GERRYMANDERING democracy is fast becoming a major issue in the news. The people of Belarus have sadly come to expect election results to be falsified, but have had enough with the latest Lukashenko “landslide”.

In the United States, Donald Trump, who faces a major risk of defeat in November’s presidential election, is attacking postal voting in the hope of suppressing support for the Democrats and is already calling into question whether he will respect the result. Not to be outdone, at home we now have a new and bizarre coalition of Michael Gove and George Galloway seeking to change the electorate in the face of a sustained and growing majority for Scottish independence.

Whether it was a serious suggestion or just aimed at provoking a media storm, it helpfully reminds the moderate mainstream that Scotland’s case for self-determination is civic, non-ethnic and is based on democratic fairness and inclusion. In the run-up to the 2014 independence referendum, it was the Yes-side that was arguing for residency to determine the franchise, even though polls then indicated that voters born elsewhere in the UK and EU citizens were likely to vote No.

With six opinion polls conducted by three different polling companies showing a majority for Scottish independence clearly the panic is setting in the Westminster bunker. In the absence of any coherent response, the Tories have adopted desperate gimmicks and presentational stunts, including ministerial day trips and Union Flag branding.

Now we learn there is active co-ordination between UK Cabinet Minister Michael Gove and indefatigable fellow Brexiteer George Galloway. Gove has apparently also been holding discussion with former LibDem-Tory coalition colleague Danny Alexander and former Labour first Minister Jack McConnell. Egged on by Andrew Neil of The Spectator, the first co-ordinated action by Gove and Galloway has been a suggestion that place of birth should be a relevant factor to voting on Scotland’s future, and that Scots-born people living elsewhere in the UK should be enfranchised.

It’s completely understandable that Scots who have left the country have a keen interest in its welfare and future. I remember addressing a packed St Columba’s Church of Scotland in London in the run-up to the 2014 referendum, and many attendees expressing their wish to be able to take part.

That’s how I felt, too, when I lived abroad in 1997 as the referendum took place on Scottish devolution.

But as I told the audience in the church I was baptised in as a London-born Scot, if residency doesn’t determine the franchise then surely it would have to include all expats and not just some. Given Scotland’s size and large diaspora the country’s future would be determined by people who don’t actually live there.

THE place-of-birth franchise, which Gove found an “interesting question” goes against the mainstream consensus which values and welcomes people who have come to Scotland. Commentator Joyce McMillan reminded us yesterday that we have rejected the false and dangerous notions of ethnic purity or blood and soil nativism: “Instead, a modern Scotland – whether independent, or self-governing within the UK – would be a nation defined purely by people’s presence here, and their intention to make their lives here.

“It’s a modern, flexible, and profoundly civic definition of citizenship; and it has been embraced by all the pro-devolution and pro-independence parties in Scotland for a generation and more, inspiring profound appreciation among some recently arrived groups in Scotland during the Brexit crisis, when they have found the First Minister’s repeated affirmations of this principle both welcoming and reassuring, at a time of great uncertainty across the UK.”

In that context, it’s worth recalling the wise words written in February 1982 in the New Socialist by none other than George Galloway: “As a nation, Scotland has both the right to self-determination and the right to decide how to exercise that right.”

Perhaps the fact that his new best friend Michael Gove has in effect acknowledged that there will be another independence referendum is the more important development to take note of.

The latest opinion polls showing majority support for independence make for interesting reading for a number of reasons. The scale of the lead for Yes in all age cohorts under 55, the absence of a gender gap among younger voters, a Yes lead amongst ABC1 and C2DE voters; and three times as many voters moving from No to Yes than the other direction.

In the weeks ahead Progress Scotland will be polling to better understand where open-minded and undecided voters are on Scottish independence. While those fearing democratic defeat – such as Gove, Galloway and Co – are trying to game the system to their advantage, we should keep our entire focus on pulling in the same direction to continue growing the support for independence.