We were all meant to be enjoying our summer break. It is funny though and as Harold Wilson said,
‘A week is a long time in politics.’ Boris Johnson has finally been made to pay for his lies, deceit, and poor judgement. When a UK Prime Minister is ousted, all holiday leave is cancelled. Well, it is at Prism, if not with the SNP, Scottish Government!
This could have huge ramifications for Scotland’s constitutional standing. The British were at war with France when the American colonists made their decisive move. The Irish used WW1 as perfect timing for their dash to freedom.
With the UK in total disarray this would seem like a perfect opportunity for Scotland to press its desire to end the union. Sadly our Scottish Government do not think it even worthy of a discussion. Lucky for you we at Prism do believe it needs discussed!
I am joined by Yvonne Ridley, Neale Hanvey MP, Sara Saylers and Phil Boswell. We discuss Johnson’s resignation and all aspects surrounding it. We also find time to talk about other pertinent matters appertaining to Scotland that have happened this past week. Don’t miss ‘Angry Phil’ and the others as we view everything, Through A Scottish Prism.
I “get” the democracy and unity angle which Neale Hanvey sees as essential, but where my faith in democracy wobbles, is that we need the SALVO inspired changes in our thinking to be established and bedded in, and able to exercise control over any franchise, democratic referendum or plebiscite – or it’s not going to work.
Scotland’s democracy is deeply compromised, and it’s use to us is inversely proportional to the extent it remains compromised. In other words, if it’s not sorted, then please, let us not put our eggs in this basket.
We need unity amongst ourselves yes, but the real unity we need is unity and mutual co-operation between a General Council of Scotland or Convention of the Estates, whatever we want to call it, – our “Constitutional House” that is the living embodiment of our Sovereign Constitution, to be working in complete harmony with Scotland’s elected Government. “Then” we are unstoppable.
But IF Nicola Sturgeon or the SNP are intent upon wrecking this cohesion and preventing it from happening, then we need to know this at the soonest possible opportunity. There is no time for hubris.
If push comes to shove, it must be understood that it’s our General Council and the Claim of Right which is essential to us, and it’s a Holyrood Assembly, particularly if which won’t shake itself free from the Scotland Act, which is the more expendable of the two if they cannot work together.
Mark my words, the landscape is going to change.
Once Westminster comes to believe we are serious about a Plebiscite General Election which requires only 30 Westminster seats, they will move heaven and earth to get a Holyrood Referendum which they can manipulate with the Scotland Act, put back on the table.
But as ever, Sturgeon is already proving herself the weakest link. She has already compromised the laxative effect of a 30 seat Plebiscite Election by pegging victory to an unrelated and virtually impossible to achieve 50% share of the vote. Westminster can breathe easy for now, and Nicola Sturgeon is the toast of Whitehall once again.
“Jonah” Sturgeon has to go.
Interesting programme as usual and the important take away is we need to do Independence for ourselves. What would be helpful is if we can identify which elected representatives are in the pocket of the suits and let a campaign of their electors tell them to whom they are responsible.
As we push forward it will be abundantly clear who’s battling for self interest over Scotland
Thanks for the bonus Prism, Roddy, Neale, Yvonne, Sara and Phil.
Hi Roddy,
Thanks for another great show; guests were all on form as usual, gave us lots of talking points.
If I may, I’d just like to offer a view:
While it is, of course, essential in the short term to have peaceful demonstrations to show our unity and solidarity when backing a move for Scottish Independence, I feel we should never forget that there are many, many Scots too busy trying to survive this latest economic catastrophe to think about such things. The price of essentials like food and energy are crippling households the length and breadth of the country and – essential as they are – marches won’t do anything to alleviate the suffering.
I think the key is to be the change we want to see. Why can’t the Scottish people, perhaps with the Independence movement being the inspiration – the spark – begin changing our reliance on the rest of the UK?
To start; community farms, free transport around the community, a national internet hub… just off the top of my head. But, why not?
Community farms: We grow fruit and vegetables locally, maybe in more than one location in the local area (I’ve seen documentary films showing food being grown on rooftops, in shipping containers, in window boxes) encouraging local people to grow their own wherever possible. As the food will be local, transport costs are negligible and the food much fresher. To this I would add, it should be non-GMO, and grown without chemical fertiliser, pesticides, herbicides etc. In the short term, healthier foodstuffs at affordable prices, keeping more money in the pockets of struggling Scots. In the long term, healthier Scots and less strain and costs for our wonderful NHS. There is also a chance to help with the health of our planet by minimising pollution caused by transportation – using a few electric vehicles as well as only delivering in the local area. This could also be linked to a community composting initiative to help restore the health of the soil and encourage biodiversity and a healthy biosphere.
