Yesterday I had some extraordinary things happen to me on this site. I had a record day of unique visitors 7,446. Quite remarkable and I would like to have my appreciation noted. My last blog is the most read (12311) I have had in over three years of being a blogger. I am flattered that so many people took time to read and comment on my utterings.
The other big thing for me was that a Scottish political party, The ISP sent me a press release. I believe several, if not all of my other Pro-Indy bloggers, also received notification from the New Independence List Party. Not something we have ever had from the SNP.
The ISP announcement was the official launch of their website. It also meant they were able to start accepting membership applications. I can tell you all now that even ISP didn’t think there would be quite so many sign ups in day one. I was delighted to repost their notification in its entirety. I merely added the words ‘The New Kids on the Block, impressive.’ I didn’t ask Jackson Carlaw or Willie Rennie to give me a comment. I didn’t disparage them or their announcement in any way. I didn’t use the famous, but critics say… I ensured that the new website launch happened just as ISP wanted.
I know that only a couple of the Pro-Indy guys have like myself announced this momentous day for a new Independence party. I think it is safe to say there will be no coverage in the anti-independence MSM. BBC nor STV will be rushing to promote this new entrant into the Scottish political scene.
I posted just the announcement and the website on several Pro-Indy FB sites and on to my Twitter feed. The reactions I have to say did not come as a surprise. Those like myself who have educated ourselves on the Holyrood D’Hondt voting system have welcomed The ISP. Green supporters were immediately against this new party using some absolutely ridiculous smears, and sneers. I cannot say I blame them. It cannot be denied that the more successful The ISP the worse it will be for Greens. I should, of course, point out that if Greens had not abused the votes they were lent by SNP voters in 2016 they might have been getting the support that will now switch to the new party.
I know from my social media, interactions and comments to my site the SNP voters that gave Greens their vote in 2016 were and remain enraged over the behaviour regarding OBFA. The Greens should have learnt from SLAB you do not make deals with Tories against Scotland and SNP and not have to pay a price. To compound the Green’s problems even more is their strident position on GRA.The droves of female SNP voters that have been leaving or expressing concern about GRA will not give their 2nd vote to the Greens.
Then came the attacks by the SNP GRA Zealots that only have one policy in their narrow little world. I think there is no need for me to tell you that policy is not independence. They are scared of ISP because they are in favour of protecting women’s rights and they will not accept the GRA as presented.
Then came 77 Brigade and #darkmoney trolls suggesting everyone continues to vote SNP 1 2. This, of course, should be the light switch moment for the SNP voters.When the Unionists wish to see a new indy list party fail it proves beyond any doubt the ISP is a threat to Unionist seat warmers and an ally to Independence.
The most used ‘criticism’ was the ‘we will split the vote. Even when you point out to these people the realities, some refuse to listen or are unable to understand the complexity of D’Hondt. It is exactly because of this complexity and confusion that the Unionist enemies of Scotland chose this particular voting system. The thinking behind this was to ensure it would almost always take two Parties to form a majority. At that time there only was The SNP so the House-Jocks felt assured the Scots would never be able to hold a referendum.
The 2011 result was an absolute freak. The chances of that ever happening again is remote. In 2016 The SNP had 960,000 List Votes, and the system awarded them four additional seats. In effect 850,000 of the SNP votes counted for NOTHING, they actually helped the Unionists get cheap seats. The latest opinion polls show SNP on 53% in the Constituency and 48% on the List. This in terms of List seats if uniform will yield the SNP just three additional seats. Once again the Unionists will take the lions share of the additional seats on offer. The only way to remove these Unionist seat warmers is to have an Independence List Party. Should just 1 in four of the people that cast their constituency vote in favour of the SNP give their List Vote to the ISP then 20+ of the Unionist, anti-Scottish MSPs will not return to Holyrood.
There is an argument from some that we already have an independence party in the Greens. The reality though is this, the Greens are more interested in stopping North Sea Oil Production or more cycles and less cars on the road than winning independence. If some Unionist Party offered those compromises to the Greens in exchange that they abandoned independence, it would be very difficult for the Greens to say no.The environment is their raison d’être!
