THE two folk whose comments in recent days have brought me the greatest distress are those by Michael Gove, voicing his imminent intentions regarding Brexit, and the dire warning in the words of David Pratt of a serious threat to Scotland’s independence.
The level of response by The National’s letter writing readers was beyond excellent. I have singled out Owen Kelly’s letter for its succinct summarising of the likely outcomes from the remarks I have referred to. Every thinking Scot should be alarmed by Gove’s Brexit objective to return Scotland’s lawfully devolved entitlements to Westminster’s jurisdiction. And of even greater alarm to me is the headline statement by David Pratt that potential infighting among the varied personalities and organisations claiming to know the best route to independence could end up taking our independence prospects in a suicidal direction.
In consequence, I am competing to be the writer of one of The National’s long letters – believing that the experience of observing life for more than nine decades justifies me making some contribution to obtaining successful future independence.
READ MORE: David Pratt: This kind of internal squabbling in the Yes movement borders on idiotic
I acknowledge, given my distant DOB, there is every possibility I will not live to see or enjoy the future thriving independent Scotland I foresee. So I am addressing this letter particularly to the younger generation of voters on whose votes Scotland’s independence will depend. Many of you will have no comprehension of life without digital technology and may in fact verge on incomprehension that anyone would actually prefer to get their news from a PRINTED newspaper.
Some of you will possibly have no interest in politics so I am now, in addition, addressing my comments to the Grannie And Grandad age group. It will be your responsibility to ensure the grandkids know how Brexit in a few short weeks could deprive them of so much ... their freedom of unrestricted travel, to be educated, or to work in Europe, to benefit from legislation on safety standards ... in food production, in animal welfare, in working conditions, in the environment and in a Nato-led defence policy which has avoided an all-out European war; to mention but some of the consequences leaving the EU could invoke. Grandparents must ensure our young voters know Scotland voted overwhelmingly to stay in the European Union, and were in fact guaranteed continued EU membership if Scots voted No in 2014’s referendum. The young people need to be given the knowledge that frequent requests by the devolved government to be present when future decisions affecting Scotland were to be taken, were repeatedly ignored by Westminster.
To offer just one such example, in spite of the Scottish Government’s declared wish to be a nuclear-free country, without any Westminster consultation, a decision was made to spend £31 billion on renewing Trident, giving it a base at Faslane and doubling its nuclear waste into Gare Loch.
The urgency to react to Michael Gove’s bad-for-Scotland Brexit outcomes cannot be over-emphasised. Success must now rely on a speedy response by our well informed, capable, young and old, practical and academic voters being prepared to put aside their differences and unite in aligning their effort to the independence cause.
Effective leadership and direction will be paramount, as will be realistic acceptance that presently our greatest enemy is not Brexit or disunity, but Covid-19.
That our First Minister has achieved deserved acclaim well beyond Scotland thus far, successfully masterminding how best to control the virus, merits our pride, admiration and extreme gratitude. We must do as she wisely asks and not divert her from the near insurmountable task she is facing. But in view of the urgency to contest the Brexit power grab, as well as preparing for next year’s Holyrood election, independence voters need to be seen to be active.
As lockdown restrictions ease, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will be aware concerns over the economy are moving closer to Covid-19 health concerns . In all likelihood her tactics for dealing with this will already have been formed. The briefing sessions seem to me to be an ideal place to pass information to the widest possible range of viewers.
My suggestion is that the First Minister advises the public that the time has come to widen the format of the briefing and that on specific occasions devolved issues will also be a focus. The listening public can thus hear the content of devolved matters and the level of competence and preparedness presently being undertaken, as well as plans for future development.
Responsible representatives from the treasury, education, job creation, welfare, housing, agriculture, forestry and fishing, sport and culture would all take part. No-one should underestimate how much the visible sight of Elaine C Smith, Brian Cox, Billy Connolly, Alan Cumming among others could contribute to adding independence votes.
READ MORE: It’s not cheating to make good use of both Holyrood votes
In the interest of unity, the whole range of brilliant National journalists could be given a slot to explain their beliefs with their customary humour and erudition. Representatives from the the Scottish Greens and many others could have their chance to be heard .... and our First Minister be shown willing to listen.
The desired outcome would be for each to declare willingness, at least temporarily, to put aside any resentments, doubts, religious, cultural, or national traditions, simple preferences or political ambitions to unite in defence of Brexit theft or infighting suicide.
I am now about to contradict my own advice by naming someone whose very name creates division.
I truly believe, possibly linked to my very long experience of life, that it is in our interest to welcome Alex Salmond back to the independence fold, not least because only he can correctly inform us of the tactics, unfulfilled promises and lies which Better Together used to steal indyref1 in 2014. The fact he is a trained economist would also be a timely benefit.
In 1952 I had a War Office-related job which based me in Malta, then a British Empire possession and home port to the Mediterranean fleet. I have never forgotten how a convent-educated woman, fluent in three languages and far above me in intricate practical skills, was deemed fit only to be my “maid servant”; or the fact that the polo-playing Britons did not allow native Maltese folk to set foot on ground designated as their playing field.
I can only be pleased that a country so much smaller than Scotland is now successfully independent.
Margaret Little
Rhu
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