Free transport: In my area (Vale of Leven) maybe six or eight electric buses running locally would cover the needs of the whole area. Maybe a couple of charging points. People travel for free in the local area, as many trips as they want. It will help struggling Scots keep money in their pockets and also help the environment (less cars, no exhaust fumes from the buses themselves).
National Internet Hub: I’ve no idea how (or if) this would/could work – but I did read an article about a town in the USA that essentially set up a community Internet hub and gave every resident a very cheap, fast, reliable Internet service. If it can work, it’s more money in the pockets of struggling Scots and – as every home would have an Internet connection – it opens up the opportunity to have an electorate fully engaged in the democratic process by setting up some sort of process (blockchain?) to have a verified and secure vote in Scottish referenda. Of course, should there be another pandemic, working – and schooling – from home would be no problem, where appropriate/possible (depending on the job).
There is a lot of work – and thought – involved here. These ideas are just being floated as examples and even I can see there’s a lot involved. For example, every home may well have a cheap, fast, reliable Internet connection, but not everyone can have/own a computer…
…but therein lies another possibility:
We already have a Scottish Investment Bank so why not encourage Scottish Enterpreneurs? We have a world class – FREE – educational system. All that’s required is changing the high school curriculum to encourage Scots HOW to think, not WHAT to think. At the forefront surely should be the environment? We encourage students to think of everything in terms of minimal disruption to the environment and our biosphere, perhaps even to encourage REPAIRING the biosphere. This should include creating a sharing, circular economy where sharing means – just as you imagine – manufacturing as few items as we can possibly get by on. One lawnmower between twenty or thirty (or more) homes, etc.
(Also, those lawnmowers should be as energy efficient as possible and made in such a way that each component can be replaced should it become obsolete and the old component made from – as much as is humanly possible, given our technological expertise/advances – renewable/recyclable materials.)
Our educational system should be used to encourage students to think about how to make the best use of our resources as possible – and I include, of course, the people as our greatest resource. Imagine Scots being educated to think only of improving the quality of life of people on the planet? (And, of course, to think of the biosphere as our home, therefore essentially requiring all improvements do no harm to the biosphere.)
The biggest change will be to the monetary system and therefore to – as Phil called them – the suits.
With Scots creating a sharing, circular economy – a CARING, sharing, circular economy… where is the profit? The profit is to the lives of every one of us; how do you make money when everything is manufactured/grown to minimise waste? To be shared? Built to last for decades – or longer? Everthing we use having a lifetime guarantee? If it fails, it’s repaired. Where is the profit? The suits lose their power and we get back a high standard of living – and our sovereignty.
Where is the need of an income when you get free food, a roof over your head, clothes on your back and everything you’ll ever need – without having to work from educations end to near death? Do you charge a fee if your neighbour asks for a cup of sugar? (Sorry for the cliché) No one in Scotland need ever be hungry or homeless ever again, if we do this right. No more facing the choice of heating or eating.
If we want a system like this, if it looks appealing, then why can’t we have it? Imagine working knowing everything you do is for the betterment of the human race? Is that too idealistic or is it a worthwhile goal? Who’s to stop us or say, “You can’t do that?” if that’s exactly what we want to do? It would require better minds than mine – minds that can look to the core of my ideas and say, “Well, the ideas are WAAAAY over the top and idealistic, but I can see what he means.” – and then, set about making that kind of society a reality, a working model. Maybe yourself, or your guests, think the core idea is workable? Maybe engage everyone – or as many people as possible – in thinking this through? (Or something like it? Engage folks like Salvo, SSRG and Common Weal?) Maybe there are folks out there have had the same thoughts – or better?
What’s needed is an engagement of the Scottish people in imagining, not only what’s realistic (given the confines of the current capitalist system) but what’s possible when we put our minds together, stand up and say, “We are sovereign and we decide our own future!”
PS: Sorry, got caught up in a stream of consciousness. Nowhere near as brief as I thought it would be. I just mean, “Why are we waiting on someone else to give us Independence? Why not take it ourselves?” My apologies again.
PPS: Just had a thought on re-reading; the environment is mentioned a lot there so maybe we can even engage folks like Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Friends Of The Earth and the Green Party? That way we serve both Independence and the environment… and possibly – apologies in advance for the hyperbole – save the planet and the human race by showing the way forward? Humanity has found ways to put robots on Mars, to see more and further into the depths of our Universe than ever thought possible… but we can’t create a better society, a society where everyone has their needs met without life-long wage slavery? Aye, right! Let’s not sit about waiting for it to happen, eh?
