish independence as UK Labour tanks in the polls.Is the SNP in a fit state to profit from this? Is it radical enough to get independence over the line?Listener Leslie Wilson got in touch after our chat on swimmer Duncan Scott to highlight the television coverage-lack of- of Bruce Mouat's champion curling rink. We discuss. ★ Support this podcast ★
Episode 214 of the Common Weal Policy PodcastYou can download the episode directly here.This week, and for the final time for the podcast in this format, Craig talks to Robin McAlpine about the General Election results. How did Labour win such a massive landslide despite losing voterse, what happened to collapse the Conservatives, why didn't smaller parties do better and what is next for the UK, Scotland and the SNP.You can read Robin's blog on how the SNP could revive themselves ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election here: http://robinmcalpine.org/the-snp-one-thing-at-a-time/This is the final episode of the Common Weal Policy Podcast in this format, please listen to the announcement at the end of the show for more information but we'll be back with a revamp and a new format soon. Thank you to all of my listeners over the past six years. We won't be gone from your podcast list for long - CraigCommon Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: https://commonweal.scot/donate/The Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail as well as other major policy stories in and around Scotland so if there are any topics that you would like to see covered or if you have an interesting policy story to tell and would like to be a guest on the show, please contact Craig at craig@common.scotYou can also find us on iTunes, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Tunein, iHeart Radio and other major podcast aggregators.You can also add the podcast to your RSS feed using this link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/264906.rssThemeExcerpts from "Hiding Your Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the Show.
Robin McAlpine, Scottish Independence strategist and campaigner, discusses the implications for independence and the SNP with Siôn Jobbins, following the resignation of Humza Yousaf as leader and FM. Series 6 Episode 4 (In English / Yn Saesneg)
The past week in Scottish politics has been all about fall outs. Who can speak at an independence rally? Which rally should take precedence? Will the Scottish Greens bail out of the Bute House Agreement over the abandonment of climate change targets and the Cass Review?We ask if these disputes mask the dearth of ideas at government level over how to tackle the fundamental issue of climate change and cloud the necessity of cooperation and unity in the drive for Scottish independence?The Cass Review has been the focus of much of the media and many politicians. Who is Hilary Cass and what does the review actually say?Robin McAlpine of Common Weal thinks the news on climate targets is grim but not unexpected. He called for a move away from a free market approach and put forward ideas that he is convinced would work.https://commonweal.scot/anger-at-dropped-targets-must-lead-to-change/Craig Dalzell also flagged up initiatives from five years ago that would have saved government the recent embarrassment of bad headlines over wood burning stoves.https://commonweal.scot/shedding-light-on-rural-heat/Meanwhile at Westminster the Tories are battering away at getting their Rwanda Bill passed, despite opposition in the Lords, despite the legal implications, the cost, and despite the very real likelihood it wont "Stop the boats". Has it become a totemic Tory policy that they simply can't give up?Labour have promised to stop the flights if they form the next government but have stuck to an opposition based on cost and its failure to protect "our borders".Sticking with Labour, has Starmer scored an own goal with his statements on English patriotism which he cheerfully conflates with Britishness?May the 11th and 12th sees a weekend celebration of all things Cunninghame Graham. Don Roberto and Scotland: international perspectives. There's a day of talks at the Smith Stirling Museum on the Saturday, and a morning visit to Gartmore House, his childhood home , and the island of Inchmahome, place of his burial, on the Sunday.https://donrobertoandme.com/2024/04/04/don-roberto-and-scotland-international-perspectives/And if you listen carefully you might just hear a wee mention or two of the world famous Dundee United winning the Scottish Championship. ★ Support this podcast ★
We are grateful to Yes Skye and Lochalsh for sharing their evening with Commonweal's Robin McAlpine explaining the highlights of his new strategy paper entitled "Direction: A Realistic Strategy for Achieving Scottish Independence". In this strategy Robin shares insights from research carried out by Commonweal and others to create a blueprint for persuasive communications. He also explains the benefits of peer-to-peer campaigning and how we can build support for independence beyond 60%. "Direction" is available as a free download from Commonweal.scot and can also be purchased in paperback format from their online shop The Scottish Independence Podcasts team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. Remember to like and subscribe! Contact Us: indypodcasters@gmail.com Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes Subscribe to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips Music: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Episode 186 of the Common Weal Policy PodcastYou can download the episode directly here.This week Craig talks to Common Weal's Robin McAlpine about his new policy paper on a strategic approach to gaining Scottish independence. They discuss why the focus on process (that is, the debate between which kind of referendum vs which kind of plebiscite) has not just kept the indy campaign static but actively led it down a blind alley that needs to be backed out of. He claims instead that the end goal of the campaign was never "a referendum" but to bring the UK Government to the negotiation table and to recognise Scotland's independence. They discuss the latest and best methods of identifying and targeting our "next most likely" voter in each key demographic and they also discuss what will happen once the "Settled Will" of the Scottish people is for independence.You can read Robin's paper Direction here.You can read his previous strategy paper Within Our Grasp here.And you can read Craig's work on the Demographics of Independence here.Common Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: https://commonweal.scot/donate/The Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail as well as other major policy stories in and around Scotland so if there are any topics that you would like to see covered or if you have an interesting policy story to tell and would like to be a guest on the show, please contact Craig at craig@common.scotYou can also find us on iTunes, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Tunein, iHeart Radio and other major podcast aggregators.You can also add the podcast to your RSS feed using this link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/264906.rssThemeExcerpts from "Hiding Your Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show
A bumper episode featuring Rishi Sunak, the Rosebank oilfield, the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, and Robin McAlpine.The numerate among you will note that's four not three Rs but why ruin a good podcast title over arithmetic?Rishi Sunak seems assailed on all sides at the Conservative Conference in Manchester. Farage hob-nobbing with Priti Patel, Liz Truss re-emerging with her 60 "Growthers", and northern Tory mayors not at all happy with the rumoured cancellation of HS2.We look at this plus the lurch even more to the right with Mark Harper embracing conspiracy theories on 15 Minute Cities.While abandoning HS2 looks on the cards the UK government is hell bent on going ahead with the development of the Rosebank oilfield.Lesley demolishes the misinformation surrounding this disastrous decision.We give our first impressions on Robin McAlpine and Common Weal's Direction-A realistic strategy for achieving Scottish independence.The paper makes much of activist action and a significant example of this is Chain of Freedom on October the 14th.To find out more and take part follow this linkhttps://chainoffreedom.scot/There's also discussion on the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.All this plus, for those who've missed it, the return of the interrupting delivery driver, and Ryder Cup reflections. ★ Support this podcast ★
