An Article from Liberate Scotland
The Hamilton by-election has reignited the flame of Scottish independence, but it has also unleashed a barrage of attacks from unionist politicians and commentators determined to undermine our cause. Their tired narratives—dismissing independence as a pipe dream, mocking our resolve, and peddling fear over hope—seek to divide us and weaken our movement.
Liberate Scotland calls on all pro-independence parties to unite, reject these attacks, and present a bold, cohesive vision for an independent Scotland, free from Westminster’s oppressive economic policies and patronage system that thrives on poverty and inequality.
Unionists claim Scotland is “better together,” tethered to a Westminster system that prioritises London’s wealth over our communities. They argue our economy is too weak to stand alone, conveniently ignoring that Westminster’s trickle-down economics has left Scotland with stagnating wages, underfunded services, and growing inequality.
The rebuttal is clear: Scotland’s wealth—its renewable energy, natural resources, and talented people—far exceeds the constraints imposed by Westminster. An independent Scotland would control its own finances, invest in its people, and build an economy that works for all, not just the privileged few.
Commentators sneer that the independence movement is fractured, pointing to differences between parties as evidence of weakness. This is a deliberate misrepresentation. Our diversity of thought is our strength, reflecting a movement rich with ideas and passion. By uniting, we can harness this energy to craft a dynamic vision that enthuses voters, from the Highlands and Islands to the Borders. Far from being a weakness, our varied perspectives ensure a robust, inclusive case for independence that resonates with every Scot.
Unionist politicians warn of chaos and uncertainty, peddling fear to cling to power. Yet the real chaos lies in Westminster’s mismanagement—Brexit’s economic fallout, austerity’s devastation, and a patronage system that rewards cronies while Scots face rising costs and crumbling infrastructure. Independence offers stability: a government accountable to Scots, not distracted by Westminster’s infighting or beholden to corporate interests. We can build a fairer nation, where wealth is shared, and poverty is not a policy outcome but a challenge to overcome.
The Hamilton result underscores both our potential and the urgency of unity. A fragmented movement plays into unionist hands, diluting our message and dampening voter enthusiasm. Together, we can counter their attacks with a clear, energetic vision of a Scotland free from Westminster’s grip—one that prioritises people over profit and community over elitism. Our human resources—activists, thinkers, artists, and organisers—are ready to inspire the electorate and dismantle unionist myths with facts, passion, and resolve.
Liberate Scotland calls on the leaders of all pro-independence parties and organisations to meet, set aside differences, and chart a unified path forward. Let us forge a strategy that counters unionist distortions, galvanises voters, and secures our independence. The time for unity is now. The prize is a free Scotland, and we will not be silenced.
For Scotland’s future,
Liberate Scotland
Scotland is really only likely to fail as an independent country if we carbon copy the English/Westminster model of governance..that’s a fair assumption by looking at the mess it’s in. Seen through a distorted unionist prism, they can’t see anything outside the restrictive union box of selfish greed and knowing the price of everything…but the value of nothing. Scotland is outward looking, resourceful and innovative with a strong sense of justice and fairness and we have more than enough resources to thrive if we’re not having the life blood sucked out of us by the parasite on our jugular. You’re so right about the need to put our hearts and minds together in a unity of purpose to Liberate ourselves and well done for being a big part of the drive to do that 🏴❤️🏴
The Hamilton by-election has reignited the flame of Scottish independence – I wish it had, I really do.
Unionists who may be attacking the yes movement have every reason to feel that they can right now, for many reasons.
As Liberate Scotland have noted, the yes movement right now is divided. The main reason for that is Sturgeon, and the SNP. Sturgeon should go down as the worst politician to ever be self-inflicted on our colony, in my political life, she will go down as the worst, and more despised by myself, than even Margaret Thatcher. What Sturgeon did to Scotland is enough for myself to wish we were able to imprison politicians for their actions, she would spend the rest of her life in jail.
Sturgeon, not only made Scotland the basket case that it is now in so many ways, governed with incompetence, institutions distrusted on a level unknown in Scotland, she destroyed the SNP by her own insecurities, incompetence, stupidity, spite, even hate. She took over a Scotland that had hope of a better future, she took that hope, shat on it, and left a Scotland even farther from independence than it has ever been in the last 300 years.
I can only comment on the little bit of the world that I inhabit, many people I know would vote yes to an independent Scotland, right now, they are more worried about how they get to the end of the week. People are tired, I am tired. I am sick of the corruption, the lies, the fighting, the lack of unity as you point out. I am sick of a broken political system infected with people who have no wish or desire to fix it.
People are sick of the cost of living crisis, energy bills, low paid or no employment, falling standards in education, health, you name it, it is all falling down around us and set to get worse not better, but we are tired.