We have others saying ‘well we have the SNP we don’t need anyone else to bring us independence.’ You have to ask yourself this, what in practical terms have the SNP done since September 19th, 2014, to advance the cause of independence? We have had huge electoral successes a surge in members. They win every election at every level. They have three unused mandates to hold an independence referendum at a time of their choosing and yet one is not even on the horizon. Now they are going into the Holyrood Election asking for yet another mandate to leave the union. Has anyone in the SNP even hinted to you what they will do with this? On social media and in the Pro-Indy New Media there is lots of speculation. A referendum without the need of a Section 30. We have an individual, not the SNP testing the legality of a Section 30 in the Scottish Courts. We have others discussing the possibilities of UDI. Others talk of holding a convention of all elected Scottish officials and announcing the ending of The Treaty of Union. In all these matters the SNP is silent.
They are very active in attempting to bring in a Hate Crime Bill which would criminalise you for daring to speak out against the much maligned and badly drafted GRA Bill. It seems the SNP are more interested in putting men with beards and penises into women’s spaces and jailing those that object for hate speech than getting us independence.
Two things to understand when you vote for the ISP on the Holyrood List. First and foremost their number one policy is Independence, not the environment or ending car use. Secondly they cannot ever be bought by Unionist bribes. Most importantly the ISP will never do deals with the Tories, blue or red. They are not going to Holyrood for a career and a gold plated pension. They are going there to remove Unionists, strengthen the Independence majority and push for a referendum in the earliest time frame possible.
The SNP it seems needs a gentle nudge to remind them Independence is their core, not feminist issues, baby boxes, bailing out the anti-independence British newspaper industry or any other issue. Give us our independence, and everything else can be fixed later. If you truly want independence then the best thing we can all do is remove Unionist House-Jocks like Annie Wells, Maurice Golden, Richard Leonard, Murdo Fraser et al from our national Parliament and replace them with Scottish Patriots.
Lastly, I attach a small video that helps explain D’Hondt.
I I don’t disagree with anything said in this article, but I think it likely that there will be more than one one pro independence party ,excluding SNP and Greens, so Ithink these other parties beed to enter discussions to ensure that they don’t stand against each other and thereby split the indepwnsence vote.
You are absolutely correct John, only ego and stupidity can prevent us removing swathes of House Jocks from our Parliament.
I agree with most of the post. the SNP are right to be wary of calling an Independence vote before brexit,I.E pre 1st January 2021 as i believe the London Government would do anything to scupper a yes vote including doing some dodgy deal whereby Scotland remains in the EU to sway some to vote no,once we are out they would scrap the deal and tell the Scots you had your vote, you voted no.they would then scrap the parliament and Scotland would disappear from the map.
I will give the SNP until we are definetly out of the EU and if they havent called an independence vote then, i will vote any party that will.
in the mean time i will vote SNP 1 ISP2 list vote..
An interesting post but I definitely don’t agree with your sniping comments on the SNP. Had SNP pushed for a referendum prior to 2020 we would have lost and would be destined to be a colony of Great Britain. Because of the obvious great work done by Nicola and Jean Freeman in dealing with the corona virus we have significantly increased the numbers for independence.
I’m not a fan of GRA and don’t believe it should go ahead which doesn’t make me a narrow minded bigot but because I believe in freedom of speech.
I’d like to know more about the individuals involved in the Independent List Party so I can have a look at who is involved and what their objectives are.
I’m with you in everything you say Isabel. Thank you for putting my thoughts into words.
I’ll add that the SNP have had to show they can govern for everyone, not just for supporters of independence.
I suggest you visit their website Isabel.I am not a member of their Party. I just want to remove Unionists.I first joined SNP way back in 1968.I have never voted anything else. Recently I left the Party their funding of Anti-Scottish MSM was the final straw for me. I am not sniping the reality is this we are nowhere nearer independence now than we were on 19/09/2014.Nobody in SNP knows if there is a plan or how or when it will be implemented. This is a first in the entire history of the Party that we don’t know how independence is to be achieved!
https://isp.scot/
The speech by Nicola Sturgeon in January was the last straw for me. I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt for a long time but no longer. The only plan on independence the SNP seem to have is to string along independence supporters promising jam tomorrow and saying the next election is critical for independence.
