A fair, independent society cannot be established overnight

Take Brexit, Brexit In Name Only (BRINO), which means that the UK continues to trade equitably with the EU, but that Ukip and the Brexit Party get a new lease of life at the expense of the Conservative and Unionist Party, and Mr A Johnson ceases to be Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Britain.

Take the Tory/Ukip/Brexit Party (Australian/Mongolian) “Full British” Brexit, which means the UK ceases to trade equitably with the EU, the Great British Pound devalues, but crucially Mr A Johnson continues to be Prime Minister of the Kingdom of England, and its occupied/bought lands.

READ MORE: Andrew Wilson is using every anti-Yes argument in the Unionist playbook

No prizes for guessing which option the opportunistic A Johnson would select. This option defines the context for pragmatic argument over a currency for Scotland – which currency, and relevant timescales.

Given that a fair society really needs underpinning by a written constitution, the preparation, deliberation, and citizen acceptance of such is unlikely to be sustainable if it does not pass the equivalent of two Holyrood Parliaments, and a referendum. So that is, say, 10 years or thereabouts for a finished product.

Given that the path to independence has been ongoing but that the next formal citizen voting milestone to having indyref2 is May 2021, “independence” could be argued to be within six months, and Scotland can move to be nuclear-weapon-free.

Given that the UK has “left” membership of the EU and that the free trade agreement alternative proposed by Mr A Johnson – of all the benefits plus, and at no direct cost – has been rebuffed by the EU as not serious, an FTA with a new third-party nation like the UK that is worthy of the name should take about seven years from application, with the starting point being the compliance with any past international withdrawal treaties. So that’s 10 years or so.

READ MORE: Andrew Wilson's Growth Report is scaring people away from independence

Now as Scotland’s negotiations with England proceed after a Yes2 vote (the input of Northern Ireland and Wales will be simply ignored as always, unless their MP votes are required to pass legislation), there is a good two years needed to generate a withdrawal agreement treaty, which probably requires substantial EU input.

It is worth noting that the NHS effectively took two decades to move from localised treatment for all to national treatment for all, so to get to a fair society from not just a standing start, but from the UK heading in the wrong direction, suggests that 2030 is indeed a realistic timescale for a complete 100% of the desired outcome of an independent Scotland with a fair society.

However, I would be disappointed if 85% of the desired independent fair society outcome, as seen from today’s perspective, could not be achieved within the next decade, though probably the same level of effort would be required in the subsequent decade to achieve that last 15% and the upgrades that time always requires/demands.

Once these time context constraints are applied, it is then that the question of currency can be pragmatically addressed. The question is not really wholly about what the final choice currency for Scotland is, but what currency or currencies are required over the next decade to transition to a fair society in an independent EU nation state.

Stephen Tingle
Greater Glasgow

IT really is beyond all credibility in these incredible times that a supposedly senior counsellor to the SNP can seriously suggest that the dreaded Brown and Darling comic duo have a role to play in “making good on the decision on independence.”

That independence will be “long, hard work” is an oxymoron but it’s long hard work providing the opportunity to create a better, fairer, collaborative, more dynamic country than being merely the appendage of north Britain in a post-Brexit international economic bear pit. That’s the important prize.

I don’t do The Herald and I accept that simply reading only The National is not healthy for developing a balanced opinion, but having read the Sunday National’s piece on "Firms warn of ‘disaster’ if trade to EU is blocked" (October 18), I’m terrified by Colin Smith, chief executive of the Scottish Wholesale Association, and his bald statement that Channel port delays to fresh food supplies from Holland will mean they miss their “best before date” before they can even reach Scotland. OK, so that means Scotland the Brand is even more important in this dystopian future.

However, the decimation of the Scotch lamb, beef, fish and seafood industries with tariffs will wreak such havoc on the Scottish economy that Wilson’s statement, as spokesperson for the National Front for Independence by Glaciation, that we will have arrived in the nirvana of an independent Scotland in 2026 will be meaningless, as action for our self-preservation will have to be taken either by the politicians or the populace long before then.

Equally important is that it’s plain for all to see that any country with its own central bank and its own currency – like New Zealand, Denmark or Norway – is capable of riding the economic whirlwind of an international pandemic without the nonsense of neoliberalism austerity.

The Herald on Sunday piece has all the hallmarks of a puff piece for Andrew Wilson, head of lobbying firm Charlotte Street Partners, but to what end is far from clear. What it certainly represents is the more subtle end of the anti-indy2 campaign.

Yes, the road following independence will be hard and require effort and sacrifices given no early end to the Covid crisis, the existential threat of climate change, and the despair and hopelessness of younger generations facing mass and prolonged unemployment which poses a crisis all of its own. Why it won’t be hard is because of yesterday’s men like Andrew Wilson with their 20/20 hindsight and more of the same neoliberal economics.

Tim Rideout and the Scottish Currency Group and others have answers which need to reach beyond special interests and currency aficionados and get out to the public at large, particularly since the poll results of last week show that 58% of our fellow countrymen and women buy into the Wilson doctrine of £sterling. Clearly there’s a lot of work to do.

It is so very sad that we in the Yes community see unfolding before our eyes yet another episode of Scotland’s greatest game – snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

The SNP leadership really do need to shake off their lethargy, and instead of playing poker with all our futures engage with the Yes community to prepare for our independence. Our erudite Finance Secretary has declined to publish an alternative to GERS on the basis such a document would legitimise that Westminster fairytale. But maybe, just maybe, that’s where she can start the fight against the Andrew Wilson, the National Front for Independence by Glaciation and all their softly, softly, propaganda.

It’s just such a pity, but where’s Alex Salmond when you really need him?

Iain Bruce
Nairn

I WAS staggered to read about Andrew Wilson’s comments on independence, where Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown would be involved in forming an independent Scotland. They would be involved, but on the opposite side of any discussions. 

Gordon Brown spun a fantasy tale about promises of Devo-Max in 2014 then returned to trot out the same devious fantasy today. We have the videos to prove it. Alistair Darling was Chancellor when the banking system crashed in 2008. The good governance of banks is a responsibility of the Chancellor. 

Both have attacked the whole independence movement and the Scottish Government for years. Who would seriously allow them anywhere near forming the future of Scotland? 

Perhaps Andrew Wilson’s time at the John Smith Institute, sharing the board with Kezia Dugdale and Ruth Davidson, has become a Stockholm Syndrome situation. 

79% of 16-24-year-olds, 68% of 25-34-year-olds and 70% of 35-44-year-olds support independence. Scotland has the drive, the ambition, the talent and knowledge to develop an independent Scotland. Those failed politicians are baggage and "not wanted on voyage". 

Brian Powell 
Fife