RSS Parrot

Planning promises get wilder and yet still we swallow them

https://www.commonweal.scot/daily-briefings/briefing-hhaj3

Published: September 21, 2026 08:16

There is a cluster of issues which regularly occur together. They are 'planning decisions', 'major infrastructure developments' and 'remarkable claims about jobs and supply chains'. Yet repeatedly, these claims have turned out to be little more than…

How can Scotland lose so much capacity with so little debate?

https://www.commonweal.scot/daily-briefings/briefing-fh54z

Published: September 18, 2026 09:49

It is becoming hard not to feel that Scotland's universities are being transformed in fundamental ways at a pace which does not permit debate and scrutiny, and with scant regard to democratic considerations or to the long-term strategic impact it will…

Decoding yesterday’s data centre vote

https://www.commonweal.scot/daily-briefings/briefing-e5es6

Published: September 17, 2026 08:58

Important things happened in the Scottish Parliament yesterday but if you just read the final decisions it does not give a clear picture of what it means for Scotland's future. Sadly it is yet another case of compromised decision-making in Scotland.The…

Freedom of Information is at risk again

https://www.commonweal.scot/daily-briefings/briefing-hlsdt

Published: September 16, 2026 08:38

The Scottish Information Commissioner’s annual report was published yesterday. Current Commissioner David Hamilton has been on a bit of a roll in recent months both by increasing efforts to ensure that the Scottish public sector complies with the law…

Scotland must value carers as much as we value care

https://www.commonweal.scot/daily-briefings/briefing-p8wtg

Published: September 15, 2026 08:53

Imagine a world in which healthcare nurses are paid near minimum wage even when they work in the public sector. In the private sector, it’s even worse with some companies not even meeting their legal obligations. Nurses often have to travel between…

Why we’re trying to finish the indy preparation work

https://www.commonweal.scot/daily-briefings/briefing-x8wjm

Published: September 14, 2026 08:56

Today Common Weal has launched a fundraiser for a new project. Over the course of the next 12 months we are going to try and develop a comprehensive and effective prospectus for how Scotland would become an independent nation after a successful referendum…

If you want policy to fail announce first, think later

https://www.commonweal.scot/daily-briefings/briefing-dttbh

Published: September 11, 2026 09:57

The lead story in today's Herald is based on our continuing pursuit of evidence of what prompted the Scottish Government to reintroduce a 'help to buy' scheme to 'help young people get on the housing ladder'. Despite not telling us anything much we didn't…

The rules must not be for companies to write themselves

https://www.commonweal.scot/daily-briefings/briefing-dz9ln

Published: September 10, 2026 09:17

Scotland is a wilderness when it comes to planning law, and this is especially true when it comes to planning our renewables transition.News breaks today that a very respected and senior member of one of Scotland’s planning bodies, the Royal Town Planning…

How to understand the ‘signals’ about data centres

https://www.commonweal.scot/daily-briefings/briefing-l657z

Published: September 9, 2026 08:57

Another technology related briefing today. What is the 'right political signal' about data centres and why? Because two stories today tell a different story, and understanding the gap between them is important.The head of the lobbying body for Scotland's…

When will the public sector wake up to the risk of private tech?

https://www.commonweal.scot/daily-briefings/briefing-m4hgx

Published: September 8, 2026 08:39

NESO – The UK’s publicly owned national electrical grid operator since the part renationalisation of the National Grid a few years ago – has admitted that now that it has signed up to a contract with Big Data tech company Palantir, they can’t easily get…