I would not be surprised if she does a Kenny Dalglish after Hillsborough.
Isabel –
“we would have lost” – how exactly do you know this? Crystal ball gazer? No it is just your opinion.
“Destined to be a colony of Great Britain” – we already are. A negative comment that assumes no independence ever in the future.
This nonsense of a gold standard sect 30 ref has been engrained in to people.
Isabel, I do agree with some but certainly not all of your post. I think the handling of the pandemic has been well received. certainly the daily briefings when compared to those in England have been extremely helpful in promoting a competent devolved response.
However, as Barrhead boy mentioned we don’t want a competent devolved government. For over a year we have asked (begged) to be told what the road map to indy is, especially if (when) a sect.30 request is denied. We have been met by silence.
Many of us have been blocked by our elected SNP representatives on social media for having dared question their commitment to give up a WM salary.
We, have given our trust and vote without a return on what we most want. Some social policy I applaud, some I’m extremely uncomfortable with.
On independence, nothing. The graduality approach will only make WM dig in harder as more people see the sense of an independent Scotland. We ask, they say no – we say please. They laugh and drain us some more.
The SNP imo have played nice, some have suckled and been seduced by WM. Too many seem content to be a devolved administration and to say… We tried.
Anything that 1 reduces the number of unionists in our parliament and 2 gives the SNP a shake and holds them to account is for me.
My intention is vote 1 SNP, 2 ISP. I hope you’ll join me
Totally agree with you on this. I have used my Twitter account to announce my switching to the ISP but have too little space to outline my reasoning. Yes the SNP will still get my Westminster and first Holyrood vote, and the ISP will get my list vote (i live in Crieff so it does make a difference).
My main reason is to remove my party funding from an SNP MP that’s blocked me on social media and whose MPs or MSPs failure to take up the multiple mandates I have helped give them. I do not regret my decision at all.
Dave if you want to write a reasoned blogpost on your reasons then do so and I will offer you my site as a guest post.
This looks good,i can see ISP getting a vote from me,breaking political stalemate and keeping minds focused on independence and how much more can be achieved with an independent country.Well done,only wish we could have this choice sooner.
What I think would help to convince voters of the advantages in voting for list only candidates, would be a recalculation of the last HR election results, maybe three sets of figures, with various percentages, say 10%. 20%, and 50% of the last SNP list votes going to a list only party.
I’m sure the results presented graphicaly would go a long way to convince those voters who fear “splitting the vote.”
Hi
?
Does it matter where you live ? ie, I live in NE Fife, (the Willy and Wendy Show) so how will it work for me ? I don’t care about any political party anymore just want the best advice for who to vote for to get independence asap
It doesn’t matter in your location of Fife the ISP is on the List and is very pertinent there.
BRILLIANT! Agree with every word, I have never voted for any other party BUT the SNP, nigh on 52yrs now. I joined the Party when Alex took over as leader. I left when I realised the party were starting to take us voters for granted. And the funding of the untruthful MSM in Scotland, just angered me so much. I donated to the crowd funder by James Keatings to take the U.K. Government to court over the sec30. The SNP wanted no part of that either.. I joined the ISP as I too believe the only way we will ever get INDEPENDENCE with a fully functioning Scottish Parliament, is when we get rid of those who are given cushy seats in HOLYROOD on a couple of hundred votes..There should NEVER be any UNIONIST party that is NOT registered in Scotland sitting in HOLYROOD. The ISP is our chance to rid this country of these useless spineless people. We won;t get if we don’t try..
Kate – excellent post.
How can a party (the SNP) whose main role is to deliver independence fund the enemies of independence still be taken seriously. The SNP have lost their way. The current leader needs to take responsibility for this.They need a good clearout.
Gradualism is just an excuse by the SNP for doing nothing.
