THE “Right to Decide” Scotland’s future should rest with Scotland’s people. Amidst the beautiful words crafted by Makar Peter Mackay (Pàdraig MacAoidh) – relating to his journey from Lewis as a Scot in today’s world and the range of considered views on the best route to independence – these words emerged from the latest Independence Forum Scotland conference in Glasgow as a simple message that all can readily understand and which will resonate with many not yet convinced of the merits of independence, especially a new generation of voters.
Jim Osborne provided details on the logical introduction of a National Pension Fund along with the information that continuing current National Insurance contributions would more than adequately cover continuing pension obligations by in excess of £3 billion.
Professor Aileen McHarg provided a sober, and seemingly rational, legal appraisal of proposed domestic and international routes to independence which it is important to reflect upon in assessing the emphasis that the wider movement should commit in more actively backing different proposals.
READ MORE: Inside the Independence Forum’s debate on Scotland’s future
Craig Murray articulated the sound reasoning behind efforts to have Scotland listed by the United Nations as a “non-self-governing territory” and Peter Bell outlined a “Manifesto for Independence” for Scots to take control of their own destiny effectively through a UDI.
All views expressed stimulated thoughtful understanding and constructive thinking, with discussion panel members and most of the conference delegates appearing to recognise that the UK was entering a pivotal period of its history and that England’s move towards the far-right also provided an opportunity for Scotland to embark on a “fresh start”. While perhaps accepting the wisdom of voting for the SNP, at least in the constituencies, little support was expressed during the conference for the SNP’s current strategy for winning an overall majority for the party without a clear commitment to a follow-up plan/schedule to ensure the necessary legislative action by Westminster to enable another referendum, or preferably to provide the legislative authority for the Scottish Parliament to freely conduct future constitutional referendums.
READ MORE: Claim Yes activists are ‘in denial of political reality’ is unfair
For me personally, the words of Greg McCarra (Scottish Independence Foundation) summed up my view that the primary arguments of those committed to enabling the people of Scotland to determine their own future should focus on conveying the simple message of the opening words of this letter: it must be Scotland’s “Right to Decide”. Convinced and convincing, as no longer distracted by differences of opinion on strategies/policies or whether even consistent polling of 55%-plus would last beyond the anticipated anti-independence UK media blitz ahead of the next Holyrood election, we will be confident that the people of Scotland, who supported devolution by a ratio of 3:1, will not accept anything less for Scotland’s parliament.
Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian
A QUESTION for the BBC: why is the Scottish political programme Debate Night now off the air till 2026? This programme, aired on the BBC Scotland channel, is the Scottish equivalent of Question Time, which is aired on BBC1.
Trying to work out the logic of taking Debate Night off the air, yet leaving Question Time to be aired into December, is challenging when you consider the Christmas recess dates at both parliaments: December 18 for Westminster and December 20 for Holyrood. So is the BBC demonstrating bias against Scottish licence payers, leaving viewers here in the dark?
Catriona C Clark
Falkirk
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