AS more and more meetings and debates are held on Zoom and other similar online discussion forums, the Yes movement has been no different and various groups such as Voices for Scotland have begun organising “Get Togethers”.
These Zoom meetings serve the dual purpose of encouraging Yes groups to mingle and maintain relationships at this difficult time, while some of the discussions are allowing people to get things off their chests and encouraging genuine debate as to the way forward for the Yes movement.
One of the best yet organised is the brainchild of the ever-enthusiastic Grassroots Oban for Independence which is putting together what might be the best and certainly one of the most controversial Zoom sessions yet.
This month’s meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 15, from 7pm to 9pm, and the topic is D’Hondt – The Holyrood Polling System And The Rise of List Only Independence Parties.
It’s one of the biggest talking points in the Yes movement at the moment and the group had attracted a panel of four leading Yessers to discuss the Holyrood polling system and the rise of independence parties standing for list seats only.
The four panellists are Keith Brown MSP, depute leader of the SNP; Lorna Slater, co-convener of the Scottish Greens, David Thompson, founder of Alliance for Independence Party; and Professor Sir John Curtice, the UK’s leading polling expert from Strathclyde University.
That is a considerable line-up by any standards and a real coup for Grassroots Oban for Independence.
The group told us: “Hear the arguments for and against using your second vote to “game the system” in an attempt to increase the number of independence-supporting MSPs.
“Due to the high-profile names we have managed to secure for this meeting and the acute interest in the topic, we are expecting a high turnout. Places are limited. It is therefore important to register early to book your place.
“Register in advance for this meeting: zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMqdOCsrzMiH9d9e1qajVpZHwUWLm6QyZa-
“After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.”
Meanwhile Yes Dunbar is organising a Zoom meeting on a similar topic, with the principal speaker being Colette Walker, leader of the Independence for Scotland Party with the topic being The Importance Of Diversity In The Scottish Parliament”.
Following her talk there will be a chance for Q&A. The meeting will take place online using Zoom. Full details of the Zoom meeting and how to connect will be sent to everyone who registers on Eventbrite.
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