This podcast extra features our conversation with Robin McAlpine.Robin is a Scottish campaigner who was the Director of the Common Weal think tank from 2014 to 2021. He previously worked as a journalist, and was the first director of the Jimmy Reid Foundation. In an earlier political incarnation he worked as a political researcher for Labour MP George Robertson.He's currently Head of Strategic Development at Common Weal.Our starting point was Sorted based on 10 years of policy work by Common Weal, covering all aspects of public life. Common Weal says , "Sorted is about what's possible. It's a handbook for a better Scotland. A vision for a shared future in an independent Scotland."Sorted was a jumping off point for a fascinating,wide ranging discussion with Robin,brimful of ideas and passion.Copies of Sorted can be purchased by following this linkhttps://commonweal.scot/shop/publications/sorted-a-handbook-for-a-better-scotland/ ★ Support this podcast ★
Welcome home Duncan Smith! And, we're pleased to introduce Richard Orr, Head of Asset and Regeneration at River Clyde Homes.We've been alluding to the things that Duncan is up in his new role as Head of Energy & Sustainability, so we were delighted when he said he'd come back to tell us all about his new life in Greenock.The work they're doing should be as significant for private developers as it is for the social housing sector. It's a big strategic project, providing better homes for their tenants, and better living for a whole community on the River Clyde. They're being very ambitious and they're well aware that they won't meet all of their lofty aspirations, but what they're achieving already feels pretty significant. Approaching asset development and renewal with a long-term vision that is addressing: fuel poverty, demand reduction, localised energy generation and distribution, community wealth building, and even a carbon offsetting scheme that could really make a difference. Notes from the episodeRiver Clyde HomesThe Passive House Plus article about this inspiring project'Back to the Future': the Green Building, built in 1994 in Dublin's Temple Bar Vertical farming on Brass Eye IndiNature - Natural fibre construction insulation The Politics of Change and a Real Green New Deal (part 1), with Robin McAlpine of Common WealThe Politics of Change and a Real Green New Deal (part 2), with Robin McAlpine of Common Weal**SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Zero Ambitions Partners email address - zap@eiux.agencySubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Check Lloyd's Substack: Carbon UpfrontJoin ACANJoin the AECB Join the IGBCListen to Accelerate to Zero, Sara's podcast produced at BE-ST, on Apple or Spotify Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications - zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**
Gwern Gwynfil sy'n esbonio at beth sydd i'w edrych ymlaen yn y Gynhadledd a gynhelir ar benwythnos10-11 Mehefin yn Aberystwyth. Bydd sgyrsiau, gweithdai, dangosiad ffilm, dadansoddi data, hawl i holi a llawer mwy. Manylion pellach: https://cy.yes.cymru/cynhadledd_conference_2023 Dolenni/ Links: Dr John Ball talk on economics of independence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwiwra17mbo Jim Wingate, co-author of 'Twenty Radical Steps to Welsh Independence by First Decolonising our Minds': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13pDOAavWew&t=1458s Robin McAlpine on the situation in Scotland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b-QkzDTCOM&t=5585s
YesCymru's CEO, Gwern Gwynfil and Coference key-note speaker, Plaid Cymru Wrexham Cllr Carrie Harper, join Siôn Jobbins as they look forward to the event in Aberystwyth on 10-11 June 2023. The Conference, more of a summer school, will include workshops, Q&As, keynote speeches, data facts, film screenings and more. Conference details: https://www.yes.cymru/cynhadledd_conference_2023 Links: Dr John Ball talk on economics of independence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwiwra17mbo Jim Wingate, co-author of 'Twenty Radical Steps to Welsh Independence by First Decolonising our Minds': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13pDOAavWew&t=1458s Robin McAlpine on the situation in Scotland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b-QkzDTCOM&t=5585s
Robin McAlpine of the pro-independence think tank, Common Weal, discusses Nicola Sturgeon's resignation as Scotland's First Minister, the SNP's leadership race and the future of the independence movement. Interviewed by Siôn Jobbins of Radio YesCymru. Common Weal: https://commonweal.scot/ YesCymru: http://yes.cymru Melin Drafod: http://melindrafod.cymru Robin: https://robinmcalpine.org/
Episode 158 of the Common Weal Policy Podcast You can download the episode directly here.This week, Craig brings you a series of live talks from the team at Common Weal. First is Craig himself giving an overview of the Scottish Government's energy strategy to the Just Transition Partnership's Reclaiming our Energy Conference. Then Chair of Common Weal's Board Malcolm Fraser talks to residents of Glasgow's Wyndford Estate where they are trying to prevent their eviction and the estate's demolition. Finally, there's Robin McAlpine speech at the launch of Common Weal's latest book Sorted: a handbook for a better Scotland.A full video recording of the JTP conference will be linked to here when it becomes available.Malcolm's talk can be watched here.And copies of Sorted can be purchased in the Common Weal shop here.Common Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: https://commonweal.scot/donate/The Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail as well as other major policy stories in and around Scotland so if there are any topics that you would like to see covered or if you have an interesting policy story to tell and would like to be a guest on the show, please contact Craig at craig@common.scotYou can also find us on iTunes, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Tunein, iHeart Radio and other major podcast aggregators.You can also add the podcast to your RSS feed using this link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/264906.rssThemeExcerpts from "Hiding Your Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show
Episode 156 of the Common Weal Policy Podcast You can download the episode directly here.This week, the tables have turned and Craig is the one in the interview chair as Robin McAlpine asks him about his new policy paper for Common Weal, ScotWind: One Year On. They discuss how much Scotland has lost in potential auction fees by placing a maximum price cap on the 2022 auction, how much Scotland has lost in terms of supply chain investment to other countries and what we can do to mitigate the failures of this auction or to avoid them happening again.You can read ScotWind: One Year On here.Common Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: https://commonweal.scot/donate/The Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail as well as other major policy stories in and around Scotland so if there are any topics that you would like to see covered or if you have an interesting policy story to tell and would like to be a guest on the show, please contact Craig at craig@common.scotYou can also find us on iTunes, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Tunein, iHeart Radio and other major podcast aggregators.You can also add the podcast to your RSS feed using this link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/264906.rssThemeExcerpts from "Hiding Your Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show
Episode 145 of the Common Weal Policy Podcast You can download the episode directly here. This week, Craig is doing something a little different with the podcast. Instead of interviewing a guest, he presents Common Weal's contributions to three recent public events around Scotland. First, Craig himself discusses the Common Weal Common Home Plan at the Edinburgh Climate Coalition's "Plan it for the Planet" event. Nick Kempe presents Caring for All, our blueprint for a National Care Service, and critiques the Scottish Government's National Care Service Bill. Finally, Robin McAlpine talks about the UK's current economic turmoil and how we can use it to our advantage in our independence campaign.Please do consider supporting Independence Live: https://independencelive.net/donate/Links to the full public events covered in this show below:Craig's talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwaWBYo8XuYNick's talk: https://www.facebook.com/unisonscot/videos/484667143572461Robin's talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjlra8aB6hQCommon Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: https://commonweal.scot/product-category/support-us/The Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail as well as other major policy stories in and around Scotland so if there are any topics that you would like to see covered or if you have an interesting policy story to tell and would like to be a guest on the show, please contact Craig at craig@common.scotYou can also find us on iTunes, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Tunein, iHeart Radio and other major podcast aggregators.You can also add the podcast to your RSS feed using this link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/264906.rssThemeExcerpts from "Hiding Your Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show