Unity is a laudable cause, without it maybe we don’t go anywhere. How we get past the political tiredness is another matter, the unionists may believe they are winning, they are not, apathy is winning.
Independence may well be supported by at least 50% of the voters in Scotland if polls are to be believed, independence though is dead, it is going nowhere. While we do need some kind of unity, talking about the process of getting that is all good and well, demanding we need it the same. Right now we need a story, we need inspiration, and someone to lead it. We need to find something, or someone, who will break through the process, the tiredness, someone who can bridge the gap between the prejudices that our colony is still infected by, the ego’s that divide us.
Independence remains a romantic dream, out of reach of most, until we are honest about where we are, even who we are, then that dream remains a romantic notion. Scotland is a divided colony, it has the left, the middle, and the right, with many people liking bits of each part. If we can find the vision, the story that can put that across, and the person to tell it, then there is hope. But right now, when I talk to people, all I see is apathy, tired people who have not given up, but who right now need a rest from the shit show that is Scotland and it’s politics.
I may well be sounding defeatist, I get that I am a glass half empty type of man, but I do know right now that no matter how much my colony needs its independence it is nowhere near able to fight for it, to manage it, to make it work.
Well said Bruce Hosie 👌…That’s exactly how I feel and I suspect most of us in Scotland who support Scottish Independence feel…the wind has well and truly been knocked out of the sails of Independence movement…the whole movement feels fractured , broken, full of mistrust and well as you say tired and washed out…the mere mention of Independence these days in everyday conversations be it in the workplace or in the pub brings on replies of ” Pah ! Independence that ship sailed years ago ! ” or ” Never gonna happen the Scots couldn’t agree on the colour of sh*te never mind Independence ! ”
I myself have always viewed the Scots as a fickle bunch and easy swayed by a negative headline here or a negative headline there in the unionist media …our problem and I believe it to be our main problem in Scotland is lack of self belief and self confidence and it runs through and infects every aspect of Scottish life …we just don’t have that winning mentality…we go into everything expecting to fail…we actually celebrate failure …I actually don’t know of any other country in the world that celebrates failure like the Scots and we shouldn’t !…just look at all those inventions we have brought to the world , we practically invented the modern world , we have a lot to be proud of, yet still that cloud of ” not good enough ” hangs over and around us like a bad smell… mind you ! over 300yrs of colonisation by our London masters coupled with relentless negative propaganda about Scotland and the Scots will do that to a nation …a union of equals we are not and never have been.
I have now resigned myself to the fact that the SNP will never get us Independence… Nicola Sturgeon and her tight knit clique of cronies put paid to that , they ruined everything that the late great Alex Salmond had built up .
So what now ? Who to vote for ? Who to trust ? Right now I’m just voting SNP out of habit and to keep the unionist parties out even though I have absolutely zero faith in them .
Can Liberate Scotland get us back on track ? I’d like to think so and I commend their efforts but your right Mr Hosie we do need a leader …boy do we need a leader !
You have described perfectly the effects of 318 years of colonisation,propaganda and abuse. Liberate Scotland has a mission to tackle this effect by giving the population positivity and a cause to get behind. Doing nothing is not an option.
I can quite understand how you feel aside from the huge disappointment and heartache of indy ref 1 and the turmoil within the SNP which are anxieties related to Scotland itself, we’ve also endured the banking crisis, Brexit, post Brexit wrangling, post Brexit consequences inflicted on us against our will, COVID the turmoil of three lunatic Blue Tories in number ten and yet another financial crash, Ukraine, Gaza+ 2 doses of Trump insanity and now a red Tories wanting to inflict more fear and poverty on us by telling us to prepare for war. You’re right…people are worn out by it it and I often wonder whether it’s orchestrated anxiety designed to keep us all in a state of resigned compliance while finding new reasons to squeeze more money out of us and hate each other into the bargain
Some how we need to get off the crazy train and to do that we need one last big concerted push to convince the undecided and the apathetic that we simply need to vote to get independence over the line and let Engerland/ Westmonster get on with devouring themselves while we get on with learning to be the sane and prosperous wee country we always should have been for the last 300+ years.
I know that sounds a bit idealistic but it’s there to be done if we want it…once we divorce… it’s an unwritten page
Oh if only every Scot thought like you Stuart , it’s not idealism it’s the way we should all think, we are worth so much more and can do so much better…well said Stuart 👍
Unity and working together is the only thing that is going to turn this situation around. There are so many different groups of trustworthy individuals (and some not so trustworthy of course) and I have been glad to see Liberate Scotland working with Salvo and Liberation, also SSRG, along with some Independence parties. Can we use this as a foundation and build on this, bring more people and groups together? I very much hope so, this is what is needed to give people hope. Thanks for all you do.