I am sure this has already been done. Can’t remember who (not helpful I know). Possibly wings. It did explain why it was a no brainer to vote SNP for candidate and (ISP for example) for list vote. I think it meant SNP lost from 1 to 4 seats depending on how the voting went but independence parties benefited massively and, more importantly, the unionist Scottish MP’s were cast into the wilderness.
Kate, l completely agree
A good explanation of the system.
My hope is that what is proposed works. But what pressure can 20 MSPs put on SNP to call Independence when for 6 years now they have stalled at every gift opportunity.
I am not putting money us being independent by 2022
They will certainly put more pressure on than 20 House – Jock Unionists.
If one of those twenty tables a motion in Holyrood to dissolve the Treaty of Union how would the SNP vote? Do you really think they could vote against and survive as the party of Independence?
I always voted SNP/ Greens. Very happy not to have to vote Greens ever again. ISP will get my regional list vote if they stick to independence and nothing but independence.
The Greens encouraging the football hooligans was the last straw for me. Someone should ask Harvie where is Kelly’s alternative OBF law he said he would deliver – nothing – standard for British Labour in Scotland – talk a lot but deliver hee haw.
Thanks for this article. It fills me with optimism.
I will be casting my second vote for ISP.
Now look here Barrhead Boy, this is the last time I’m going to tell you. It is NOT the D’Hondt additional member system, it is the AMENDED (by Labour and Liberals – note Malcolm Bruce in Hansard). There are seats and seats of a difference, hence the amendments. OK? Fine. That’s you telt, but don’t do it again. It’s very irritating. Thank you.
p.s. excellent post and site otherwise.
I popped into their website to have a look when you wrote about it. I have no wish to become a member but did want to donate.
Unfortunately I found I couldn’t, not because of problems with the website but because they wanted more personal information than I was willing to give.
Allow me to donate through Paypal and I’ll do so, but card details, name, address, even date of birth? No No No!
I am not a member of ISP Willie but I will send them your comment.
Thank you. I did look for a contact on their website but could not find one. Something else perhaps that could be addressed? (We don’t all use twiiter/facebook!)
I’m going to join great post Roddy
You will be a great asset to them Sharon.
Very good blog and to the point, I was an SNP member for 30 years and left them in 2016 after several incidents which made me realise that all was not well as far as progressing to independence was concerned. This reticence towards independence started shortly after Nicola Sturgeon became the leader of the party. Nothing that has happened since, has convinced me that I was in any way wrong in my initial assessment of the situation.
I am looking at this new party with a view to joining. I certainly will not be giving the SNP even my first vote unless there is an unambiguous guarantee that the result will be a mandate for independence.
It’ll be SNP1 & ISP2 for me yes there’s a risk in this, but you’ll never win anything worthwhile if you don’t take risks, luck favours the brave and personally I think the risks are minimal, and if all it does is remove 1 Unionist house Jock it will be worth the effort.
77 brigade worried about ISP, well thats good enough for me , they’ll get my second
vote
I have a question that others may also have. What on earth is Blackford doing on a select inter-party committee at Westminster, recently set up to supervise the renovation of the Houses of Parliament?
How could he accept such an appointment? What are the SNP thinking of? He should be working to get us out of Westminster, not advising on its reconstruction! It seems to me absolutely amazing but he has not been called out for this, so far as I know.
Blackford the man who kept promising that we would not be dragged out of the EU against our will is now helping to restore the Palace of Westminster.
The SNP have lost their way. The party leader needs to to take responsibility for this. Independence is not a second priority. It does not seem to be any sort of priority at all.
Can someone please direct me to this ISP site so I can check them out
http://www.isp.scot
SNP used the lists to get where they are today when labour sat in the majority of constituencies. If it was okay for them then why not the ISP they are after all a Scottish party and holding the SNP to account is what we need. Independence is a must now.
Two points.
I agree entirely that the second vote should go to a second independence party
I would expect that party to agree before the election to follow SNP policy on all matters. The unionist media would feed on division and egos continue to be an issue within the independence movement
The media, would be 100% worse,if possible if ISP was just a 100% SNP clone.