Wow some brilliant and innovative ideas there Jim. From small acorns springs to mind. Any of these initiatives has to start somewhere maybe you could find some neignbours, friends that you could encourage to join you in one or more of these very worthwhile suggestions.
Thanks for publishing my comment Roddy. I was literally – seriously – shaking as I posted it. I suffer from depression (have done for over half my adult life, and I’ll be sixty this coming April). I really don’t like sticking my head above the parapet, putting ideas out there to get ridiculed, so getting this idea into the mainstream was a lot of effort and willpower. Been wanting to talk about it it for a couple of years now. This is as far as I can go with it. Thanks again. It’s much appreciated. Keep up the good work and all the very best to you and yours.
Excellent ideas Jim . Consciously or otherwise , these ideas are the bedrock of ( proper ) Anarchist political philosophy . The essentials of which are mutual aid , horizontal power structures , need before profit ( ideally the profit motive is eliminated completely ) , sharing of resources of time , labour , skills etc and the subsequent sharing of the fruits of these things .
” Too idealistic ” ? you say , rather , have the humility to posit ; no , not to my mind . On the contrary , these ideas may be the only way to save the planet as a living , breathing organism and are the complete antithesis of the demented , greed and selfishness oriented Societies that Materialism and it’s – inevitable manifestation ie Capitalism has created . We don’t have to look far or hard to see the terrible , dehumanising , planet-ravishing consequences of that aberration .
As I think I’ve said before when referring to this here , the one imperative caveat is these ideas cannot , must not , be imposed , enforced or policed . That is totally against the philosophical spirit of the thing . They can only be encouraged : by example , enlightened * leadership * and a deep understanding of the symbiotic connection between human and planetary needs and relations .
Excellent Prism as ever friends
Thanks for your encouraging comment Robert. It really is greatly appreciated. I’m afraid I know next to nothing about Anarchist Political Philosophy. To my shame, I’ve only been paying attention to politics for the last eleven years or so.. and that was only because I came to the conclusion that Westminster was trying to kill me through seemingly never-ending Work Capability Assessments that always seemed to find me much healthier than my Cardiologist and GP did. Anyway, that’s me off on a tangent again. Sorry. Once more, thanks for your encouraging comment and all the very best to you and yours.
Great discussionand all credit to both Neale and Kenny Mcaskill for standing up (literally ) for Scotland at Westminster. Politicians of integrity who are not afraid to demonstarte what they believe.
Some great ideas there Jim. i like the notion of community farms or small-holdings but would add to that the suggestion that anyone contributing to the work could be paid in tokens so that they could buy theproduce. This would help familes struggling to put food on the table and would give young people who took part useful and marketable skills. Perhaps have cookery demos now and then showing, for example, how to make nourishing and tasty soup and stews from mis-shapen vegetables.
On another topic, I am horrified at the lack of challenge from our Scottish MPs in London to the Treasury announcement saying they refuse to change the rules for the extra winter fuel allowance so this will still only be paid when the teperature in SE England reaches a certain low point. Scotland is the coldest part of the UK so we are being penalised by this as the temperatures in Scotland could have been below freezing for weeks before SE England. Why are out MPs. paid by us, not making a huge fuss about this unfairness and also the fact that we have the highest energy prices in the UK, and probably in Europe because of the unfair charges on our generating companies to join the National Grid, despite being a net electricity exporter to England.
As a result we have the highest energy prices since consumers are charged more per unit than other parts of the UK and the recent rise in the daily standing charge is also higher. Our MPs should be calling out this injustice and telling Westmister enough is enough!
Thank you Ann. See, now I like your ideas about tokens for contributors and the cookery demos. Maybe too, add open days for the community to see the place where their food is grown and to learn about nutrition and what getting plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables contributes to your general health. This was my hope; to start a conversation about we, the people, shaping our nation’s future instead of waiting for politicians to do it. As Roddy said, “From small acorns… ”
Also, I couldn’t agree more with your comment on the winter fuel allowance; our MPs SHOULD be telling Westminster enough is enough!
All the very best to you and yours.
Great stuff, Jim.
Hi Jim,
I too share your aspirations and love your ideas. I also live in the Vale and would love to try these sorts of ideas locally and change the area for the better. I have some experience of community based social enterprise and agree that now is the time to get on and do it for ourselves.
I wonder how we could get started. It would be great to hear from you.
