IT MUST seem that a large proportion of people are on the march, both here and across continents, and are very visible these days as they state their political persuasions and aspirations.
No longer is it confined to a booth, a slip of paper and x marks the spot. And if not directly related to the politics of a party and its ideology, it could be asked: why are folk are marching and for what? Is it a statement of anger, frustration, or pursuit of a single issue, for or against a specific issue? But no matter the primary reason, just why are so many of us taking to the streets?
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To those of us who do march, attend public meetings, or people stalls, it’s pretty obvious. Politics isn’t working for most of us, and most of the politicians don’t seem to understand this.
Whether it’s Scotland , Catalonia, or Hong Kong, the aim of seeking self-determining nationhood appears to be a gift to be bestowed by “some” , or equally, withheld by “some”. Now in my book that smacks of colonialism. When people continue with their stated aim, and are denied the opportunity to exercise their choice via a democratic route, is it any wonder that so many then take to the streets?
In the name of preserving a mythical “one nation”, we are witnessing the UK on the verge of self-destruction, exacerbated by Brexit, but not exclusively due to Brexit. There is a wholly different debate as to how much Scotland benefited from the period of union and the imposition of “one-nation conservatism”. After all, it’s more than 50 years since Scotland actually voted for a Tory government! What an irony then that the political ideology, hell bent on “taking back control” to enable so-called “benefit” to the Union is now in the vanguard of breaking up that union.
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Scottish politicians currently backing and wishing to preserve the UK, apart from not listening, appear unwilling to recognise the fact that socially Scotland and its people are further removed from our neighbours in England than before, and that shift continues. Our connection and desire to retain and improve social housing and our health service and our understanding of the need to manage our own immigration policy are just some examples of divergence. For those politicos then to continue to flog the idea of “Union”, or worse, raise the spectre of federalism, it’s time to listen to the people and pay due regard.
We are on the march in Scotland. For some it’s public demonstrations and participation of one sort or another, but for many, it’s a journey of change: mindset, political allegiance, but change all the same. The notion of sweeping up our futures, and a better one at that, under the word “independence” is a fine one, and one I believe we should all support. The morning after a successful vote we can begin to implement all that needs to change. But social, economic and environmental change cannot happen for so long as we exist within the population imbalance that is the UK, with Brexit the most recent example of the democratic deficit.
We need to debate, to discuss what is relevant, have plans to talk up the positivity of independence and be ready for all the negativity, some of which has already started to come our way. But woe betide those politicians who continue to ignore the moving landscape of Scotland and its people. We all know that the best of governments thrive and prosper when there is scrutiny and accountability coming from strong opposition. Not parties backward-looking and hankering for the past, outdated and lost in some hinterland, too weak to embrace the change that is coming.
If you don’t listen, don’t heed the people now, there is no future for you in Scotland: you’ll be swept aside.
That is the power of people and a nation on the march.
Selma Rahman
Edinburgh
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