It is a sad fact that fewer than 500 people own 57% of the private land in Scotland. The Scottish Government are consulting on a proposed Land Reform Bill. This is open until 25th September, so we take a look at the proposals up for consultation. With the help of two case studies - Flamingo Land's revised bid to take over Balloch and the Loch Lomond waterfront and the possibility of an islanders hostile buy out from the absentee landlord on Great Bernera - we look at some of the issues that this consultation brings to light - and many that it doesn't even begin to cover. We have contributions from Lesley Riddoch and Robin McAlpine via Commonweal's expert panel discussion plus excerpts from members debates in Holyrood. Find the Scotgov consultation here: https://consult.gov.scot/agriculture-and-rural-economy/land-reform-net-zero-scotland/ find commonweal's website here: https://commonweal.scot/ Contains information licensed under the Scottish Parliament copyright licence. Music is "Inspired" by Kevin MacLeod
Episode 139 of the Common Weal Policy PodcastYou can download the episode directly here.This week Craig talks to Common Weal's Robin McAlpine about the energy transition that Scotland needs to go through if we are to meet our obligation to avert the climate emergency. Scotland is in many ways in an envious position with rich resources and potential for decarbonising our energy needs. Robin discusses how we do that to each of Scotland's three main energy uses - Electricity, Transport and Heat - and why The oil and gas sector are actively hindering rather than supporting the required transition and why Scottish and UK Government energy policies fall far short of the required goals.You can read Craig's article about the oil sector post-fossil fuels here.You can sign up to Common Weal's weekly newsletter here.Please contact your local MP, MSPs and Councillors using the tools at Write To Them. Send them a copy of Common Weal's Common Home Plan and ask them when they will adopt it and start enacting their part in it.Common Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: https://commonweal.scot/product-category/support-us/The Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail as well as other major policy stories in and around Scotland so if there are any topics that you would like to see covered or if you have an interesting policy story to tell and would like to be a guest on the show, please contact Craig at craig@common.scotYou can also find us on iTunes, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Tunein, iHeart Radio and other major podcast aggregators.You can also add the podcast to your RSS feed using this link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/264906.rssTheme"Hiding Your Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Support the show
First, thanks for the heads-up, Joe!Part two of our chat with Robin McAlpine is an experienced political strategist and founder of the Scottish think tank, Common Weal. (Again. it's a little profane at points, so be warned if you have kids about.)Over the two episodes, we discuss the political landscape, the actual economics of change, how power is exercised in order to activate and inhibit change, and what plans to achieve a zero-impact society might actually look like.Links to other things that we mentionedCommon Weal websiteCommon Weal's Green New Deal for ScotlandCommon Weal t-shirts La Haine, "so far, so good" clip Do watch the whole film though, La Haine Tales from the Mall, by Ewan Morrison **SOME SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We don't actually earn anything from this, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs.Join the AECB Join ACANSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Email Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications (zap@eiux.agency; Everything is User Experience)**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**
Part two of our chat with Robin McAlpine is an experienced political strategist and founder of the Scottish think tank, Common Weal. (Again. it's a little profane at points, so be warned if you have kids about.)Over the two episodes, we discuss the political landscape, the actual economics of change, how power is exercised in order to activate and inhibit change, and what plans to achieve a zero-impact society might actually look like.**SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**(We don't actually earn anything from this, and it's quite a lot of work, so we have to promote the day jobs)Join the AECB Join ACANSubscribe and advertise with Passive House Plus (UK edition here too)Speak to Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications (Everything is User Experience)**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**Links to other things that we mentionedCommon Weal websiteCommon Weal's Green New Deal for ScotlandCommon Weal t-shirts La Haine, "so far, so good" clip Do watch the whole film though, La Haine Tales from the Mall, by Ewan Morrison
This was a much more political conversation than usual, but don't be put off. Robin McAlpine is an experienced political strategist and founder of the Scottish think tank, Common Weal. We mainly wanted to speak with Robin about their Green New Deal, a fully-costed programme of action, explaining how life in Scotland will need to change in order to reverse environmental harm and social failure. We covered a lot too, so it's a long one which we've split into two parts. (It's also a little profane at points, so be warned if you have kids about.)Over the two episodes, we discuss the political landscape, the actual economics of change, how power is exercised in order to activate and inhibit change, and what plans to achieve a zero-impact society might actually look like.We really enjoyed Robin's company and hope you do too.**SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**Join the AECB Join ACANAdvertise or subscribe with Passive House Plus (UK edition here)Speak to Alex and Dan about websites, branding, and communications (Everything is User Experience)**END OF SELF-PROMOTING CALLS TO ACTION**We also discussed exporting traditional Scots wellness expertise to China, and a few thoughts on the various qualities of Buckfast, the tonic wine that is Devon's primary export to Scotland. That all felt a bit too far off topic to keep in the main body, so we've tacked it on after the closing theme tune. (FYI, it's the most sweary bit too.)Links to other things that we mentionedCommon Weal websiteCommon Weal t-shirts La Haine, "so far, so good" clip Do watch the whole film though, La Haine
Round up of the most interesting jigsaw pieces this month, which was of course dominated by COP26, although there were plenty of other items too. 00:35 Nicola Sturgeon speech at Strathclyde Uni - Scotland's COP26 ambitions 08:33 Rhoda Grant MSP /Emma Roddick MSP - land reform and the threat of the "green lairds" 20:56 Nicola Sturgeon interviewed by Christianne Amanpour at COP26 about Scotland's climate change targets 31:06 Michelle Thompson MSP asks deputy FM John Swinney a question about the Supreme court judgement on Rights of the Child bill 34:00 Anthony Salamone at an AIM meeting on EU flexibility on issues of debt, currency and deficit of aspiring future member states 39:54 Nicola Sturgeon addresses the Global Assembly at COP26 47:49 Robin McAlpine chats to Marlene Halliday about the need for "a coalition of the willing" to combat climate change 51:57 Lesley Riddoch and Pat Joyce discuss the electrification of Scottish rail services Catch the regular broadcast of the Indy Jigsaw on Indylive.radio at noon on Tuesdays, and we'll be back with another round up of the best clips in next month's Indy Jigsaw Podcast.
