Profile: IdeaSpace - A festival of ideas and thinking

It is that spirit of big, new thinking we are trying to encourage with IdeaSpace, a festival of ideas and thinking being run by Common Weal (with more than 40 participating organisations and 17 fringe meetings).

It is running for three days to coincide with the SNP conference (October 13-15) in the Glasgow Science Centre just across the river from the main conference – and is open to the public as well as to SNP delegates. We need these new ideas – because the old ideas are failing. Even the leading organisations which have promoted deregulated markets, casino banking, privatisation and inequality now accept the game is up.

Everywhere, people are now looking for answers. I’ve been invited to many different countries and spoken to people from many more. The reason? They see Scotland and what happened during the independence referendum as one of the fundamental early challenges to the old order.

That a small nation might question whether its future is best served by being an afterthought in a larger economy fuelled by reckless banking and unsustainable property bubbles was an inspiration to many.

That the independence movement in Scotland would respond by generating a kind of widespread, grassroots policy debate more substantial and forward-looking than anything being discussed in bank boardrooms suggested a different model for political discourse.

And make no mistake, people all over the world have noticed. Many have even tried to replicate our experience – simply look at Corbyn’s Labour Party and the rise of Momentum in England.

But, perhaps ironically, one place where national policy hasn’t yet been sufficiently influenced by the events of the referendum is Scotland itself. Since 2014, the big money interests of fracking and landowners and cheap alcohol merchants and the cash-for-access lobbying industry have flexed their muscle.

If we allow money to set the agenda in Scotland rather than the hopes, wishes, knowledge and enthusiasm of the people of Scotland, we will continue to be a minor part of a failing western political system.

We can be so much better than that. That’s why so many organisations with better ideas have been so keen to put on this display of an alternative future for Scotland. It is a reminder that managing failure and decline may be the British way, but it doesn’t need to be the Scottish way.

We hope you can make it – because something has to change. And it is with new ideas that change will begin.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

A VIBRANT new fringe festival has been planned to run alongside the SNP conference to air ideas and new ways of thinking outwith the official agenda.

The “festival of ideas” will see exhibits and stands from some of Scotland’s most innovative social, environmental and cultural groups and is completely free to attend.

The aim of next week’s IdeaSpace is to “encourage members of the Scottish National Party, and members of the public, to use their passion, their expertise and their combined influence to create a Scotland that embraces big ideas”.

It will be launched next Thursday (oct 13) to coincide with the SNP conference and will take place in the Glasgow Science Centre, just across the bridge from the official event in the SECC.

More than 40 participating organisations and campaigns will have stalls and hold a total of 17 fringe meetings over three days on a wide range of the most important issues facing Scotland now.

WHO IS BEHIND IT?

THE impetus for IdeaSpace came from Common Weal who organised much of the logistics with the help of financial contributions and support from partner organisations and individuals involved.

It means the contributing organisations and partners can enjoy an affordable exhibition space to present their campaigns and ideas to the SNP membership and the public.

Speakers include George Kerevan, Lesley Riddoch, Gerry Hassan, Maggie Mellon and Robin McAlpine. It is hoped that MSPs and MPs will take time out from the party conference to hear some of the ideas from the grassroots.

“IdeaSpace is offering space to groups with big ideas rather than big wallets,” said Riddoch. “I hope MPs and MSPs join delegates in coming over. Who knows – IdeaSpace could change the look of party conferences from now on.”

McAlpine added: “Everyone I’ve worked with on fringe meetings at recent SNP conferences has been amazed at just how much appetite there is for discussion of major policy thinking.

“IdeaSpace is providing an opportunity for both delegates and members of the public to hear about big ideas which aren’t going to be represented or debated at conference this year.

“I think the range of organisations and issues being covered at IdeaSpace is a testament to just how vibrant public debate in Scotland is just now. The will to transform Scotland did not end with the referendum in 2014.”

WHAT’S ON OFFER?

GEORGE Kerevan is one MP who will definitely pop over the bridge as he is taking part at the Common Weal fringe debate to discuss plans for a public investment bank.

“At a moment when even Theresa May’s Government claims to have embraced support for a state industrial policy, now is the time to advance plans for a public investment bank in Scotland to reboot economic growth,” 

he said. “The latest paper from the New Economics Foundation serves as a good starting point and I hope it will be given serious consideration by the First Minister’s growth commission. I am delighted to be taking part at the Common Weal fringe debate to launch the paper. The SNP and the Yes movement should always be open to radical new ideas to make a better Scotland.”

Liz Murray, of social justice campaigning organisation Global Justice Now, said she hoped other MPs and MSPs would come to IdeaSpace along with SNP party members.

“In the past when we’ve held fringe meetings at the SNP conference, it’s been clear that the party members are really interested in approaching big issues like the economy, global trade and international development with radical thinking that challenges the status quo and is truly internationalist,” she said. “IdeaSpace will provide that in spades this year.”

“We’ll be there with our ideas on creating a trading system that puts human rights and the environment ahead of profits for big business; ideas from our allies in the global south on taking back control of the global food system; information on why we think that energy democracy is the answer to the Big Six; and our “red lines” for a progressive Brexit. We really hope SNP party members and politicians will take the opportunity to visit IdeaSpace, and make the most of the wide range of organisations and some of the most radical and innovative thinking around.”

WHO ELSE WILL BE THERE?

AN impressive number of groups are taking part considering the short time available to plan the event.

“For me, the most exciting thing about IdeaSpace is that none of this was planned well in advance,” said Common Weal operations manager Tiffany Kane. “The initial idea was to hold a stall at the SNP annual conference with a few other organisations, and focus on a few important policy ideas that can really change Scotland.

“As plans progressed, we quickly realised we could never afford the asking price. Rather than accept it, we found an alternative, and it proved to be a solution for more than 40 organisations. We refused to allow our bank balance to determine our choices and, instead, created a vibrant, stimulating event with great thinkers, researchers and campaigns all under one roof.”

Organisations holding a stall at IdeaSpace include Bella Caledonia, CommonLocals, Friends of the Earth, New Economics Foundation, Positive Money, Scotland Against Criminalising Communities, Scottish Land Revenue Group, Scottish Independence Convention, Scottish Monetary Reform, Scottish Unemployed Workers Network, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, YES2, The National, Upstart and Women for Independence.

It will run at Glasgow Science Centre  from October 13-15 and opening times are: October 13: noon - 8pm; October 14: 8.30am - 8pm; October 15: 8.30am - 3pm.

The Facebook event page is https://www.facebook.com/events/1602273023399902/.

Hashtags for social media: #IdeaSpace #SNP16.