There is absolutely no doubt that the Supreme Court ruling has changed the entire dynamic of Scottish Constitutional politics forever. For the British Unionists and their tame House-Jocks in the North, I fear they have failed to grasp the harm done to themselves by this imperialist decision. There is a certain amount of unionist euphoria pervading throughout social media and in the corrupt media based in Scotland. It is a false dawn for Unionism.
They think that they have at last found the silver bullet that has killed off the Scottish independence movement once and for all! Some truly expect that we will finally get back in our box and leave everything in the hands of the English elite and the House Jock Parties in Scotland. Their push to make the Tories the dominant force in Scottish politics has failed. So the foreign owned media in Scotland thinks they can sell us the English Labour Party pup once more. Wrong!
The talking up of Sir Keir that champion of the workers and underdogs, laughable. Anas Sarwar the Scottish Politician of the Year, for what exactly? The subtle wee hints in the media that suddenly Labour are rehabilitated and back in the game.
All these oft repeated tactics that are doomed to fail. I truly believe that no unionist has ever heard the famous advice of Einstein, “Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results.”SNP Bad, too poor, you cannae dae this, you cannae have that.. This is all they have ever done and with each passing election they lose ground. Rather than reassess their tactics and strategy they just keep full steam ahead. Like an imbecile smashing their head off of the asylum wall it is completely pointless. All they will get is a sore head and a damaged brain.
That is why they will grab onto anything they think will finally slay the independence dragon. They are making that same mistake with this Supreme Court ruling.
I am reminded of a scene in Braveheart right at the end of the movie. (No comments please on the inaccuracies or quality of the film, I am not interested in any of that.) The part where Wallace has been murdered in London and The Bruce is riding out towards the English army. (Yes, I know, total bollocks.)
The narration goes thus, “After the beheading, William Wallace’s body was torn to pieces.His head was placed on top of London Bridge, his arms and legs sent to the four corners of Britain as a warning. It did not have the effect that Longsganks planned.”
So it will be with this court ruling from London. Rather than kill the movement it is energising it. I am already noticing a new belligerence on social media and in conversations with fellow independence supporters. It is also noticeable that a lot of SNP supporters are beginning to voice dissatisfaction at the SNP response to the edict from London.
More and more are starting to call out those SNP MPs that are denying Scotland is viewed and treated as a colony by the Westminster elite and courts. Rather than break the population, the ordinary folk are enraged that their votes in the UK sham democracy are worthless. Many of us already knew that. This judgement has made many tens of thousands more Scots realise we are not in a union of equals, we are in an English political prison!
The Unionists have never been able to properly interpret the Scottish Independence Movement. They are so wrapped up in their own false narrative and sense of superiority to be analytical. They are blinded by their blood and soil nationalism so they are unable to rationally examine the danger their union faces.
Today, in fact any day go through your social media or read the newspapers and see what unionists are saying and have been saying since 1934! ‘You cannot be independent because Scotland is too poor. GERS shows Scotland has a £9 billion deficit. An independent Scotland will have to cut services and raise taxes. What currency will you use, we won’t let you have the £ Sterling? We won’t trade with you. The oil is too volatile to base an economy upon. The oil is running out, so you won’t have any money, and so on and on and on. Now they have raised the stakes. We won’t recognise your votes or your democratic rights! Big mistake!
Every single Unionist argument is based on ££££££. They just don’t get it! Everything to a unionist is about their personal wealth or lack of wealth. The hardcore is opposed because they believe the lies about Scotland being a financial basket case. Those that oppose independence were also the ones that supported Brexit. They chose to believe that the reason their lives were so bad and the wages so low was because of Johnny Foreigner coming over here and stealing their jobs.
For years the corrupt UK media and broadcasters peddled the myth that was why wages were so low in UK. It was why we couldn’t pay a decent pension. It was why the NHS was in trouble all those immigrants stealing free healthcare. The schools were crumbling because of too many immigrants in England. Just stop the flow of immigration, and everything will be utopian they were told. £350,000,000 a week directly into the NHS for a start. Sadly, too many Little Englanders and Little Brits believed the lies of the spivs that have robbed them for centuries.
The theft continues unabated and still the Unionist types cannot see those they keep electing and supporting are the real thieves.The transfer of UK’s national wealth from the public purse to the Panamanian banks never stops!
That is why the Brits will never stop independence. They are fighting the wrong fight on the wrong battleground every day. Compare average unionist to independence supporters. I have never yet heard a single indy voter tell me the reason they support the cause is because they think they will personally be better off financially!
