Ten Years of a Changed Scotland
The National are publishing a book reflecting on where we are now, ten years on, what happened and what’s next:
“As we mark the passing of a decade since a vote that changed Scotland forever, a top selection of writers consider three questions of crucial importance for the independence movement: Where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going.”
Contributors include (me) Neal Ascherson, Jonathon Shafi, Richard Walker, Assa Samaké-Roman, John Curtice, Lesley Riddoch, James Foley, Lucy Jackson Professor Aileen McHarg, Coll McCail, Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, Alison Phipps, George Kerevan, Caitlin Logan, Adam Robertson and Steph Brawn.
You can pre-order it here.
Not particularly relevant to the above but does anyone think the Scottish govt should approach the EU to see if any unspent EU structural and investment funding money could be put towards holding the Commonwealth games in Scotland? Could be argued it fits the bill.
Why would the EU want to fund an irrelevant and outdated celebration of Empire?
Not even sure why hosting it in Glasgow is being discussed when our colony is facing cuts due to decades of mismanagement by the ruling class in a nation you want to depend on.
To embarrass the UK govt.
I think the Commonwealth Games is deid.
Aye.
We need somebody to provide the vision of what an independent Scotland means,
including tackling the difficult issues, not brushing them aside – Scottish people are not stupid and want the whole picture. We then need inspiring leadership to get us there, not evident at the moment – sadly – despite all that Scotland has going for it i.e. renewable energy, oil, gas water, land, whisky and food exports, satellite and space technology, bioscience, tourism and talented people.
Susan – while I agree with the outline of what is required I would guard against waiting for a messiah to lead the country. Inspiring leadership does not need to come from an individual but from a vision that is shared by many.
We need a number of individuals across independence movement who can articulate the vision in such a way that it engages the majority of the country while also being prepared to confront and counter the opposition frightened of losing its power and influence.
I agree with both Susan and John, but also wonder whether we need not just the one but multiple visions of what an independent Scotland could be, to accommodate the different strands of a diverse movement – perhaps with a shared democratic core at their heart. Let a thousand flowers bloom…
Paddy – I would add a commitment to a more prosperous, productive, environmentally aware and socially fair country as core values in addition to democratic one which should include power being devolved to most appropriate level for effective democracy. I think vast majority of electorate in Scotland would back these core principles.
The pro union side, which includes most sections of media many vested interests, did not think there was any realistic possibility of Yes side winning in 2014. They got an enormous shock by how close Yes side came to winning and have since organised to try and head off any demand for independence.
This effectively means that independence can only be achieved by building support to a level where even opponents of independence realise it is inevitable and resisting the demand is pointless. This can only be achieved by the independence cause becoming a mass movement with, as you say, many strands and leaders.
Imagine if the pro -Independence cohort of these writers had contributed rather than criticised!
Their collective voice might have overcome rather than reinforced the Unionist SNPBad campaign.
Maybe this compilation will help the commentariat move out of denial and use their platform and influence in a positive way going forward.