SOME 300-plus years ago, the aristocracy and elite of Scotland voted for a better economic future in a union with England, predominantly for their own betterment. Until recently, if those who voted then could speak now, they may well have said “Look, we were right, we are much better off.”
After Brexit and a chaotic period of mismanagement of government and the economy, most people in Scotland, today’s democratic voters, would question this endless austerity, whatever the government of the day, and mourn the economic, social and cultural benefits we had for decades within the EU and have lost forever, unless we take action.
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Our route through this chaotic period in Scotland’s history is to ditch the union with England and rUK and hitch our independence to a union within the EU.
The EU would welcome Scotland with open arms. As long as we are part of another country (the UK), the EU cannot share this view publicly, but the EU’s purpose is expansion and inclusiveness in Europe and that undoubtedly includes an independent Scotland.
Within only a few weeks after regaining our independence, we could enjoy once again freedom of movement of labour, goods, services and capital by joining the European Free Trade Association (Efta) which would provide full access to the EU. And Efta wants Scotland to join.
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It’ll take time for Scotland to rejoin the EU, as since leaving the EU because of Brexit, which Scotland voted more than 62% against, the UK Government has stupidly changed our alignment on the four above freedoms.
Efta would immediately provide what Scots want: the freedoms we had as a previous EU member, and participation in the largest trade block in the world to rebuild our economy, social wellbeing and cultural richness.
What we need right here, right now is a country that is delivering prosperity for its population.
Bill Clinton famously campaigned on “It’s the economy, stupid”, as he won the confidence of the US voters and then delivered a huge surge in prosperity.
Scotland once thought its prosperity was best suited to a union with England. No more is that true.
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Today, Scotland’s prosperity lies in the union of an independent Scotland within the EU.
There are only three big steps to achieving this:
1. Roar, roar, roar for our democratic right to a vote on our future, within the EU
2. Join Efta as an interim step to full EU membership
3. Become a full member of the EU once again, and adopt the euro as our currency.
Politicians and political parties won’t do this for us, but they will help the cause. They are by definition tainted with self-interest.
The people of Scotland must find their voice to take the first step and demand a new post-Brexit independence referendum, where the choice is stark: austerity through union within the UK versus prosperity through union within the EU.
Gerry Tollan
via email
I CANNAE bide the term “indy”. It disnae mean ocht. It is nae a richt wurd fur ae stairt. Independence, independence, independence means something. Gin the wurd independence is in people’s faces it wull mak thaim think on it. But “indy”, at best it’s childish, but worse than that, it near souns like an insult. Gie me independence, independence, independence, the alpha an the omega. Nocht else wull dae.
George T Watt
via email
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