The Electoral Commission would not approve the application if it was, the ‘same party’
That was, exactly why The Cooperative Party was not allowed to stand on the list too close to Labour Party in numerous ways.The ISP had to produce policies for EC that said they have developed different positions to SNP on GRA and a few other policies.None of them positions that would upset or alienate SNP and YES voters. The ISP view themselves as an ally not an enemy. All the other Indy Parties have profound differences with SNP both from the left right and environment.
2 things:
1/While I am convinced about the arithmetic, and the subsequent reduction in unionist MSPs, I am not convinced that it makes any real difference. We already have a majority of MSPs in favour of independence. In what way will having a larger majority change the fact that the Tories do not see this as a mandate for a second referendum? OK, it will mean that fewer unionists will be able to use a public platform to promote their fear, and greater numbers able to speak out in support of independence. But, that in itself will not get us the referendum.
2/ One thing that I think is very important for the 2021 election is that the SNP can possibly achieve an outright majority. The Tories will then not be able to say the SNP are a minority party. If, as a result of ISP success in the list vote, the SNP loose 2 or even 3 list seats, it puts an overall majority at risk, and I’m afraid the mandate will be rejected again on this basis, regardless of how many ISP MSPs there are.
Let me pose a couple of things George everyone in the movement including everybody in the ISP want to see an SNP majority.The bigger that Constituency majority the more ISP seats theoretically.There are so many arguments for the independence cause with an increased presence. Yes SNP can say look we have 53% of the votes cast and an outright majority. Also note independence parties now have 70-80% whatever of all the seats. Our combined independence vote is XXX. This, A sends a huge message to London and makes it difficult for England’s Parliament to refuse a plebiscite. Even possibly more important the world sees the Scottish Parliament with 70-80 %Independence MSPs it brings further pressure from the world on to London. It alerts the EU to recognise the result and it makes it virtually impossible to deny a referendum. Almost as important in Scotland the public see the way things are going and the last remnants of Britishness evaporates like an ice cube in the Sahara
A good article.BUT…you say,
“ Two things to understand when you vote for the ISP on the Holyrood List. First and foremost their number one policy is Independence, not the environment or ending car use. Secondly they cannot ever be bought by Unionist bribes. Most importantly the ISP will never do deals with the Tories, blue or red. They are not going to Holyrood for a career and a gold plated pension. They are going there to remove Unionists, strengthen the Independence majority and push for a referendum in the earliest time frame possible.“
We know so little about ISP , they arrived , but where from ? who are they ? who finances them ? who are the administrators ?
Originally when they only existed in talk amongst Scottish independence supporters it was said that they would only have ONE POLICY …..Scottish Independence….so much for that …..
the first time they went on Twitter it was to say they are against GRA
So…that’s TWO policies already …the first split in potential ISP votes
I think there will be more policies that come out of ISP and that will be their downfall
Only a LIST party with ONE POLICY and one policy only “ Scottish Independence “ will be a success
Lastly …how do you know they can’t be bought by unionist bribes ?
How do you know they will never do deals with red or blue Tories ? or yellow tories for that matter ?
I’m all for another Independence Party but we need one with ONE POLICY ONLY “ Scottish Independence “
It was unnecessary for ISP to comment let alone take sides with GRA
All the had to do was keep it simple and say we have just one policy and that is Scottish independence and nice Scotland is independent we will dissolve
SIMPLE….the fact they didn’t do this tells me they have other ambitions
Terence, there is a good reason for the ISP party to reject GRA reforms. Many women, and some men have left the SNP because they don’t want the reforms.
This has left these people without an indy party to vote for. The Greens want GRA reforms too.
The ISP will attract votes from these people.