Independinistas talk of democracy, always getting the government we elect, not the one England elects! They want an electoral system and voting that is democratic and proportional. They talk about fairness, equality, eradicating poverty, improving infrastructure for all the nation, not just one part of Scotland. They talk about improving and investing in the NHS not defunding it and selling it off to US health vultures! They reject foreign wars especially for another belligerent nation’s foreign policy.They want rid of Weapons of Mass destruction from Scotland’s soil as well as the rest of the world. They want pensioners to see out their days in dignity not in poverty.
Scots want to exercise soft power, not the hard power that gives succour to Little Englanders/Brits. Hard power involves the ability to use the carrots and sticks of economic and military might to make others follow your will. We witness this every day in Scotland. London controls the purse strings to keep us Scots in line. In previous times as recently as 1919 they have also deployed military might to keep us subdued.
Soft power is the ability to obtain preferred outcomes by attraction, reason, cooperation, understanding and under no circumstances by the barrel of the gun! There is no stick, only carrot and compromise.
So while the unionists direct their fire at economic arguments only, they can never stop our movement. Until they offer a different view for Scotland, eg. A Positive case for the union they are just wasting their time. They will never address the matters that concern us Scots. They have tried for 315 years to assimilate us into Greater England. They have never succeeded, they never will!
Their values are not our values. Their view of the world and other nations and people are not ours. Their love of wars and killing do not appeal to our better side. Scots do not start fights, we finish them!
What happened last week at the Supreme Court like the murder and mutilation of Sir William Wallace will have the exact opposite effect on Scots that the London elite hope for. Because they hold us in such contempt, they have never truly tried to understand us, let alone get to know what triggers us. Telling Scots they cannot do something is likely to get you the exact opposite of what you had hoped for. This ruling will be no different!
Our resolve has been fortified, our disdain for London and its elites increased immeasurably. Our desire to be rid of the union strengthened and indeed has been multiplied tenfold. Instead of putting people off of independence, this action has activated even more Scots to get involved in the fight.
You can never stop the movement. Scottish Independence is assured, all that is left to be decided is, when and how!
Saor Alba gu brath!
Sadly, Roddy, In previous years a refusal such as this would have caused a huge uptake of membership of the SNP. I haven’t heard any trumpets blaring from their membership secretary. Has there been in a surge in Alba membership or for any of the other indy parties? I fear Sturgeon has fulfilled her remit from HQ and killed the dream for a few generations. I hope that I am wrong.
For the ambitious activist, tortured by impatience, time always passes slowly, but what seemed impossible at one point often becomes realizable at another by dint of the law of unintended consequences. Imperialist diktat has no immunity to unintended consequences.
Our liberation won’t come from political parties. The Scottish people need to reclaim their sovereignty. Join Liberation.Scot and be a part of the Scottish National Congress.
It is one part of a thread of ideas and actions it is not in any way a magic bullet.Do not think that or I fear you will be disappointed. Political will and agreement is required whatever we do.
A few generations? NEVER! We are all the more determined now to regain our independence and all that has been taken from us over the last 300+ years. So, cheer up, Wee Chid!
Great article Roddy!
It’s very clear isn’t it, but needs simplified further for the masses, like the slogan on the bus. The messages from this one paragraph need distilled and amplified…One liners, backed up by a short description of each aspiration.
“Independinistas talk of democracy, always getting the government we elect, not the one England elects! They want an electoral system and voting that is democratic and proportional. They talk about fairness, equality, eradicating poverty, improving infrastructure for all the nation, not just one part of Scotland. They talk about improving and investing in the NHS not defunding it and selling it off to US health vultures! They reject foreign wars especially for another belligerent nation’s foreign policy. They want rid of Weapons of Mass destruction from Scotland’s soil as well as the rest of the world. They want pensioners to see out their days in dignity not in poverty.”
No one can dispute the facts. All of these things are denied us because of the union and because we are governed and controlled by a foreign parliament and a political party we rejected. We need to stake our claim and make these aspirations a reality, and if the politicians don’t get on board we should leave without them!
Excellent article…and so true we will never give up the fight for our freedom. 🙏🏴✊️
That reads like a funeral oration! RIP Indy.
I love the ‘as recently as 1919’ (just a century ago…)
As I’ve said, the fantasy of Indy is dead the reality of Indy lives but only if the Indy movement is capable of persuading the people of Scotland that it’s actually a good idea. Not easy given the economic reality of Indy. Time will tell.
Here’s a wee test for you.Name 3 things that can only be achieved by the British Union that cannot be achieved by an independent Scotland,Wales or a united Ireland. Now read this question carefully and let us hear your response. I forecast you cannot answer this simple test of Union.
