Addressing Alienation: the Opportunity of Independence

Tomorrow night First Minister Alex Salmond will answer questions on everything from tax and welfare policies in an independent Scotland to whether there could be an explicit  commitment to protection of the environment written into a Scottish constitution.

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There are few if any left-wing or pro independence think-tanks in Scotland. It’s why the arrival of the Jimmy Reid Foundation has been a  breath of fresh air (and ideas) in the past year with a series of well argued, authoritative reports and research on universalism, public procurement, local democracy and defence. See here.

They have organised for Alex Salmond is giving the Jimmy Reid Memorial Lecture in Govan Old Parish Church on Tuesday night – click here for more details. There are still tickets available on the night. Doors open at 7.00 PM. Here’s their blurb…

Many of you submitted questions to be put to the First Minister during the Q&A session after his lecture. Among the questions sent are:

  • What is his vision for a tax and welfare system in an independent Scotland?
  • If it is a choice between welfare cuts and corporation tax cuts, what will he choose?
  • Could a duty to protect the environment be written into a Scottish constitution?
  • How does he think a Scottish civil service should be established?
  • What does he think will happen to the political spectrum if the constitutional question is answered? Would the SNP continue to exist and as what kind of political party?
  • What guarantees on pensions will Scots have on independence?
  • How can Scotland exert economic power and independence in the face of global corporations?

This will be an important night in spelling out what independence might really mean for the Scottish people, not just the business and institutional concerns which have dominated the debate so far.

 

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  1. Dmyers says:

    Any idea if it’s going to be recorded? I can’t go, but it would be good to see.

  2. Ask Salmond why his government have been holding trade talks with Israel as Humza Yousaf details here- http://bit.ly/UBulQx then ask yourself why you so vociferously denied this possible – all just Taub spin- and what you are going to so about it now Myself and the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campain have very undortunately been proved to be the case. Over to you, Kev…

    1. Or rather- unfortunately proved right. Writing on a bus…

    2. bellacaledonia says:

      I wanted proof because the Unionist media cannot be trusted to write truthfully on the SNP, the Scottish Government or Independence. The Israeli state lie all the time. Taking either of their word without proof showed a serious lack of judgement in my opinion.

      This letter from Humza is the first proof I’ve seen that trade was mentioned in the talks. Unfortunately it doesn’t provide any details. Scepticism is still best policy when dealing with anything said by the Israelis or reported without proof in the Unionist media.

      Now that there is actual hard proof I’d agree there could be a problem if deals are signed. The Scottish government should have told them to sling their hook and come back when they stop murdering Palestinians.

      KW

  3. i read nicola sturgeon has spoke about the possibility of a scottish mi5, i would like to see written into the constitution protection for the individual in the light of this thinking, moreover our constitution should state clearly who or what is more sacred the individual or the collective

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