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Common Weal
Common Weal is a Scottish pro-independence think tank and advocacy group which campaigns for social and economic equality in Scotland. It launched in 2013 and regularly publishes papers and works exploring an alternate economic and social model for Scotland. The organisation is not affiliated to any political party and is funded by individual, small monthly donations. History Common Weal launched May 2013 as part of the Jimmy Reid Foundation. A group of academics and economists proposed a model based on co-operation and mutual benefit, attempting to avoid social exclusion. The following month, further work from the project cautioned against proposals of monetary union between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK. In July 2013, founder Robin McAlpine was invited to present the project's economic concepts to the First Minister and the SNP's 65 MSPs. A few months later a conference of SNP councillors showed some support for the ideas around fairness within society. The con ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robin McAlpine
Robin Lindsay McAlpine (born December 1972) is a Scottish campaigner who was the Director of the Common Weal think tank from 2014 to 2021. He has previously worked as a journalist, and was the first director of the Jimmy Reid Foundation. Biography McAlpine is the son of former Labour Party and Scottish National Party Councillor Tom McAlpine and the sociologist and activist Isobel Lindsay. McAlpine previously worked as a political researcher for Labour MP George Robertson. He also worked as a journalist, and was Deputy Director of Universities Scotland. He later became Director of the Jimmy Reid Foundation. Common Weal McAlpine first began to develop on economic philosophy based around the idea of a 'common weal' at the Jimmy Reid Foundation, before leaving in 2014 to set up the Common Weal project as a think tank in its own right. In 2016 McAlpine published 'Determination: How Scotland can become independent by 2021'. In January 2021, he asked to step down as Director of Co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Think Tank
A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmental organizations, but some are semi-autonomous agencies within government or are associated with particular political parties, businesses or the military. Think-tank funding often includes a combination of donations from very wealthy people and those not so wealthy, with many also accepting government grants. Think tanks publish articles and studies, and even draft legislation on particular matters of policy or society. This information is then used by governments, businesses, media organizations, social movements or other interest groups. Think tanks range from those associated with highly academic or scholarly activities to those that are overtly ideological and pushing for particular policies, with a wide range among them in terms of th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party (SNP; sco, Scots National Pairty, gd, Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba ) is a Scottish nationalist and social democratic political party in Scotland. The SNP supports and campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom and for membership of the European Union, with a platform based on civic nationalism. The SNP is the largest political party in Scotland, where it has the most seats in the Scottish Parliament and 45 out of the 59 Scottish seats in the House of Commons at Westminster, and it is the third-largest political party by membership in the United Kingdom, behind the Labour Party and the Conservative Party. The current Scottish National Party leader, Nicola Sturgeon, has served as First Minister of Scotland since 20 November 2014. Founded in 1934 with the amalgamation of the National Party of Scotland and the Scottish Party, the party has had continuous parliamentary representation in Westminster since Winnie Ewing won th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Political And Economic Think Tanks Based In The United Kingdom
Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies politics and government is referred to as political science. It may be used positively in the context of a "political solution" which is compromising and nonviolent, or descriptively as "the art or science of government", but also often carries a negative connotation.. The concept has been defined in various ways, and different approaches have fundamentally differing views on whether it should be used extensively or limitedly, empirically or normatively, and on whether conflict or co-operation is more essential to it. A variety of methods are deployed in politics, which include promoting one's own political views among people, negotiation with other political subjects, making laws, and exercising internal and external force, including wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tommy Sheppard (politician)
Tommy Sheppard (born 6 March 1959) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Edinburgh East since May 2015. He is a former SNP spokesperson for the Cabinet Office and a former SNP Shadow Leader of the House of Commons. He is also known for founding The Stand Comedy Clubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Early life and education Sheppard was born in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in 1959 and moved to nearby Portstewart at the age of seven. He was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution before attending the University of Aberdeen to study medicine. He graduated with a degree in politics and sociology in 1982. That same year he was elected Vice-President of the NUS and moved to London. Political career He left the NUS in 1984 to work in the East End of London and in 1986 was elected as a Labour member, on Hackney London Borough Council. In 1990 he became Deputy Leader of the council. Sheppard unsuccessfully contest ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Malcolm Fraser (architect)
