THE core of independence is independence of thought and action. If we want an independent Scotland in which citizens are empowered, in which ordinary people have voices that are heard, we need to put those principles into action in the campaign which achieves Scottish independence.

Independence begins with independence of mind, and any independence movement worth its salt seeks to encourage and facilitate the independence of mind and action of the citizens of the country for which it’s campaigning for self-determination. That means we don’t sit back and wait for permission to campaign for another referendum and for an independent Scotland. We take the initiative into our own hands.

If we sit passively by and wait to be led, then we will find ourselves in a Scotland in which citizens are expected to be passive, in which decisions are made by elites. We would find ourselves in an independent Scotland where the only thing that had changed was the management.

This is our movement, our Scotland, so it’s up to all of us to speak up, to be involved, to lead ourselves. You don’t achieve independence by being dependent. You achieve independence by listening to the advice of generations of Scottish mammies and grannies, who have always told us — if ye want something done right, ye need tae dae it yersel. Scottish independence is us daein it wursels.

Over the past 18 months I’ve been giving talks to local groups all over this country. Scotland is full of energetic, enthusiastic and talented people who are committed to achieving the goal of an independent state in which they, their children, their grandchildren, can live dignified lives.

However, there’s a perception among many local group members that there is a serious lack of direction and coordination on a national level, and that we risk the dissipation of all that energy and enthusiasm. So it’s time for local groups to get together and decide upon a cohesive and co-ordinated approach, an approach that allows us all to feel as though we’re a part of a truly national movement. And moreover, a movement which belongs to us, rather than a movement which we’re a subordinate part of. We need tae dae this wursels.

In a couple of weeks, the Scottish Independence Convention (SIC) is due to host a national Build conference in Edinburgh to discuss the way forward for the independence movement. This is the second such conference, and in my talks to local groups I’ve discovered that there’s a widespread feeling that the great ideas and energies generated in the first Build conference went nowhere.

There was a fantastic conference, but then nothing seemed to happen and local group members felt that they were left to their own devices, isolated and without any national direction or coordination. We need to avoid that happening again.

In order to help local groups to build a common identity and strategy and to build on the issues raised during the SIC conference on November 4, I’m inviting two representatives from each local group to a local group conference in Dunblane on Saturday, December 16.

I haven’t asked anyone’s permission, but equally this meeting doesn’t intend to tread on any existing group’s toes. I spoke to John McHarg of Yes2, and asked him to email his contacts in order to get the ball rolling with invitations, so your local group may already have received an invite. However, if you haven’t, there’s still plenty of time for your local group to come along.

This conference is open to Yes groups, Common Weal groups, pro-independence party local branches, and to anyone who would like to set up a local independence campaigning group in their own area. The idea behind this local group conference is to allow local groups to discuss the ideas and strategies raised at the SIC conference in a setting which is more conducive to discussion than the huge and intimidating venue of Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.

We aim to discuss how we can take our movement forward, how we can achieve a common national identity for local groups, and how we can raise our public profile on a national level. But, above all, this is about how we can build a national movement that we all feel a part of. We can do this. All we need for self-determination is the determination to do things for ourselves. Let’s put that into action.

The Dunblane conference will hopefully be just the first. We plan to organise at least two others, one in the north of Scotland and one in the south, so that local groups from every part of the country have a chance to have their say and make their input.

The Dunblane gathering will be held in Dunblane Christian Fellowship hall, Stirling Road, Dunblane, FK15 0BX on Saturday, December 16, from 3pm until 5pm. The venue is directly opposite Dunblane train station and has easy access from the M80/A9.

Tickets, which are free, can be reserved here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/together-how-we-create-a-common-campaign-and-identity-tickets-38857457702

If you’d like further information, you can email me at
weegingerdug@mail.com

We hope to see you there!