1) Lots of oil and gas. 2) Huge fishing grounds 3) Huge seabed mineral resources.
There’s your answer Roddy.
Too true!
There are no longer any ‘Unionists’ in Scotland. Those that now say they still support the continuation of the state of the United Kingdom are imperialists.
They are, in fact, British Nationalists.
Fair point!
Independence has never been about money for me, I’m not an economist I’d don’t know if we’d be better off or worse off but I’ve heard nothing to suggest we’d be worse off & frankly I don’t care, for me it’s about national dignity & self respect, trouble is how do you instill self respect in a nation that’s been beaten ,betrayed & lied to for more than 300 years not only by our oppressors but many of our own kin enlisted by them through bribery & coercion to betray us time & time again.
Stu Campbell has today posted a plan whereby we can force a Holyrood election that gives us a better than evens chance of winning & believe is the way forward if Sturgeon doesn’t strike now I fear all be lost once again
https://wingsoverscotland.com/how-you-do-it/comment-page-1/#comment-2715164
Like many I am galvanised to make cooment and hear of support growing for Independence yet not increase inmembership of SNP. Hopefully Alba and ISP will see a membership increase.
Some worrying unionist behaviour though in the alert to Police Scotland Chief Constable by person or persons unknown that violence may break out. No surprise who is being suggested for this type of trouble making.
We need a party to have majority of MPs elected and bring them back to Edinburgh with a declaration of Independence.
Ian, I think Iain Livingston’s Police Scotland statement was all about laying the groundwork to shut down all independence street campaigns.
The absolutely huge AUOB democracy marches cannot be allowed to resume. They are expressions of support that cannot be hidden. Yes the media can under report, say that 100,000 is few thousand, but no one believes it.
And so, fighting the war that the establishment is fighting, by controlling the media, using the Police to pursue, Harry and even jail political opponents, the next stage is to suppress public displays of support and street campaigns.
Rerouting, banning, suppressing all in the name of good order of course. Police Scotland, exactly the same establishment tool.as the old RUC or. the apartheid Police Service of South Africa.
And that is what Chief Constable Livingston’s message told us.
Welcome back to and have ye’s a bonnie St. Andrew’s Day, again, all of Scotland.
Today is Alba’s national day X.
The thing is BB. The Supreme Court did not say we cannot have a referendum. It said we do not have the power to call one. Everybody knew this when the Scottish Parliament was set up. What Scotland needs is someone with the skill Alex Salmond had when he achieved a referendum in 2014. You must negotiate. Personally being Labour since my SOGAT trade union activities ceased I had no problem with the SNP and Salmond. When a referendum was called I gladly joined in campaigning all be it against but with the view that if the country wanted independence and voted for it I accepted that. As we all know Scotland chose one way. I personally see the the SNP as SNP 1 and SNP2. The SNP1 (Salmond) I could listen to. The SNP2 under Sturgeon has turned Scotland into a basket case. Totally divided. With the abuse that comes out of Sturgeons mouth she could not persuade my Black Labrador to take a biscuit. No way is she capable of negotiating a referendum and there is not 1 person down in Westminster capable of the same. They are too comfy. Just look at Wishart and Bardell recently delivering the vote against John Nicholson in WM. Giggling away and bowing their heads where they just about broke their necks. I am afraid its back to the beginning I am afraid BB and its all Sturgeons fault. Robin McAlpine came out with a blog yesterday which is a brilliant read and that is where the SNP need to be. They are miles away. Watching and reading all this I honestly think Sturgeon is sick in the head, I really do. She is incapable of any of the suggestions McAlpine is coming out with in the next few days. Hope I don’t get a yellow card for this. lol.
Yes, Sandy Howden, the SNP at Westminster are pretty good at the bowing.
I even, on watching the video of the SNP walk out when Alba rose to speak, noticed one Allison Thewless MP break into a little curtsy with a deft leg movement too. A wee jig of subservience they’ve certainly adopted the slot of Westminster pet house Jocks. It’s stomach churning.
They are just Westminster lushes. Settled in isn’t even the word.
The problem that I and others see is that a yes vote means something different to what the SNP are now saying it means. I thought that it meant the achievement of independence. Not so says Mhairi Hunter (Nicola’s mate) and more recently Toni Giugliano, the SNP policy convener bloke. In fact for Nicola and the SNP it seems to amount to bugger all. What’s the point of getting home a yes vote with this lot in power when it is for them toothless?
All it gets is them lot in again for another few years (nice work if you can get it) and a wall for us to bang our heads against.
Good people are spending a lot of time and energy on the cause – for what?
Excellent Roddy, so, so true