WHAT an excellent, well thought-out article by Joanna Cherry in The National. (Decision has only answered a legal question, not a political one, Nov 25).
The result of the Supreme Court decision announced on Wednesday, November 23 means the independence movement has to take a new and revised direction.
While I am not a member of the SNP, I have supported them so far in their aim to get independence for the Scottish people.
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When the last referendum started, they had a base of approximately 28%, yet when the result was announced on September 19, 2014 their vote had reached 48%.
With the best will in the world, the SNP have to recognise that they had been “loaned” many votes to achieve this support for independence. These votes presumably came from many voters who “normally” support other parties, but see the goal of independence as superseding their immediate concerns and wishes.
It is therefore incumbent on the SNP to recognise this, and one way would be to initiate another constitutional convention involving ALL independence-supporting parties. This would certainly have the attention of the world, as did the AOCB rallies which took place after the Supreme Court’s decision.
By taking the initiative and setting such a course of action, the SNP would retain the lead in the struggle for independence (which they have held for many years).
The statement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that a special conference is to be set up to assess the next step for the campaign is a cause for hope to all people who support independence, and is indicative of her pragmatism.
It means the proposal to view the next UK General Election as a vote for independence can possibly be reconsidered.
There can be little doubt that voters can consider many different things at once such as the cost of living, the cost of heating and independence etc (though many non-independent-minded Unionists would have you believe otherwise and frequently say so).
But as Cherry’s article suggests, it would be best left to a Scottish Government election to field candidates from a constitutional convention who are purely for independence. The Unionist voters will be thrown by such a move and will be split between the “other” parties.
As the article also makes clear, we would have the benefit of our own voters’ list which includes 16-year-olds, European Union citizens and immigrants from elsewhere in the world.
All of them would benefit from being in an independent Scotland and were never asked for an opinion when Brexit was imposed on us.
Such a move would result in some of the candidates losing their seat, but it is not beyond the wit of man to tie it into a time when some are retiring from active politics.
Whilst there would still be a majority of SNP candidates, it is obvious that some Green, Alba, and even those of a previously Unionist disposition could be included so long as they supported the aims of such a constitutional convention.
I have waited and worked for independence for many years, it would be a tragedy to lose it for want of a clear and concise strategy – for, rest assured, the use of the next General Election will be “spiked” by Westminster.
By moving in the direction of a constitutional convention, including all independence-supporting parties and using the Scottish Government election for the independence vote, the SNP would be guaranteed to lead Scotland for many years.
Paul Gillon
Leven
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