SOMEWHERE between half a million and a million people marched in London yesterday in support of a second vote on leaving the EU as it becomes increasingly obvious that Britain is stuck in a Brexit nightmare.
It was an incredible show of support for the so-called People’s Vote, even if it is unlikely to change the mind of a Prime Minister who is more concerned with keeping her party together than with the best interest of the UK.
Nicola Sturgeon was right to pledge her support for such a vote when she addressed the march in a video, and also right to point out that the situation is rather different north of the Border.
Scotland doesn’t need a People’s Vote. We voted decisively to remain within the EU. We need to have our democratic wishes recognised. We need an arrangement which allows us to keep the benefits of membership of the single market. And we need our independence if those reasonable suggestions continue to be ignored by Westminster.
That said, a second EU referendum seems the only conceivable way that the UK as it is presently constituted could avoid the terrible consequences of Brexit.
The case for Scotland’s independence is not built on Brexit, even if the recent behaviour of Westminster underlines why we so desperately need to be in charge of our own destiny.
We know that our wishes carry no weight in Westminster. We know that the proclamation in 2014 that we were an equal partner in the Union was a lie. We know that the signatures of the UK party leaders on the infamous Vow was the result of cynical political expediency.
We don’t need to suffer the horrific fall-out from Brexit to prove the benefits of independence.
The Universal Credit system proves that. The inhumane actions of a Home Office putting into practice racist immigration laws proves that. The disdain with which the Prime Minister has treated our wishes and the empty threats of Ruth Davidson and David Mundell prove that.
All that remains to do is to exercise our very own version of People’s Vote.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel