With bold ideas and grassroots reconnection, Yes can be exciting again

Once again, I’ll be looking at French socialists – regular readers know how obsessed I am with them – to see if there is anything we can borrow from them. It’s easy to feel disillusioned when you are part of a movement that once brimmed with hope but now feels stalled.

A decade ago, the excitement surrounding Scottish independence was palpable. September 18, 2014, remains vivid for many of us – a day marked by unprecedented political engagement, where the dream of an independent Scotland felt tantalisingly close. The energy was infectious, and in the lead-up to the referendum, Scotland was abuzz with discussions about its future.

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The strength of the Yes movement lay in its grassroots nature, uniting people from diverse backgrounds with a common vision: A fairer, more democratic, and sovereign Scotland. Even in defeat, it left a legacy of hope and increased political engagement.

Fast forward 10 years, and the mood has shifted dramatically. The optimism that once fuelled the movement has faded, and the prospect of a second referendum seems increasingly distant.

The political landscape has evolved, both in Scotland and globally. Brexit, economic instability, and a stalled political strategy have led to questions about what went wrong. Yet support for independence remains solid in the polls. What has changed is the energy.

It’s clear that while the independence movement hasn’t lost its passion, it has struggled to adapt to a shifting political and social landscape. The enthusiasm that powered the 2014 campaign has given way to a sense of fatigue. The SNP don’t seem to be putting forward a case for a transformative vision of independence.

This raises important questions: Where does the Yes movement go from here? How can it recapture momentum and excitement?

A crucial step may be to reconnect with the grassroots spirit that drove the 2014 campaign. The movement wasn’t just about a constitutional change; it was about people’s everyday lives. The campaign resonated with communities across Scotland by tackling issues of national identity alongside social justice, equality, and economic opportunity. It aimed to create a Scotland that worked for its people.

Today, however, the debate around independence has become overly focused on the mechanics of a referendum when the focus should be on demonstrating how independence can address issues such as poverty, inequality, housing, and public services.

Philippe Brun, a young socialist MP in France, provides an interesting example of how to approach this challenge. Brun represents a constituency in Normandy that has seen its share of disillusionment. His project, La Ligne Populaire – The People’s Line – offers a model for revitalising political engagement; an approach notable for its deep involvement with Brun’s community.

In the past two years, he has participated in more than 500 local events, from village fairs to communal meals. By engaging with people on a local level and addressing their concerns, Brun has rebuilt trust and interest in politics.

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Brun’s success is rooted in what he calls “enracinement” – a deep-rooted connection to local issues that goes beyond traditional political campaigning. It’s a coalition of action-driven projects, grounded in real, everyday concerns that directly impact people’s lives.

This isn’t just lofty political theory, it’s about tangibly improving lives and, in doing so, regaining trust. This approach has helped rekindle political engagement in areas where many had turned to the far-right National Rally (RN) out of frustration.

There is much the Yes movement could learn from Brun’s approach. It’s not about starting from scratch but about channelling people’s everyday frustrations into tangible political action.

The grassroots energy that powered the 2014 campaign can be reignited by focusing on contemporary issues – housing, jobs, public services, and inequality. These are the issues that matter most to people, and they should be central to the independence campaign. Independence needs to be framed as a solution to these problems, rather than a distant constitutional ideal.

In this movement, there is a collective action for farmers suffering under unfair competition from free trade, and a grassroots initiative to combat persistent elevator malfunctions in social housing has been launched.

Another concrete example is Brun’s Ecole de l’Engagement – a political training school aimed at people from working-class backgrounds. By providing political education and empowering new leaders from underrepresented communities, Brun is laying the groundwork for long-term political change. This type of initiative, which puts power back into the hands of ordinary people, could serve as a model for the Yes movement.

Imagine a Scotland where grassroots initiatives, grounded in local concerns, drive the independence cause forward. Instead of waiting for political parties or a new referendum, the movement could focus on building local networks that illustrate the practical benefits of independence in daily life.

Brun isn’t the only socialist worth considering. Arnaud Montebourg, a former French industry minister and presidential candidate, also offers valuable insights. Montebourg’s concept of demondialisation – de-globalisation – provides a thought-provoking perspective on Scotland’s path forward.

Montebourg challenges the neoliberal focus on global markets by advocating for increased local control and economic sovereignty. While some initially misunderstood this concept as isolationist, Montebourg’s approach is fundamentally about reclaiming sovereignty to ensure the economy serves local needs. This idea aligns closely with the goals of Scottish independence.

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The reason I bring up Montebourg is because I think what the independence movement currently lacks is a compelling vision of how an independent Scotland would be fundamentally different from its current status within the UK.

The practical benefits and structural changes that independence would bring have not been updated and improved, contributing to a sense of stagnation and disillusionment.

Montebourg's demondialisation provides a concrete example of how to frame structural change. His concept outlines specific ways in which local control can lead to a more equitable and functional economic system, making the idea more tangible and understandable.

In contrast, the Scottish independence movement has yet to fully articulate how independence would address the shortcomings of the current system. What’s missing is not a lack of desire for independence but a renewed connection to the everyday realities of ordinary people and bold ideas that challenge the status quo.

The movement doesn’t need to reinvent itself from scratch – it has already built a strong grassroots foundation in 2014. However, it must harness that energy to address contemporary issues with concrete, practical solutions. By focusing on immediate concerns, the Yes movement can show that independence is not just an idealistic aspiration but a viable solution to Scotland’s current challenges.

Reigniting enthusiasm for independence involves more than just advocating for change – it requires rebuilding trust in politics by demonstrating that people’s concerns are heard and addressed.

Now is the time for audacity and fresh ideas. Independence is not dead – far from it – but the Yes movement stands at a crucial crossroads and must find a path that involves engaging people in the tangible work of creating a better Scotland.