Episode 108 of the Common Weal Policy PodcastYou can download the episode directly here.This week Craig talks to Robin McAlpine, Common Weal's Head of Strategic Development, about his observations of the COP26 conference, why the conference failed to deliver a plan to avert the climate emergency and what Scotland's strategy should be going forward from here.The Bloomberg article that Craig mentions can be read here.Common Weal's Common Home Plan can be downloaded here or purchased from our shop at the link below.https://commonweal.scot/shop/Common Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: https://commonweal.scot/product-category/support-us/The Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail as well as other major policy stories in and around Scotland so if there are any topics that you would like to see covered or if you have an interesting policy story to tell and would like to be a guest on the show, please contact Craig at craig@common.scotYou can also find us on iTunes, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Tunein, iHeart Radio and other major podcast aggregators.You can also add the podcast to your RSS feed using this link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/264906.rssTheme"Hiding Your Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Support the show (http://commonweal.scot/about/donate)
Concluding part of Marlene Halliday's conversation with Robin McAlpine, Head of Strategy Development at Commonweal.
Episode 106 of the Common Weal Policy PodcastYou can download the episode directly here.This week, Craig speaks to Prof. Mark Smith about a question so fundamental to a National Care Service that it must be answered if one is to be built successfully. Just, what is care, exactly? They discuss how the care sector in Scotland has largely failed to answer this question in the past - which has led to the disjointed and profit-driven sector we have today and why the Rights-based approach taken by the Scottish Government, whilst well meaning, will not lead to adequate outcomes unless coupled with the resources to protect the rights and the ability to uphold them.Mark's paper can be read here.Robin McAlpine's article on Rights can be read here.And Mark's paper on trauma has been published in Issue 4 of volume 30 of Scottish Affairs (article paywalled).Common Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: https://commonweal.scot/product-category/support-us/The Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail as well as other major policy stories in and around Scotland so if there are any topics that you would like to see covered or if you have an interesting policy story to tell and would like to be a guest on the show, please contact Craig at craig@common.scotYou can also find us on iTunes, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Tunein, iHeart Radio and other major podcast aggregators.You can also add the podcast to your RSS feed using this link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/264906.rssTheme"Hiding Your Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Support the show (http://commonweal.scot/about/donate)
AS COP26 descends on Glasgow with the world eagerly awaiting the outcome, Indylive Media present a new series of conversations with climate activists. In this first episode, Robin McAlpine, Director of Strategic Development at Commonweal, joins presenter Marlene Halliday as they share their feelings about progress - or lack of it - and their hopes for the outcome of COP26. Robin has worked for 25 years in journalism, public affairs, political strategy and policy. He writes for a wide range of sources on Scottish politics and is the author of several books.
Organised by the Edinburgh Yes Hub, the Big Indy Debate took place at the Queens Hall in Edinburgh on 21st September. It was an excellent evening's entertainment with music and satire as well as debate. The core of the event was a debate panel chaired by Lesley Riddoch. Panel members were Robin McAlpine from Commonweal, Colin Fox from SSP, Michelle Thomson SNP MSP, Gillian Mackay Scottish Green MSP, Selma Rahman Edinburgh WFI and Mike Small from Bella Caledonia. This podcast focuses on the questions for the panel and their answers. The whole event is available to view on Independence Live's Youtube channel.
Don’t Haste Ye Back The FMQs review majors on the vaccine programme roll-out… We discuss a new poll which shows 55% support for the May Holyrood election to be plebiscitary (viz. a referendum on independence)... The news from Labour sees Monica Lennon officially as a leadership candidate... There’s also a Keir Starmer appointment of a ‘former’ Mossad agent to spy on the UK Labour Party… The final main topic is the launch in the UK of two more foreign backed TV News stations (what’s new?)... Also included are;...Devi Sridhar, Joanna Cherry + UK Supreme Court, George Osborne, Piers Morgan, Andrew Neil, Rupert Murdoch and Robin McAlpine out of Common Weal...
Look Down On The Serfs It was a brief Covid briefing and only 14 journalists turned up...Perhaps they were warned that Covid only questions were allowed…The figures have plateaued so the focus was on the vaccination roll-out and comparisons with England… The Review It’s an eclectic mix of topics as we cover;...The social media responses to Robin McAlpine and Craig Murray…The SNP re-launch of yet another plan to think about how to have a referendum…Charlotte St Partners, the House of Lords and Norries support for an unelected second chamber…Peter A Bell on a camel from George Kerevan…Denise Findlay’s history of Nicola Sturgeon as FM…Monica Lennon’s chance to lead Scottish Labour…Exiled Scot Gavin Esler’s lost view of Scotland…And Scottish fish lorries protesting in London.
The Good the Bad and the Wokey The ‘SNP Goodguys’ and the woke contingent make an entrance today after a short Covid press briefing report. The SNP Conference dominates the show plus a fringe event-- The ‘Scottish Currency Group Conference’ which will discuss popular motions pushed aside by the SNP organisers. Also mentioned are Matt Hancock, Nicola Sturgeon, Alex Salmond, Joanna Cherry, Iain Lawson, Robin McAlpine, Boris Johnson.
Citizen Assebly The FM presented the Friday presser, not John Swinney as anticipated, probably because she was at work anyway presiding over the British Irish Council. The pandemic figures were quite good with a plateau level reached, probably allowing some relaxation of rules. We were assured that social distancing would still be practiced during the May 2021 Holyrood election. Norry and Stewart disagreed about the Robin McAlpine proposals for a Citizen Assembly. We examined another poll with positive results for Indy and the SNP but negative for the Tories who drop into 3rd. place. We mock the failed efforts of Labour to perform a leadership coup as outlined by Liam Kirkcaldy in Holyrood Magazine.
Episode 67 of the Common Weal Policy PodcastYou can download the episode directly here.This week, Craig Dalzell and Jonathon Shafi discuss the US Presidential Elections.As of the recording of this podcast, the final result of the election was not yet known but a Biden victory was looking likely. Craig and Jonathon look at the possible implications of a Biden victory and the effect that might have on the wider world.Robin McAlpine's article on the collapse of political centrism can be read here.Apologies for the drop in sound quality in this episode. This is due to the technical limitations imposed by the pandemic.Common Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: http://commonweal.scot/about/donateThe Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail over the next several months so if there are any papers that you would like to see covered sooner rather than later, send your suggestions in to craig@common.scotYou can also find us on iTunes, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Tunein, iHeart Radio and other major podcast aggregators.You can also add the podcast to your RSS feed using this link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/264906.rssTheme"Hiding Your Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Support the show (http://commonweal.scot/about/donate)
This week, host John Drummond interviews Robin McAlpine, Director of the think tank Commonweal.