Soar Alba, All the Best,
Susan
Hi Susan,
Thanks for the feedback.
I’ve never done anything related to community-based social enterprise. Thanks (!) to depression, I don’t really socialise much.
I am up for meeting with like-minded individuals – like yourself and anyone else you think might be open to our ideas – but have no idea where to meet. A local café during the day? A (quiet) pub in the evening. Although, I’d be on fizzy drinks thanks to all the meds. 🙂
I’m on Facebook & Twitter (@JazzerStix) if you want to contact me directly.
Thanks again and all the best.
Great to hear from you, Jim,
It would be great to meet up and see what might be possible here. I don’t drink- in fact I don’t really go to cafes or pubs much. Neither do I do social media. What about speaking on the phone, if we can exchange phone numbers?
All best,
Susan
Hi again Susan,
Hmmm, not sure how to exchange phone numbers without everybody getting it, including casual web browsers. Also, I rarely use the telephone because I’m hard of hearing. (Not deaf, just very poor hearing and loud tinnitus. Years of playing drums and listening to loud rock music.)
So, I’m kind of stuck for answers unless you can think of a public place where you’d feel safe to meet a stranger for a chat?
Thanks for replying and all the very best,
Jim
Use email
Phil bangs the nail on the head when he asks “unity of what?” At the moment Scots fall into two main camps. Those who see Scotland as an English possession wholly under England’s control (Let’s not pretend there is some magical all powerful fantasy land of WM or UK. The treaty is between England and Scotland!) and those who recognise Scotland’s true status as a sovereign nation state and all that encompasses. If Scots are serious then they must unite behind Scotland’s true status. It matters not what any Scot’s political persuasion is. The fundamental aspect is the statehood of Scotland. For 3/4 of Scotland’s existence it has had an active statehood. For the past 1/4 it has lain dormant. That changed when Scotland sought to end the treaty. Scotland’s statehood is once again active. The Scots need to unite behind it. There is no point promoting CoR or anything else if Scots fail to grasp the true status of their own country. It is akin to fighting with both hands tied behind your back.
Scotland should have every billboard, national building and monument stating Scotland’s true status. Talks can then concentrate on explaining just what sovereignty actually is along with the rights of states including their right to enter, suspend and unilaterally terminate treaties.
For the most part, I don’t think many actually grasp these aspects. An idiots guide to sovereignty and statehood may seem crude but folk are going to grasp that more than all the economic, border and other nonsense the campaign got bogged down with during the 2014 campaign. As they say, keep it simple.
The problem with the SNP MPs walking out and doing a Sinn Fein is that it would bankrupt the party as its only Westminster short money keeping them afloat . Bought and sold for English gold right enough.
Good show BB from your resident Yoon sitting on a balcony in SW France listening to the bullfrog shouting at each other and the birds getting ready for bed. Bit dissapointed in Neal Hanvey when he bypassed on what is happening in WM. He knows what is happening. Plenty twitter feed tonight on moves afoot in the Nationalist world yet Neal close to say forget it let’s move forward.
He is 100% correct Westminster machinations do nothing for our independence.
There is no revolution without violence, either on the part of the revolutionaries or on the part of the colonial power. One side or the other has to use violence, usually both. It is to be hoped that it is not too prolonged. Who can tell in the modern age, since there hasn’t been a real revolution for a long time. Revolutions are always led by the middle classes (so I’m glad you’re all so ready) but always carried out by the lumpen proletariat (like me, currently with technical connectivity. But who knows how long that will last. There’s something to think about, by the way). I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees, but I’m getting old now and my knees are not much use now. I’m sure you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Greetings from sunny (?) Scotland. Haste ye back; we’ll need you to fill Molotov cocktails.
Hi Neil. About the the Scottish middle class as a revolutionary catalyst: History shows that it is, indeed, the middle class that have hitherto lead national revolutions; if purely for their own interests and ambitions. Their actions, nonetheless, have always, in turn, radicalised the proletariat. One great problem for the Scottish proletariat has been and remains, that we in Scotland have always been saddled with a non-radical, politically underdeveloped middle class and this in turn has, over the years, produced, by European standards, a largely non radical, politically underdeveloped proletariat.This Scottish paradox has always been needfully maintained and encouraged by colonial patronage and self-imposed class rigidity. The SNP, with its apparent popularity amongst the Scottish public, is a striking example of the political legacy left us by our historically underdeveloped and perennially compromised middle class.
According to one report yesterday, Sturgeon has just appointed an Entrepreneurship Czar, with the shortest working week and at highest salary possible—another neo-con, of course. Be disgusted!
