TOMORROW is not just any another Saturday, it’s our Scotland on the March Saturday, kicking off pro-indy events and happenings this year. There can be no doubting the importance of 2020, and how future generations will look back and acknowledge this was the year that made the difference.
For too many, 2020 will be Brexit, Boris and further heart-breaking austerity as the Brexit implementation begins to bite. Financial austerity yes, but also the shrinking of horizons and opportunities as we are forced to bid even a temporary goodbye to our EU neighbours. But how soon and how strong will be that bid to establish a new partnership among equals be?
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Before we get to that point there is the wider international stage, with the climate catastrophe brought home so forcefully: who ever thought we would see Australia burn, alongside the potential of even more conflict in the Middle East? The indications are clear: the need for strategic thinking and sound tactics locally, nationally and internationally.
With regards the latter, it is time for Scotland to move to a more multi-faceted, visible presence here and abroad. Though our MEPs will be redundant by month end, it is vital that our voice, our capacity to play our part in Europe and beyond is enhanced, not lost. It’s time for Scotland’s message to be heard. That as a nation, even though we are being denied the freedom of self-determination, we know the role, responsibilities, and the position we will willingly occupy.
Hopefully, with such a growing perception of the cause we follow then our demand for independence will become more widely acknowledged, followed, and eventually supported. I look forward then to links being manifestly strengthened, be they cultural, economic or social.
The view locally and across rUK though is different. We have little prospect of changing the majority media bias. The golden boy with his promise of getting Brexit done will continue to take his time in responding to the FM, his reason being that Brexit is more important (translated as: looking after his majority). It will take some external factor to produce a seismic change before the media ceases to follow his lead and any credence is given to us, our voters, our majority preference here.
So while our MPs continue to speak out at Westminster, their presence here alongside MSPs and those of us who constitute the Yes movement is crucial.
Our votes are out there, and it’s up to us to battle for those votes. If you were a Labour supporter, how would you feel about the prospective new party leader telling us what she/he wants for us? Too feart to come to my High Street and tell me that! That’s why we need a bigger, bolder, continuous presence. Marching is fine, but having been part of Edinburgh Women for Independence’s ootnaboot stalls across Edinburgh, I know it’s the face-to-face, the stopping, the talking, personalising the message of hope for a changed future that’s bringing in new voters. Here’s to 2020 then, and what it’s going to bring.
Selma Rahman
Edinburgh
SO the SNP is on a war footing now, but will anything actually change? More than five years since the indyref was lost and what have our Scottish Government done to highlight the reasons to leave the UK since? Day-to-day politics and party bashing doesn’t and hasn’t helped. It may gain a few supporters for the party, but not enough for indy.
In Wednesday’s National the UK Government have yet again given the Scottish Government an open goal in which to highlight the failure of the UK and the harm it does to Scotland (Budget delay may causes ‘calamity’ for public services, January 8). Will they take it? I doubt it. They’ve failed time and time again to score these goals.
READ MORE: Tory Budget delay threatens ‘calamity’ for Scotland's public services
We can’t rely on the UK or Scottish media (apart from The National), so our government needs to take matters into their hands; they are in power after all. This latest Budget issues needs highlighted to everyone, in every council area. Make known to all what effects the UK Government are forcing on Scotland, how that should be different, how even with our own devolved areas we are constrained by the UK, how the local services people rely on are now at risk through no fault of the Scottish Government or the local council. This needs to come from the Scottish Government, not a party.
We all know indyref is a constitutional question. It has to be above party squabbles, it has to get those onboard that hate the SNP, not more Tory/Lab/LibDem bashing, which seems to be the usual approach. That won’t and hasn’t gained enough support for indy.
With apparently less than 12 months, the Scottish Government need to get their act together and start highlighting the failings of the UK and the benefits of Scotland making its own choices.
Kenneth Sutherland
Livingston
AFTER watching the discourse between Holyrood and Westminster over the past couple of years it’s plain to see the Union just doesn’t work.
Whether you believe in independence or are a Unionist you cant deny this Union just doesn’t work for Scotland or rUK.
Our priorities are not theirs but they still hold the majority of finance and the majority of power.
Until this simple fact is addressed we could be stuck in no man’s land for years.
Obviously my preference is for a complete break and move to a different type of relationship.
Unionists have to understand their position is no longer tenable and the ball is in their court to engage or bury their heads in the sand.
Divorce is never easy but when a relationship is beyond recovery then it’s necessary so both can move on.
Bryan Auchterlonie
Perthshire
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