There is endless commentary which questions \u2018where are we\ngoing next?\u2019 in the independence campaign. Invariably it involves\nsecond-guessing the First Minister\u2019s strategy or pre-empting the UK\nGovernment\u2019s response to further demands for an independence referendum,\nespecially in light of the Prime Minister\u2019s firm refusal to the First\nMinister\u2019s request for a Section 30 Order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For some, that refusal was a litmus test for more one-sided\nactions such as a consultative referendum, civil disobedience, unilateral\ndeclaration of independence or even more extreme measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whilst all of these suggestions strike a chord with the\nmajority of independence supporters, they are the sort of measures which will\nscare off those Scots inclined to say Yes in the next referendum but looking\nfor stronger analysis, evidence and argument, not unilateral actions which\nquestion the legitimacy and maturity of the independence movement. Civil disobedience today, guns tomorrow? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The opinion polls are pretty evenly split in support of\nindependence. However, once Brexit has arrived \u2013 and that won\u2019t be until 1\nJanuary 2021 at the earliest \u2013 then it is projected that Remain-supporting\nNo-voters may switch to Yes in a future independence referendum. Most polls have\nshown a post-Brexit shift to 60% support for Yes, but we are not there yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patience in politics is more than a virtue, it\u2019s a\nnecessity. There are a number of issues that require more detailed work as a\nbasis for discussion and debate with potential Yes supporters. The First\nMinister is expected to publish more about those issues in the immediate\nfuture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the meantime, one of the most obvious actions that we\ncould all do is engage voters; on the doorstep, at meetings or a coffee morning\nfor your neighbours. It was the stand-out effective intervention of the first\nindependence referendum campaign. Much has been said about digital media but\nthe reality is that people-to-people interaction is what re-energised Scottish\npolitics. More of the same please!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whilst everyone looks to the SNP for leadership on\neverything, there is nothing to stop any group from engaging with voters: what\ndo they think of our current situation? What are the issues that are important\nto them? Be in no doubt that a vote for the SNP on 12 December 2019 was not\nnecessarily a vote for independence. Rhetorically that may be claimed but\nspeaking from Stirling, a marginal seat in the heart of Scotland: tactical\nvoters were clear both before and after polling day: \u201cI was lending you my vote\nto stop the Tory, I don\u2019t support independence\u201d yet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Building confidence in self-determination, therefore, has\nsome way to go. The political focus will be on the reality of Brexit\nnegotiations over the next year and the lead up to the Scottish Parliament\nelections in 2021. The performance of the SNP in the Scottish Government will\nremain a strong focus with all parties, including the Greens, They will have\ntheir targets aimed at the SNP for their own party purposes, with the Unionist\nparties clearly determined to suggest the SNP are not performing as a means to\nundermine the case for independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the next year, the SI will work to provide a platform\nfor policy debate. At a time of global economic uncertainty, trade wars and the\nneed for climate action, the independence movement must be at the forefront of\ndebate in Scotland. Not all of what needs to happen on those fronts will be\npopular but leadership is required, both in a devolved and independent\nScotland.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There is endless commentary which questions \u2018where are we going next?\u2019 in the independence campaign. Invariably it involves second-guessing the First Minister\u2019s strategy or pre-empting the UK Government\u2019s response to further demands for an independence referendum, especially in light of the Prime Minister\u2019s firm refusal to the First Minister\u2019s request for a Section 30 Order. For some, that refusal was a litmus test for more one-sided actions such as a consultative referendum, civil disobedience, unilateral declaration of independence or even more extreme measures. Whilst all of these suggestions strike a chord with the majority of independence supporters, they are the sort of measures which willRead 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],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2699"}],"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=2699"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2700,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2699\/revisions\/2700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}