Problems solved at last so only now managed to watch your excellent programme, Roddy. And see how it has stirred so many already! Great ideas from all. Can’t wait to enjoy living in our recreated country.
While unable to engage online I read Nigel Tranter’s “The Story of Scotland”. History books can be extremely dull but not this one! It left me wondering how in the world we Scots still have a country to claim, considering the centuries of murder and theft exacted by our English neighbours in their attempt to conquer our people and steal our assets. I knew much of the content of Tranter’s book from student days however his ability to make the endless, sorry story come alive with added (proven) incidents knocked me back on my heels – so your uplifting programme with wise guests followed by these excellent comments have fairly raised my spirits!!
Thank you to all.
You raise a very grim point when you mention violence.
Throughout it subjugation of peoples and lands around the globe the British utilized the most grotesque levels of violence coupled with the bribery of turncoats who would serve them as their colonial masters.
Starvations were also a rather neat trick of the British although in terms of neat tricks befriending Indians, and giving them winter blankets impregnated with anthrax and other such biological agents ranks pretty highly in the neat tricks department.
And beheadings, no British forces would never do that – would they. Well they’re still at it – and the middle eastern – north African forays into places like Iraq and Libya are testimony to that. Subjugation continues. But hey, in Bonnie Scotland, the mother of democracies wouldn’t get involved in murky businesses.
Culloden, the clearances, economic apartheid, the undermining and jailing of nationalist politicians, the death of Willie McRae, a poisoned media, compromised politicians – ah that’ll be some far off land with pickaninnies perchance and certainly not here.
Better Together – you know the story.
The BBC tonight is tonight broadcasting a Panorama expose’ of SAS murder squads operating Afghanistan.
Quite why and for what political reason the state broadcaster has decided to commission and broadcast such a broadcast is a big question. The military are fully aware of such behaviours. It is part of the UK’s strategic military operations. Has been since the days of the first colonies. Indeed, even in the Falkland’s conflict, part of one military operation was to by stealth to enter the barracks of sleeping Argentinians and slit their throats. Completely unnecessary it reinforces the UK military’s ruthlessness to retain a colony.
But again we know the deal. Better Together.
And so the big question is why this broadcast now. What is it intended to influence. For many however it will simply confirm how cold bloodedly murderous our military forces are. For others it will be a cause of great British pride in our ability to deploy lethal force. No doubt other militaries will do the same. Others doing it does not of course justify such action. However, such behaviours sit absolutely opposite to the fairy tail that the UK is the fairest, most honest broker on the planet.
And the point aside of the obvious utter distaste of gratuitous British violence is how the Brits will stop at nothing, absolutely nothing overt or covert, and in all shapes and forms
There was no need to choose distant Afghanistan as a setting, not when the North of Ireland is a thousand times more convenient for travel purposes, and the population speak English. Besides those obvious points, the programme itself is hardly likely to be revelatory. But, indeed, why now, and for whose targeted consumption is it intended? I have my own thoughts on that question.
Hi Roddy as usual a great prism which we have all got used to and celebrate , the standard as always is excellent , unfortunately I disagree with Yvonne Ridley’s proposal that we march from London similar to the Jarrow march and along the way we engage with english people and try to educate them or explain that we don’t hate them but all we are trying to do is return Scotland to an independent country , she also says maybe we could convince them to take a similar view or even a similar direction
Has Yvonne been on a different planet when it comes to english people respecting Scotland or Scots , Scotland has not voted for the tories as government since 1955 or thereabouts , every election WE get what england decides , english people voted EAGERLY for this despicable shower of scum and given all that has happened they would still vote for them again , english people eagerly voted for BREXSHIT no one held a gun to their heads , a brexshit that has forced many people into poverty and will get even worse yet the vast majority refuse to look at the impact it is having on the economy
Even now in TV interviews you have people sticking up for these rabid corrupt thieves like JRM or RAAB or BOZO even although they KNOW that they DESPISE the working classes and will give rich arseholes tax breaks whilst killing working people
So I’m sorry I don’t want to convince or encourage the english people to follow our lead , as far as I’m concerned the working classes in the whole of the UK have suffered because of their self centered stupidity in electing greedy corrupt scum repeatedly
Could you picture the outrage and hostility that would be launched against Scots if we even DARED to suggest they are wrong , Aren’t we outraged and hostile when they are doing the exact same thing to us RIGHT NOW , you will NEVER change their exceptionalism or contempt for people who are not as rich as them