Agenda:

And she has never been afraid to speak out. This week of all weeks, that is something we should admire and prize. That is why I welcome her clear, unambiguous statement that she wants Scotland to stay in the UK. Coming so soon after President Obama's statement urging the same, I think it is becoming patently clear where people who truly believe in progressive politics should stand.

It comes down to whether you believe in the politics of identity or the politics of ideas. I am on the side of Hillary Clinton, the side of ideas. The mark she has made on American politics and American society has been immense. She has stood up to the misogyny and prejudice that barred the way of women in politics. The fact that she is, for some, a controversial figure is because she has taken on so many vested interests, from giant insurance companies to international dictators.

And her vision has always reached beyond borders. She has fought for women's rights across the world. It is the politics, I suggest, that moved her to make her intervention in the independence debate because you can talk of American values, Scottish values or English values if you like but actually they aren't national but international. And the values of democracy, equality and social justice do not fare well if you hide them behind a border.

Particularly in the globalized world we live in, these values must spread across borders and the best way I believe they are achieved is by nations working together. It was the Red Clydesider Jimmy Maxton who said of Scottish nationalists: " They came to us who were international socialists and asked us to give up our internationalism in favour of nationalism. That I was not prepared to do." That is what I believe Scotland is being asked to do those by those who urge a Yes vote. Of course, some nationalists have drawn comparisons with America's struggle for independence. They fail to see that the comparison is invalid.

The Americans fought on the slogan "No taxation without representation." The vision of an independent Scotland sharing a currency with the rest of the UK could perhaps best be summed up as "Taxation with no representation" in the UK Parliament. While Hillary Clinton is no Maxton, she shares his internationalism. She has been a tireless proponent of progressive causes and recognises the key role of women in promoting this agenda.

As she argued in April 2013 at the Women in the World summit: "I have always believed that women are not victims, we are agents of change, we are drivers of progress, we are makers of peace. All we need is a fighting chance."

I share Hillary Clinton's view. Even in 21st-century Scotland, women are held to different standards in politics compared with men. We are judged not just on our political views, but also on superficial issues such as our hair, shoes and clothes. Moreover, assertive women in politics are often described in pejorative terms, such as "bossy", "pushy", "shrill" and "uppity", when men are celebrated for their leadership. Although this is changing, politics is still too much of a boys' club.

The fact that we have a far greater proportion of women members of parliament at Holyrood than Westminster is not because we are Scottish but because women in the Scottish Labour Party fought hard to make equal representation our policy. Sadly, other parties do not follow our lead.

But it is the politics of ideas, not the politics of identity, that is working. That is why an American woman can inspire a Glasgow MSP. We can share a cause. It is that embrace of the politics of ideas not identity, I believe, that may have moved Hillary Clinton to intervene. If we join her in rejecting identity politics we really can make Scotland a progressive beacon.