Terence once again a great comment. Let me make one point that covers your main concern, 1 Policy only, Scottish Independence.Had the ISP approached the Electoral Commission with just Independence they would not have been approved as a Political Party. They would have been viewed as a pressure group and failed the first EC test. They have to provide the EC with a range of policies to prove their intentions are honourable. They have to have officers that can and are vetted by the EC. This has all been done in accordance with the law. This means the ISP are legally formed. Your other assumption that the first statement they made was to oppose GRA is factually inaccurate on your part. What the ISP gave was their interpretation of what constitutes a female as opposed to the definition by the SNP.What needs to be remembered is this unlike any other Party with exception of SNP the ISP have as their core Independence. Other so called independence Parties have matters of far left or right politics and with The Greens the Enviroment. All of these positions and desires are subject to compromise with the Unionists.In other words deals could be done to accommodate the main platforms of these, parties. The Unionists as we know would never willingly reach accommodation on Scottish independence. The founders of the Party are ex SNP, Labour members. There has been a surge of members joining in the past few days. This Party needs time to bed in what I can say in response to another of your queries is this to date has been funded solely by the founders. They are not beholden to any group or enterprise. Lastly on Carol’s reply she is correct due to GRA many SNP members and voters have found themselves bullied, harrassed and chased out of the Party. Others feel they cannot support the party that will not hear their concerns far less address those worries. Over the past couple of days I have been able to empathise with these women myself having become a target by what can only be described as attack dogs. How frightening and uncomfortable it must be for the ladies. That the SNP has turned a blind eye to this is truly disgraceful. We have heard of the viscious attacks on Joanna Cherry and Joan McAlpine who have both expressed disappointment in the lack of action by HQ. Lastly I truly believe this party to be credible and just what the movement needs. The SNP needs to get off of all other matters, and back on track doing what it was founded for in 1934.Independence nothing else!
Hello Terence. What Yes Group are you a member of. I’m in the position of looking for Yes Group’s who are open to a zoom call with the ISP leadership. Would your grpup be interested in a chance to quiz them?
The attitude of the SNP and some SNP members to the ISP shows that they now see the PARTY as being the priority and not independence.
Correct
I OWN my vote not the SNP or anyone else , this INSISTENCE to support the SNP irrespective of reviled and hated policies by obvious members of the SNP is exactly what NS is doing right now and has been doing for YEARS , it is BLACKMAIL , the usual trope of if you want independence then you HAVE to vote for the SNP has FORCED us into the position we are in now , where bloggers , members and indy supporters have/ and are being ignored by the hierarchy when questioned on indy or policies
WE the SNP voters have all done OUR PART, the EU ref , 2015 , 2017 , 2019 , Street stalls , billboards , marches , multiple mandates , exposure and challenge of MSM lies , protests at bbc Pravda , yet what exactly has Nicola and the SNP done to further our cause , Rebuttal unit ,tumbleweed , Progress unit , tumbleweed , EU forced withdrawal , tumbleweed , National power company , tumbleweed , challenge to the sect30 AGREEMENT , tumbleweed
SO quite honestly I think it is extremely disingenuous for anyone to say that the ISP must ONLY support the SNP unreservedly
I fear the SNP is going the way of the Labour Party and the Liberal Party, bith of which promised Home Rule and got our votes for generations as a result.
The jam tomorrow tactic has worn much too thin.
I want to see an aggressive independence party that takes no shit from the English parties in Holyrood.
I’ve voted Green in the list in the past, but collaborating with Tories means they’re dead in the water – just another bunch of Cleggs.
I gave up my paid SNP membership after the 2014 election fiasco but have voted for them since because there was no alternative party of consequence and I take independence to be above all political parties. Although we have won every election since then there has been little progress in the fight for independence. I thought of the Greens but never as an independence number one party but maybe on the lists only to get rid of the unionist rabble in Holyrood. The ISP looks hopeful but I am not sure of a new party getting up to speed quickly. It needs organisation and money to get candidates into strategic areas to win the List votes. The SNP is supposed to be the bedrock of independence although showing no sign of that under the present leadership. I don’t want to cut my throat despite my face and the SNP has got to be the first vote. We need more independence parties on the list whoever they are as a vote for them gives us another chance to get rid of all Unionists and spreads the risk of the new parties failing but they must all work together under one banner to maximise the result and that would be the hard part. Just reading some of the comments/posts here and on social media just shows how difficult it is going to be. My hope is that the 2021 election is on independence and the SNP get their act together soon with a plan starting now. It is great to see that all the Highland constituencies have come together to lobby Ian Blackford the MP’s, MSP’s with a letter to Nicola Sturgeon that we need a plan of action about independence sooner rather than later and if that does not happen changes at the top will be needed in the SNP. All yes constituencies should do the same as Highland.