Malcolm Fraser (born 21 July 1959) is an architect from Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the founder of 'Malcolm Fraser Architects'', a firm of architects based in the Old Town of Edinburgh from 1993. The company entered liquidation on 21 August 2015 and Fraser worked witHalliday Fraser Munro Architectsbefore setting up anew with Robin Livingstone aFraser/Livingstone Architectsin January 2019. Biography Alexander Malcolm Fraser was born on 21 July 1959 to Margaret (''née'' Watters) and William Fraser (Structural engineer, with Blyth and Blyth, for many of Edinburgh's best post-war buildings). He attended George Watson's College, going on to study architecture at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with an MA Hons, DipArch in 1985. Following University he worked as a community architect in Wester Hailes in Edinburgh; with architect and theorist Christopher Alexander in Berkeley, California; conservation practices in Edinburgh; and with poet and artist Ian Hamilton Finlay at his ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Isobel Lindsay
Isobel Lindsay (born 1943) is a former sociology lecturer, known as a Scottish nationalist and peace activist. Born in Hamilton, Lindsay studied at Hamilton Academy and at the University of Glasgow, then was based at Strathclyde University, initially as a research fellow, then later as a lecturer in sociology.''The Times House of Commons 1970'', p.166Henrik Halkier, ''Institutions, Discourse, and Regional Development'', p.597Stuart Christie, ''My Granny Made Me an Anarchist'' In 1960, she was a signatory to the Committee of 100 anti-war group, and through the group, she met and married Tom McAlpine. Their son is Robin McAlpine. Lindsay joined the Scottish National Party (SNP) at an early age and first stood for the Westminster parliament (unsuccessfully) in Motherwell at the 1970 general election, and became a member of the party's National Executive the same year. She was first elected as a Vice Chair of the party in 1972, initially with responsibility for publicity, then l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Frances Guy
Frances Mary Guy (born 1 February 1959) is a British former ambassador and UN Women's representative, now chief executive of Scotland's International Development Alliance. Early life Guy was born on 1 February 1959 to David Guy and Elizabeth Guy (née Hendry). She was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh. She studied international relations at Aberdeen University, graduating with an undergraduate Master of Arts (MA Hons) degree. She then studied at the Bologna Center of Johns Hopkins University, graduating with a diploma, and Carleton University, Ottawa, graduating with a postgraduate Master of Arts (MA) degree in international relations. Career Guy joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1985 and served at Khartoum, Bangkok and Addis Ababa as well as at the FCO. She was Ambassador to Yemen 2001–04, head of the FCO's Engaging the Islamic World group 2004–06, and Ambassador to Lebanon 2006–11. She was adviser on the Middle East to the Foreign Secretary ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated population of 635,640. Straddling the border between historic Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, the city now forms the Glasgow City Council area, one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and is governed by Glasgow City Council. It is situated on the River Clyde in the country's West Central Lowlands. Glasgow has the largest economy in Scotland and the third-highest GDP per capita of any city in the UK. Glasgow's major cultural institutions – the Burrell Collection, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera – enjoy international reputations. The city was the European Capital of Culture in 1990 and is notable for its architecture, cult ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Advocacy Group
Advocacy groups, also known as interest groups, special interest groups, lobbying groups or pressure groups use various forms of advocacy in order to influence public opinion and ultimately policy. They play an important role in the development of political and social systems. Motives for action may be based on Politics, political, religious, morality, moral, or commerce, commercial positions. Groups Methods used by advocacy groups, use varied methods to try to achieve their aims, including lobbying, media campaigns, consciousness raising, awareness raising publicity stunts, Opinion poll, polls, research, and policy briefings. Some groups are supported or backed by powerful business or political interests and exert considerable influence on the political process, while others have few or no such resources. Some have developed into important social, political institutions or social movements. Some powerful advocacy groups have been accused of manipulating the democratic syste ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Scottish Green Party
The Scottish Greens (also known as the Scottish Green Party; gd, Pàrtaidh Uaine na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Green Pairtie) are a green political party in Scotland. The party has seven MSPs in the Scottish Parliament as of May 2021. As of the 2022 local elections, the party sits on 13 of the 32 Scottish local councils, with a total of 35 councillors. They hold two ministerial posts in the third Sturgeon government following a power-sharing agreement with the SNP in August 2021, marking the first time Green party politicians will be in government in the UK. The Scottish Greens were created in 1990 when the former Green Party separated into two independent parties, representing Scotland and England and Wales. The party is affiliated to the Global Greens and the European Green Party. Party membership increased dramatically following the Scottish independence referendum, during which it supported Scotland's independence from the United Kingdom. Organisation The Scottish Greens ar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Radical Independence Campaign
The Radical Independence Campaign (RIC) is a grassroots organisation which advocates for Scotland to become a republic, independent of the United Kingdom. It was established in 2012 in the run-up to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, in which it played a significant campaigning role. Mission RIC stands for the following: * For a democratic, secular, socially just and environmentally sustainable Scottish republic. * Action based on the sovereignty of the people not the UK Crown, leading to the setting up of a Constituent Assembly. * Action to establish universal health care, education, housing, income, pensions and trade union rights; and to win land reform and challenge environmental degradation. * Equality and opposition to discrimination on grounds of sex, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion/belief, disability or age. * Solidarity with the struggles for workers’ rights, democracy and self-determination, based on internationalism from below. * Support for Sc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