Episode 64 of the Common Weal Policy PodcastYou can download the episode directly here.This week, Common Weal Campaigns Officer Jonathon Shafi speaks to Common Weal Director, Robin McAlpine.They talk about the big issues facing us in the pandemic, the impact on the economy and the latest poll which puts support for independence at a record high.Apologies for the drop in sound quality in this episode. This is due to the technical limitations imposed by the pandemic.Common Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: http://commonweal.scot/about/donateThe Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail over the next several months so if there are any papers that you would like to see covered sooner rather than later, send your suggestions in to craig@common.scotYou can also find us on iTunes, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Tunein, iHeart Radio and other major podcast aggregators.You can also add the podcast to your RSS feed using this link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/264906.rssTheme"Hiding Your Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Support the show (http://commonweal.scot/about/donate)
After the Second Lockdown PMQs. Starmer was quite gentle with Johnson who had two planted/easy questions to begin with. The PM was shown-up as a hypocrite over testing and made a silly speech as his final reply to Starmer. He thinks it’s only an ‘epidemic’ and that the NHS runs the Test & Trace system not Deloitte, Serco et al. SG Press Briefing. The highest days new Covid infections of 486 barely bothered the hyena hacks looking for red meat. Will the FM shut the pubs?, Why is it tougher in Scotland?, Where is the virus transmission happening?, Should I cancel my foreign holiday in October? Also featured are; Robin McAlpine, Devi Sridhar, Monica Lennon, Mike Pompeo, DRoss, Peter A Bell, Stormont.
You can download the episode directly here. This week, Jonathon Shafi and Common Weal Director, Robin McAlpine, discuss the selling off of Scotland's green and renewable assets as part of the Scottish Government's 'Green Investment Portfolio.'Looking at the implications this will have on jobs, climate and independence, they discuss the alternatives and what we must urgently do to build a green recovery.You can read Robin's recent column in this issue here.Apologies for the drop in sound quality in this episode. This is due to the technical limitations imposed by the pandemic lockdown.Common Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: http://commonweal.scot/about/donateThe Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail over the next several months so if there are any papers that you would like to see covered sooner rather than later, send your suggestions in to craig@common.scotYou can also find us on iTunes, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Tunein, iHeart Radio and other major podcast aggregators.You can also add the podcast to your RSS feed using this link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/264906.rssSupport the show (http://commonweal.scot/about/donate)
This episode we were joined by Director of the Common Weal think tank and Compass Council member, Robin McAlpine.What's next for the Scottish Independence movement? How, if at all, can Labour solve its “Scotland problem”? What's the difference between nationalism and patriotism, and why does it matter?Robin is a famously thought-provoking and engaging speaker, and is definitely not afraid to tell it like it is. "It's Bloody Complicated" is recorded every Tuesday at 6pm BST. Become a Compass Member to join our live recordings and bring your questions to our guests: https://action.compassonline.org.uk/podcastSupport the show (https://www.compassonline.org.uk/podcast/)
indylive radio daytime show interviews Robin McAlpine, director of Commonweal.In this in depth interview, Robin talks about the choices facing Scotland as a result of the weaknesses uncovered by the covid 19 pandemic and offers positive solutions and policy initiatives with a firm plan. Indylive radio's daytime live show is at 11:30am on Mondays and Fridays, with repeats during the week. Previous shows are available on the catch up section at www.indylive.radio and also on our new Youtube channel. A new voice for a new Scotland
Today the boys discuss Robin McAlpine's piece on how society could change after the coronavirus pandemic is over, Richard Murphy publishes a piece by Ben Wray also of common weal which asks who is really benefiting from the government bailout. We also have a clip from Donald Trump's press conference that covers this from an America first angle. Finally we have a quick chat about Nicholas Sturgeon's update on the pandemic.
These podcasts are from the first of our Climate Emergency Series of Interviews on the IndyLive Morning Show. Robin McAlpine, director of Commonweal, talks to us about their Our Common Home Plan - a Green Deal for Scotland. How much will it cost? £175 billion. This is less than Trident, about the same as HS2, two thirds of Scotland’s share of what we found to cover the banking crisis, and only five times as much as we’re paying out for PFI schemes in Scotland. It will take 25 years to do everything. We would finance it over two generations, 50 years. If we borrowed that amount all up front ( which we won’t need to do actually) it would cost £5 billion a year to service that borrowing. That’s a normal level of national borrowing repayments. When you put the scheme through the Scottish Government’s economic multiplier - and yes it is a very approximate guestimate - even with conservative assumptions it comes out as generating £4billion a year in extra revenue from economic growth and 100,000 jobs. It would also take resources back into public ownership and that creates another £1.5billion national income. This is our generation’s equivalent of the Victorians building the railways, or the Keynesian projects after WW2 that built the hydro-electric stations. It’s not beyond us. It’s mainly engineering. And what are Scots good at? Engineering. It will create massive numbers of jobs. We’ll need tradespeople, a design revolution, architects, scientists, etc, etc. It assumes no income from oil & gas. We also fix the supply chain for the transition from oil in NE Scotland to this plan. We end up with an extra £1.5billion to spend over and above having paid for the borrowing. We need to get independence to do this. While we are in the UK we can’t finance it, we don’t have control over the means to carry it out and we’re still stuck in the UK economic model. In fact we need to unite the independence and climate change movements. Climate change movement is now bigger than the independence movement even there is a lot of overlap. Commonweal doing a Common home stage show around the country this year, taking the plan round the country including music festivals. Need a team to do that and spread this message. Commonweal is also going to be homing in on all political parties because now it’s manifesto time for 2021. Buy the book from Commonweal website or download all the material free. https://commonweal.scot/our-common-home
These podcasts are from the first of our Climate Emergency Series of Interviews on the IndyLive Morning Show. Robin McAlpine, director of Commonweal, talks to us about their Our Common Home Plan - a Green Deal for Scotland. Part 2: The ten themes covered by the plan: These are related to UN Millennium Environmental Threats but the team asked which of these are a threat here in Scotland and then worked out how to adapt and mitigate in those areas. We touch on : land reform, grouse moors, forestry. How we build sustainable energy solutions depends on local conditions, eg Glasgow could get 30% of its heat requirements for 40 years from water in its old mines. Derelict land and is a national resource and generally land will be at the heart of enacting the Common Home plan. We don’t need a national land company. We need small land owners like the Nordic system. Of course the big land owners will be up in arms but there’s only about 500 of them. Changing land ownership patterns would also help redistribute wealth. It would help wildlife. A denser Scottish forest would be in better balance with wildlife, as it is in Norway. We could even reintroduce top predators like lynx and wolves. Land use connects over to building which can be better done using wood than cement. A house built of wood is actually built of carbon. Robin is emphatic that it’s not enough to talk about individual responsibility, it needs collective and connected systematic change. The ten sections included in the Common Home Plan are also interconnected and mutually beneficial. We go on to talk about effect of implementing this plan on other countries and on our trade with them. One of our impacts on other countries at the moment is they use their land to export food to us, soya, palm oil. But that reduces their biodiversity and often degrades their soil. We have to reduce our impact to zero not only in Scotland but in the whole planet. Robin had a telling example: we eat a Spanish orange and then pee their water into our water system. Meanwhile in Spain they have water shortages and soil problems. Planetary Zero is harder but it’s doable. It will need deglobalisation. We need to make more stuff for ourselves.. food, construction materials, domestic appliances, etc etc. We’re an energy rich country so energy for intensive hydroponic food production is no problem. So even avocados are still going to be available even in winter. We could even mimic climate conditions for Sicily and grow our own lemons. Is this protectionism & isolationism? No, it’s re-industrialising our economy in a green sustainable way. All of this discussion comes back to taking on board that everything in the world is interconnected and dependent on each other. Robin thinks the only exception to that might possibly be Piers Morgan brain.
