This is why Scotland must be ready to be bold and seize the day

It seemed to me that many of the surviving characters were left hanging at the finish, perhaps waiting for the spin-off series to come. Even the dragon exited stage left but could still return at any moment to wreak revenge.

Scotland, too, is in limbo, waiting for our next storyline to emerge.

The Brexit caravan rolls on, gathering momentum in the shape of the new Brexit Party and careering headlong towards the EU elections tomorrow.

READ MORE: EU election: A list of every candidate in Scotland standing for MEP

At Westminster, no-one is holding their breath about Theresa May’s new and “bold” take on her lacklustre withdrawal agreement – remember naughtiness for this prime minister is walking through a field of wheat! In any case, the Tories are too busy jostling for position in the leadership race and sticking their heads in the sand about the difficult discussions that await beyond June.

Meanwhile at Holyrood, decisions on indyref2 and Scotland’s future in Europe are also on pause as we await the EU election results this weekend.

No matter what’s happening in the wider UK, Scotland has big choices to make. We need to be ready, we need to have the bases covered, we need a strong and coherent strategy and plan so we can move forward quickly now that both opportunity and necessity are almost upon us.

Once the EU results come out on Sunday and Monday, we could find ourselves in a position in which Scotland and Northern Ireland have reaffirmed our European commitment but England, owing to the utter failure of the old firm of Tory and Labour, is handed to Nigel Farage on a silver platter. It sounds like a re-run of the 2016 referendum – but once bitten, twice shy, because if the SNP and Greens do well, then everything will be to play for as far as Scotland is concerned.

READ MORE: SNP hit back at Gordon Brown over independence comments

At this point we will need to have the courage of our convictions to seize the day. The moment for cool, calm appraisal will be past and will be replaced by the requirement for bold and determined resolution.

How do we navigate the road to independence given the barriers thrown up by Westminster, despite our triple-lock mandate? How do we re-enter the EU after Brexit? How long will this realistically take? And how do we secure the Scottish economy in the interim period? Do we need to commit to Efta as an interim step, at least?

Of course, many roads lead back to the issue of the chosen currency of an independent Scotland in Europe, with the amended SNP conference resolution unlikely to be the last word on the subject.

So how do we work our way through this maze, this limbo? One initiative that would move complicated issues forward would be the citizens’ assemblies, as suggested by SNP MP Joanna Cherry and now adopted by the party. I’m hoping these get off the ground soon with the announcement of an imminent launch date for selecting individuals to take part and a set date for the assemblies to commence, as well as a clear and informative communications strategy to explain what is involved in the selection and process, and a list of the benefits of citizens’ assemblies.

I am a huge enthusiast when it comes to this form of participative democracy to help us move past stalemate on important issues for our future. Just look at Ireland and the way citizens’ assemblies helped it come to a consensus on the most divisive and emotive subject of abortion for instance, a consensus many believed to be impossible but which has ultimately been transformational.

We could start with one citizens’ assembly on independence, and an another on Scotland’s place in Europe. Time is of the essence, especially when considering another key subject for an assembly, the climate emergency. The contribution these gatherings could make in harnessing measured debate with access to expert contributions and research could propel Scotland forward, free from the constraints of a never-ending Brexit time loop.

Our process for moving forward should be the polar opposite of Brexit and the Farage gang who avoid debate, steer clear of facts and experts, and keep their flimsy manifestos at a safe arm’s length from voters. What’s not to like?

I return to that word “transformational”. Because this is where we are at right now – the opportunity for positive change, to rework the narrative and take big, imaginative steps forward into our new future, with the citizens of Scotland fully invested and involved.

But this requires action and robust decision-making now. The fence is not too crowded to sit on it. It’s about when and how, sooner rather than later. It’s about taking charge and I believe Scotland is ripe and ready for the challenges ahead, ready for the next chapter in our national story, our very own sequel to our very own blockbuster.