You’ve changed your tune. A couple of years ago on twitter you were asking people to give an extra 5 quid to the SNP.
What do ISP have at the moment? A website. Where are the policies. Where are the candidates? Where are the branch meetings?
Effectively these people are asking us to vote for a website.
And who is going to be a candidate? Victoria? Colette? Their communications director?
The snp are heading towards a majority next year. I certainly won’t be throwing my vote away on a bunch of chancers who resemble the people’s front of Judea.
Actually calling Manny Singh a political prisoner?
Poor show all round.
Natalie your derogatory and denigrating term of CHANCERS says more about you than your rant , if you compare the group who are driving the GRA and HCB with the honesty of people who are opposed to this science denying cult I think you will find who the REAL chancers are
Apologies in advance for the length of this comment.
I joined the SNP in 1988 and left in 2020.
ISP are already providing a policy offer that neither the SNP nor the Greens are, and in that way potentially buttress and grow the pro-independence vote and pro indy representation. This may take a few years, but it’s important that we have started now.
Because, specifically:
1 ISP is open to all democratic routes to Independence. Which in practice would mean the Plan B that Angus MacNeil and Chris McEleny have attempted unsuccessfully to get the SNP to consider. Independence via a majority of Scottish MPs was SNP policy from the 1940s to 1999.
2 ISP support the EFTA rather than the EU route to Europe (36% of SNP and Labour voters voted Leave in 2016). Both the SNP and Greens are committed to full EU membership, but are being rather coy on how long that would take. ISP offers an option for pro Independence EU-sceptical voters that was not there before.
3 ISP is opposed to the GRA and Self-ID. Whatever you think of that policy, both the SNP and Greens support it, and until ISP there was no option for Independence voters who don’t
4 ISP offers a new option for those who have stopped voting. Turnout in the 2016 Scottish election was only 55.8%. FORTY FOUR PERCENT of the Scottish electorate didn’t see any party worth voting for. If we can motivate even a proportion of those people to vote then we can grow the independence vote. ‘SNP’ list votes are not the only source of potential votes for ISP.
5 ISP offers an option for the 42% of Labour voters who support independence. They won’t vote SNP or Green or they would already be doing so. Labour is increasingly boxing themselves into an extreme Unionist position. Again – ‘SNP’ list votes are NOT the only potential source of votes for ISP.
6 And finally, a more strategic and long term point. We need improved opposition in Holyrood, now and post independence. For which we need more non-unionist parties. The current opposition is incompetent, unelectable, venal and unionist! We need a more balanced Parliament
Which leads to the following strategic scenarios:
Scenario 1. The Cummings Government (for let’s speak of the organ grinder, not the tousled monkey) suddenly discovers morality and agrees a S30 sometime during 2021-2026. Or Starmer does. We have a referendum and Scotland becomes independent sometime during the mid 2020s. We need a broader spread of pro-indy parties to ensure Scotland isn’t an effective one party state after independence. A broader Parliament post independence is a potential reassurance for wavering ‘soft No’ voters and a further way to grow Independence support.
Scenaro 2. No S30, no Plan B, no independence by 2026, or God forbid, 2031. In which case, assuming that the SNP win the 2026 election, we need a broader spread of pro-indy parties to avoid 24 years of effective one party rule. One party rule for decades is simply not healthy, particularly in a unicameral Parliament that does not have a written Scottish Constitution, or a Senate to provide checks and balances.
That’s my personal take, and why I am now in ISP. Feeling positively refreshed!
Prosperity to Scotland and no Union
Excellent comment Derek and nothing I can remotely oppose or disagree with, logical and well articulated!