These podcasts are from the first of our Climate Emergency Series of Interviews on the IndyLive Morning Show. Robin McAlpine, director of Commonweal, talks to us about their Our Common Home Plan - a Green Deal for Scotland. Part 1: The climate emergency is the background to this and how we can adapt and mitigate its likely effects in Scotland and also take responsibility for our environmental impact elsewhere in the world. Robin talks about the understandable ecological grief that climate campaigners and researchers experience but also describes how engaging with how we can fix it has turned that emotionally around for him. We talk about how the plan came about and who has been involved. One of Robin’s main emphases is that what we do to fulfil the plan needs done well. We can’t just do it piecemeal. We need Clyde-Built standards again. We get into a bit reminiscing about improvements in washing machines over the past 50 years. Robin can remember twin tubs but Val and Marlene can remember helping our grannies with her mangle. But the point is that there is no such thing as waste, just bad use of resources. We become accustomed to built-in obsolescence and that needs to end.
Norrie Jimmy and Stewart chat about Sunday politics shows, Gordon Brewer in particular and Norrie apologises to Robin McAlpine. We range wide on Henry VIII powers Tory tactics in Scotland to undermine the SNP and a few other topics drop in.
Norrie, Jimmy and Stewart discuss Robin McAlpine's latest report on the route to a second independence referendum. No everyone agrees with what he says.
Episode 33 of the Common Weal Policy PodcastYou can download the episode directly here.This week, Campaigns Officer Jonathon Shafi and Head of Policy & Research Dr Craig Dalzell look at the shift in Scottish Labour's position in the constitutional debate. Unable to "Out Union" the Conservatives and obviously neither able to nor desiring to "Out Indy" the SNP, Labour have been re-examining their offer for Home Rule, Devo-Max or Federalism. This episode looks at the limits and difficulties they are likely to face as they attempt to define this political offer.Note that due to scheduling issues, this episode was recorded on Monday 13th of January, shortly before the formal confirmation that Boris Johnson has refused a Section 30 order on independence.You can read Common Weal's paper on Federalism here and you can read Robin McAlpine's article that Jonathon mentioned during the podcast here.More about the Common Home project can be found at the website https://commonweal.scot/our-common-homeThe books can be bought at the Common Weal shop here.And the policy papers and technical reports mentioned can all be found in the Common Weal Policy Library.Common Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: http://commonweal.scot/about/donateThe Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail over the next several months so if there are any papers that you would like to see covered sooner rather than later, send your suggestions in to craig@common.scotYou can also find us on iTunes, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Tunein, iHeart Radio and other major podcast aggregators.You can also add the podcast to your RSS feed using this link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/264906.rssTheme"Hiding Your Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Support the show (http://commonweal.scot/about/donate)
Robin McAlpine in the IndyLive.Radio studios with Valerie Gauld and Marlene Halliday. Where now ?
September 5th, 2019Common WealEpisode 22 of the Common Weal Policy PodcastThis week Common Weal Director Robin McAlpine, and campaigns officer, Jonathon Shafi, discuss the chaos in Westminster and the need for independence and a Green New Deal.Robin gives a teaser of what to expect from our major new policy and campaign on a Scottish Green New Deal, and connects this with the breakdown of the British state. We have the ideas that will see us transition to independence, while transforming our society and economy. You can read more about Common Weal's campaign here.Common Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: http://commonweal.scot/about/donateThe Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail over the next several months so if there are any papers that you would like to see covered sooner rather than later, send your suggestions in to craig@common.scotYou can also find us on iTunes, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Tunein, iHeart Radio and other major podcast aggregators.You can also add the podcast to your RSS feed using this link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/264906.rssTheme"Hiding Your Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Support the show (http://commonweal.scot/about/donate)
Episode 7 of the Common Weal Policy PodcastYou can download this episode directly here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/264906/1052998-episode-7-special-guest-robin-mcalpine.mp3?client_source=small_player&download=trueCommon Weal's Campaigns Officer Jonathon Shafi is joined by special guest and Director of Common Weal, Robin McAlpineThey discuss Common Weal's latest policy paper "An Investment-Led Economic Development Framework For An Independent Scotland" which proposes a framework for a "Common Weal" vision for the economy of an independent Scotland.The UK's model of economic development is based on a unproductive sectors which generate vast profits through four particular methods - financial speculation, asset value inflation, debt-fuelled consumption, and concentration and monopoly.This report argues that Scotland, if independent, could improve its performance across 12 key pillars of its economy.It then explores 18 alternative economic theories - beyond limited approaches focused on GDP growth and from there creates a package of 10 actions which would move an independent Scotland towards an investment-led economy including laying down the foundations of a Green New Deal proposal.The paper can be read here: http://allofusfirst.org/policy-library/investment-led-economic-development-framework-independent-scotlandCommon Weal's work is only possible thanks to our generous supporters who regularly donate an average of £10 per month. If you would like to help us build our vision of an All of Us First Scotland, you can do so here: http://allofusfirst.org/about/donateThe Policy Podcast would like to discuss all of Common Weal's policy papers in detail over the next several months so if there are any papers that you would like to see covered sooner rather than later, send your suggestions in to craig@common.scot Theme"Hiding Your Reality" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Support the show (http://commonweal.scot/about/donate)
CommonSpace editor Ben Wray is joined by the journalist and former SNP MP George Kerevan, Common Weal think-tank director Robin McAlpine and economy expert Katherine Trebeck to discuss the SNP's Growth Commission report released Friday 25 May 2018 Part 2: https://soundcloud.com/user-108524024/podcast-katherine-trebeck-discusses-her-ideas-for-scotlands-post-growth-future
What next for the Scottish independence movement? With support apparently stalled in the polls, indy still runs high in terms of public support -- higher, indeed, than current support for the Scottish National Party? The loss of 21 SNP seats, and the apparent surge that favoured the Tories especially in north east Scotland, came as a blow. But is it really that great a setback, when considered against the greater scheme of Scottish politics and where it might be headed? Robin McAlpine, director of the left think-tank Common Weal, arrived in the Newsnet studio to chew over the current situation with our regular host, Derek Bateman. What does it mean for the pro-independence movement, and where could constitutional politics turn next? Above all, he urges a new form of conversation with those who have been opposed to change. It makes for a fascinating discussion.
