Only a referendum is going to fairly represent the people in terms of votes. Humza Yousaf has previously indicated his preference for building the movement until it’s impossible to ignore us. We don’t hold all the cards there though and nothing is guaranteed, so if a majority of seats at the next election is enough to sharpen minds to the democratic deficit, at the very least, it keeps the flame burning.
Nine years ago, 18th September, we were extremely hopeful. The campaign was generally recognised as good natured and Sean Clerkin of operation Branchform fame, was infamous at that time for throwing an egg at Jim Murphy. How times have changed.
It all feels so much more, dare I say it, sinister now.
However, in personal relationships between ordinary people the ‘divisive referendum’ mantra never caught on. Life’s too busy and too short to fall out with friends, neighbours, colleagues over the constitution and there’s plenty to unite a lot of us, such as cost of living worries, disgust for Brexit and for Tories.
It always seemed obvious to me that when several thousand people found their voice politically during indyref, regardless of the outcome, some of those voices would eventually turn out to be unpleasant. Misogynists, racists and bigots of all descriptions exist on both sides of the constitutional argument. Who could forsee that several years after the referendum, the voices of negativity and personal abuse would be incorporated into global culture wars.
Are we divided as a movement though? We seem to be separated more by populism than anything else, and those afflicted exist across the constitutional divide.
Salmond’s Alba Party, who drive a transphobic agenda, barely register on an electoral scale. Likewise, their SNP hating partners who identify as politically leftist, turn out to be that minority of Scotland’s Brexiteers who prefer to be known as Lexiteers. I’d hazard a guess that around 90% of those who support independence are essentially decent, ordinary people.
The recent pro EU independence march and rally in Edinburgh indicated that the popular and possibly more progressive aspect of independence has been reclaimed from All Under One Banner, with their propensity towards leaders and speakers who are avid culture warriors.
Nevertheless the recent leadership contest showed that a sizeable section of SNP members, 48%, were willing to take a chance on Kate Forbes and Ash Regan who clearly indicated that, not only would they refuse to challenge the UK government’s blocking of our democratically agreed Gender Reform legislation, but that they would not necessarily continue to honour the Bute House agreement with the Greens. This indicates the fragility of an essentially progressive agenda for independence.
We know that energy cannot be destroyed, only changed, and the energy behind the independence movement illustrates both facets of that fact. Major influences such as Brexit, the democratic deficit imposed by Westminster (which Labour seem determined to adopt), the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon, the ongoing investigations, the Supreme Court judgement…all have played their part in change
Change is fleeting by nature. It remains to be seen whether the apparent resurgence of Labour fortunes in Scotland can push through the determination and need for urgent and far -reaching improvements to our quality of life. A sense of optimism is emerging through the darker influences and our current First Minister does not shy away from the promotion of independence as the only way out of this cul-de-sac of political and economic misery.
What should we make of Humza Yousaf’s proposal that a majority of SNP seats at the next general election should propel us into serious negotiations towards independence?
It has its critics, out with and within the party as undemocratic. In one respect it carries all the flaws of the First Past the Post system, which is inherently undemocratic. However, if it’s good enough to elect the Tories with only aprox 25% of the eligible electorate voting for them, it’s arguably a fair starting point for our discussions given that the De Facto referendum previously favoured by our former FM had everything stacked against its likelihood of producing a 51% plus result for the SNP.
Only a referendum is going to fairly represent the people in terms of votes. Humza Yousaf has previously indicated his preference for building the movement until it’s impossible to ignore us. We don’t hold all the cards there though and nothing is guaranteed, so if a majority of seats at the next election is enough to sharpen minds to the democratic deficit, at the very least, it keeps the flame burning.
This should not be the only tool in our box though. Nothing should interrupt our determination to promote a fair, equal and welcoming society, where we have the powers and the responsibility for our own successes and failures. In short a nation of real grown-ups. There is no feasible argument for the continuation of unionism in Scotland beyond fear of change. We need to listen to those fears and keep talking to those closest to us.
