{"id":2479,"date":"2019-05-02T16:00:38","date_gmt":"2019-05-02T16:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/?p=2479"},"modified":"2019-05-02T10:05:45","modified_gmt":"2019-05-02T10:05:45","slug":"the-fight-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/?p=2479","title":{"rendered":"The Fight Ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Well that was conference. Not one but two independence campaigns are off and running this week. The SNP\u2019s Yes.Scot<\/strong><\/a> and the Scottish Independence Convention\u2019s Voices for Scotland<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The big bang of the Scottish\nGrowth Commission report proved to be less disruptive and more constructive;\nwhen all sides claim everything is hunky-dory in going forward now, then you\nknow the art of compromise is alive and kicking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst it was a fascinating\npre-debate exchange of views over the past year or so, there\u2019s nothing like an\nimpending election to remind you just how far this is from voters\u2019 minds.  Somehow, the minutiae of when an independent\nScotland creates its own currency and under what conditions has never been a\ndoorstep challenge but signalling a direction of challenge that we accept the\npound will have to do until a new currency is up and running, will more than\nsuffice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More important frankly, than the\ncurrency, is the matter of pensions. Andrew Wilson was clear when setting out\nhis review of macro-economics that the detail of social policies such as\npensions was not within his scope. All the more reason to welcome Nicola Sturgeon\u2019s\nannouncement of a social justice commission for the party. It is this body that\nneeds to address the insecurities of our older age groups (and many of us who\nare rapidly approaching the bus pass milestone). They are a bigger group of\nvoters than those concerned about what the coin in our pocket looks like \u2013 and\nthe least likely to welcome a shift from the pound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has definitely been a\nsense of momentum building of late and the recent opinion polls have borne that\nout.  Combined with the two recent local\ngovernment by-election wins, the SNP\u2019s pro-EU stance has cut through the\nUnionist \u2018stop a 2nd<\/sup> indyref at any cost\u2019 as their Brexit disaster\nhas alienated its core and tactical vote in Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Ruth returns, it\u2019s her turn\nto face the music and explain why Scottish Tories support May\u2019s Deal when no\none else does. No amount of baby pictures will soften the fall that awaits Ms\nDavidson\u2019s return to the frontline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theresa May will face the music\nthis week when the Tory party is decimated in local elections in England. What\nmay be even more of interest is how the DUP fares in Northern Ireland\u2019s council\nvote. Meanwhile, we march on to the European elections where the prize of\ntaking potentially 4 of the 6 seats is within our grasp. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As much as the respected Labour\nMEP, David Martin will stand as a Remain supporter, sadly his pitch will never\nfeature in Scottish minds as Labour\u2019s message is framed by its London bosses.\nMore and more, it looks like Labour are merely offering a lighter version of\nTheresa May\u2019s disaster recipe. That may appeal to Labour voters down South but\nis unlikely to appeal up here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One more thing that must be\npointed out: European elections usually have the lowest of turnouts. In\nScotland, this must change this year. Pro-independence parties have to wipe out\nthe Unionists wherever possible.  To do\nthat, those pro-independence voters who might not see a European election as\nimportant, need to be recruited for a postal vote and ensure they vote. To this\nend, the mighty Gerry Mclaughlan and Greg Drysdale from Yes Stirling have\ncreated a video which challenges the myths surrounding postal voting which have\nreached hyperbolic stratosphere since the last referendum and is costing the\nindependence movement vital support. If there is one thing you in the European\ncampaign: it\u2019s vote by post and show people they have nothing to fear!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can view Gerry and Greg\u2019s video here: <\/strong>https:\/\/youtu.be\/OnYbT7661MQ<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Well that was conference. Not one but two independence campaigns are off and running this week. The SNP\u2019s Yes.Scot and the Scottish Independence Convention\u2019s Voices for Scotland. The big bang of the Scottish Growth Commission report proved to be less disruptive and more constructive; when all sides claim everything is hunky-dory in going forward now, then you know the art of compromise is alive and kicking. Whilst it was a fascinating pre-debate exchange of views over the past year or so, there\u2019s nothing like an impending election to remind you just how far this is from voters\u2019 minds.  Somehow, the minutiae of when an independentRead More →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2479"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2479"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2484,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2479\/revisions\/2484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}