A week on from the election that everyone won (and lost) and its implications are becoming clear. The UK is virtually leadership, the Tories continue attempting to cobble a deal with the DUP and in Scotland there is much debate about the future direction of the independence movement. Robin McAlpine (main picture), head of the think tank Common Weal, arrived at Planet Newsnet to discuss all this and more with podcast host Derek Bateman (left) and journalist and TV producer Maurice Smith. McAlpine has been involved in the publication of various papers that envisage how a future independent Scotland might work. He believes independence needs broad support before a second poll is called. A fascinating discussion of the options facing Scotland, and the Scottish parties, in the wake of an extraordinary election campaign that failed to resolve the UK’s political position, only days before Brexit negotiations with the EU are supposed to begin.
For the 136th episode of The Scottish Independence Podcast, I spoke with Robin McAlpine.Robin is a political strategist and the Director of the Common Weal.In the interview he doesn't waste any time getting on to what the thinks Yes supporters ought to be getting on with, and there is certainly a lot to chew on in interview.We talked about both logistics and strategy and how they are both equally important. We also spoke of what messages we need to be sending out and how to react to the inevitable negative tactics we will face from the unionist side in the next referendum.Hope you enjoy.LINKShttps://www.facebook.com/robin.mcalpinehttp://www.allofusfirst.org/http://michaelgreenwell.wordpress.com/https://twitter.com/mgreenwellhttps://www.facebook.com/TheScottishIndependencePodcast
For the 130th episode of The Scottish Independence Podcast, I went along to the Glasgow office of the Common Space.I tried to find out how the project got started, who works there, how they work and their plans for the future.I spoke with Angela Haggerty, Ben Wray, Aidan McCrae, Stuart Rodger, Alice Muir, Maxine Blaine (who definitely isn't Robin McAlpine) and Tiffany Kane.Listening to these conversations, I think you'll get a feel for who is working there and their motivations. Those motivations and ambitions are journalistic, political, economic, technological and others.Hope you enjoy...
Independence for Scotland. We are certainly talking about it, but is anybody doing any proper planning about how Scotland gets there? Robin McAlpine, head of the independence leaning think-tank Common Weal, is challenging the constituent parts of the Yes campaign to think carefully about how it lifts support for independence into the majority, He doesn’t believe that UK Brexit vote is enough to convince enough Scots to back a breakaway, even though a clear majority backed remaining in the European Union. He has produced a book, Determination, setting out his argument for a thoroughly thought-out and meaningful campaign for Scottish independence. Here he discussed his ideas with podcast host Derek Bateman. What follows is a fascinating discussion. “We cannot keep saying to people the same things as last time, and expect a different result,” argues Robin. “The people who will win the next referendum will look pretty much like the people who voted Yes last time around.” Robin argues that defeat in 2014 has not been followed by a proper political “autopsy”, because of the massive growth of the SNP and the fact that Scotland hurtled quickly into the 2015 UK and 2016 election campaigns. Listen to his case by clicking the audio file above, or downloading to your usual service. “Determination: How Scotland can become independent by 2021”; Robin McAlpine; Available from Common Weal; £5.00 Newsnet.scot podcasts are professionally made to enhance your listening experience. Please support our ongoing media services by subscribing whatever you can afford. Thank you.
In Episode 36 of Apolitical we welcome Robin McAlpine as our fifth guest of Season 2. Robin is the Director of Common Weal and has written for a variety of publications, including Bella Caledonia and CommonSpace, on a wide range of topics. Amongst the topics we discuss with Robin on the podcast are: • His introduction to […] The post #36: Robin McAlpine appeared first on Apolitical Podcast.
In Episode 36 of Apolitical we welcome Robin McAlpine as our fifth guest of Season 2. Robin is the Director of Common Weal and has written for a variety of publications, including Bella Caledonia and CommonSpace, on a wide range of topics. Amongst the topics we discuss with Robin on the podcast are: • His introduction to […] The post #36: Robin McAlpine appeared first on Apolitical Podcast.
In this episode I spoke to Robin McAlpine about the minimum wage and the living wage. Why aren't they the same thing? What are the differences between the various parties on these issues.More importantly, is there a better way to look at the while issue?William Duguid has excelled himself again too. This time he's keeping us all up to date on the latest from the Ministry of Patronising Pish.
For the 101st episode of the Scottish Independence Podcast I spoke with Robin McAlpine of the Reid Foundation, The Common Weal and much more besides.We spoke about some of the ways in which the Common Weal project has moved forward since the referendum, and there is much of note in that.We also talked about why Robin feels some of these new directions are necessary.Then we moved onto a more general discussion about what has changed post indyref, and, possibly more importantly, what hasn't changed.Hope you enjoy…LINKShttp://michaelgreenwell.wordpress.com/http://www.allofusfirst.org/https://twitter.com/commonwealpkhttps://twitter.com/ReidFoundation
For the 45th episode of the For A' That podcast, Andrew and I were joined by Pat Kane, who I'm sure doesn't need the introduction, and by Michelle Thomson from Business for Scotland.Our first topic was a discussion about some of the themes that Robin McAlpine hinted at in this article http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2014/06/19/yes-together/ . Put simply, are the Yes side being too nice?Apart from that, the media was the hot topic this week. With protests against BBC bias going on outside their Scottish headquarters, what do we actually expect a state broadcaster to be doing in such an event? Furthermore, in an independent Scotland shouldn't we be trying to organise the media with a different model and if so, what should it look like?Will the big debate with Salmond V TBA (To Be Affronted) ever happen? Who knows? However, we tackled this issue from another angle by asking, quite frankly, what would be the point?There's all that and more in the new episode.Hope you enjoy...LINKShttp://lallandspeatworrier.blogspot.co.uk/http://michaelgreenwell.wordpress.com/https://twitter.com/MichelleThomsonhttps://twitter.com/thoughtlandhttps://twitter.com/PeatWorrierhttps://twitter.com/BizforScotlandhttps://twitter.com/mgreenwell
The 68th episode of The Scottish Independence Podcast comes from a recent yes event in Motherwell with thank to Independence Live, who are making a great job of filming these events).Scotland is full of Independence events at the moment, and the Yes campaign is reaching many many communities around Scotland.Obviously however, it is not possible for everyone to go to every meeting, and it is not possible for some to go to any meetings, so I think it is important to spread the ones that are recorded around as much as possible.In that spirit, mixed in with the interviews in the normal podcasts and For A' That series, I hope to be bringing you more podcasts of events around Scotland too.At this particular event, the speakers were firstly Robin McAlpine, in fine angry form. He was followed by Cat Boyd and finally Jim Sillars had the chance to explain his ideas without George Galloway repeating the same sentence at him ad infinitum.Hope you enjoy…LINKShttp://michaelgreenwell.wordpress.com/https://twitter.com/mgreenwellhttps://twitter.com/kittycatboydhttps://twitter.com/NaeFearhttps://twitter.com/ReidFoundation
Sorry for the truly dreadful title but the 58th episode of The Scottish Independence Podcast comes from a recent Yes Leith/Edinburgh North West Event, and thanks to them for letting me reproduce it as a podcast.It took place last month and the speakers were, in this order, Fiona Hyslop the Scottish culture secretary, Robin McAlpine from the Reid Foundation (here's his new-ish blog too), Michelle Thomson from Business for Scotland and Colin Fox from the SSP (and he's got a rather good line in his bit).The question and answer session at the end is also worth listening to.Hope you enjoyLINKShttp://michaelgreenwell.wordpress.com/https://twitter.com/YesENLhttp://www.businessforscotland.co.uk/https://twitter.com/MichelleThomsonhttps://twitter.com/FionaHyslophttps://twitter.com/colinfoxssp
The 55th episode of the Scottish Independence Podcast is the first of two that aren't the usual interview format but rather some talks that are taken from here and there and will provide both useful information for campaigners, and I hope some enjoyable listening.This one comes from an event a few weeks back in Kirkcaldy and the speakers were Alistair Bruce, who is involved with Yes Kirkcaldy, Ross Ingerbergson who is a communications director for the SNP, Robin McAlpine who is the director of the Reid Foundation (I also interviewed him here) and writer and former BBC journalist Lesley Riddoch, who, apart from the excellence of the talk itself, in this speech deals admirably with a heckler (I also interviewed her here).It's quite long so you might not want to listen to it in one go but I'd recommend that even if you do it all in parts, you try to get through it.Also thanks to Two Thumbs Fresh Productions, for letting me reproduce it.LINKShttp://michaelgreenwell.wordpress.com/http://www.cmonscotland.org/https://twitter.com/ReidFoundationhttps://twitter.com/LesleyRiddochhttps://twitter.com/mgreenwellhttps://twitter.com/YesKirkcaldyhttps://www.youtube.com/user/twothumbsfresh?feature=watch
The 42nd episode of the Scottish Independence Podcast comes from a talk given by Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp from the organisation Business for Scotland.It's really quite remarkable to hear a lot of the things he talks about spelled out so clearly and there are a lot of great little facts you could use in conversation in there as well.Who really bailed out RBS and HBOS, for example?Which is more volatile, the oil price or the stock market?Find out how we're also subsidising England when we die.I think you'll also find that most, if not all, of the issues brought up would compliment rather than go against the Common Weal vision that Robin McAlpine spelled out in our last episode.Hope you enjoy…LINKShttps://twitter.com/BizforScotlandhttp://michaelgreenwell.wordpress.com/http://www.businessforscotland.co.uk/https://twitter.com/mgreenwell
For the 41st episode, Robin McAlpine is back on the Scottish Independence Podcast.Robin, as if you didn't already know, is the director of the Reid Foundation and the editor of Scottish Left Review.We had a wide-ranging discussion on a number of issues surrounding the Independence Referendum, which also surprisingly included something about willow-coppicing, which is a thing I had never previously heard of.We also talked about the Reid Foundation's latest paper on industrial relations and how they could be done better with a different political culture, the kind of one that maybe, a newly independent country might have.Robin also outlined some possible taxation options.Who are the real opponents to Scottish Independence, the people you find around Westminster or their real masters?Has the referendum begun to create a new political community in Scotland that, regardless of the result in this referendum, will guarantee change in the future?Why won't it get better for Better Together?Find out some answers to all these in the podcast.Also, Robin would like to invite you all along to the Common Weal launch party at The Arches in Glasgow on Sunday afternoon.LINKShttp://www.scottishleftreview.org/http://michaelgreenwell.wordpress.com/http://reidfoundation.org/https://twitter.com/mgreenwell
This episode of the Scottish Independence Podcast is the audio from a speech in The Cladhan Hotel in Falkirk by Robin McAlpine of the Reid Foundation.In the speech he outlines the Common Weal vision for Scotland.Hope you enjoy…LINKShttp://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-common-weal-we-need-you-to-build-a-better-scotlandhttp://reidfoundation.org/
For this week's episode of For A' That Andrew were joined by Robin McAlpine of the Reid Foundation.Up for discussion were the accusations of abuse being aimed at Chris Hoy. What constitutes verbal abuse and what constitutes mere disagreement? Does everyone need to calm down a bit or are there certain people that seem to be stoking these fiAt_-SCuCIAEQevNres a little more than others?Is corporation tax and its possible reduction one of your priorities in an Independent Scotland? Would you like to see it or do you think it'd be a bad idea? Actually, do the SNP even think it is a good idea? Robin had some interesting ideas on that.Is English nationalism so bad? Why shouldn't the English be allowed to rediscover themselves?Finally, Nigel Fauxrage is going to be back in town. Will/should he get the same reaction as before?Hope you enjoy…LINKS
This special end of year episode features Andrew Tickell, Robin McAlpine of the Scottish Left Review and Reid Foundation, Alex Massie who blogs at the Spectator magazine and myself (Michael Greenwell). We talked about our important events of the year and a little about how we think things might go next year. The phoney war we have all been watching so far was certainly a topic as were positivity and negativity. The rise and whys of Johann Lamont also get an airing. There is a special end of year quiz that I predict you are going to enjoy.LINKShttps://twitter.com/alexmassiehttps://twitter.com/mgreenwellhttps://twitter.com/PeatWorrierhttp://reidfoundation.org/
For Episode 13 I spoke with Robin McAlpine who, amongst other things, is the editor of Scottish Left Review and the director of the advocacy group The Reid Foundation.Democracy was a big theme in the discussion and we spoke about the importance of mapping out the stages of the independence process and how democracy is key in every part of that. We also talked about the weakness of local democracy in Britain in general and Scotland in particular and how this is something that needs changing.Furthermore, we talked about the hollowing out of democracy that has been successfully carried out by the neoliberal institutions and why Scottish Independence will help to at least improve this situation.A very interesting point on why it is crucial not to allow cultural arguments to be removed from the Independence debate is in there somewhere as well.www.reidfoundation.orghttp://www.scottishleftreview.org/