SNP Provan - Its not what you know or what your experience is - it is who you know or who you have been employed by

There now follows a party political broadcast on behalf of SNP Glasgow Provan...

#SortOutProvan

#EU60

60 years ago this Saturday the Treaty of Rome was signed meaning the European Union is 60 years old this weekend.

For the last 60 years, European nations have worked together to create our continent’s longest ever period of peace, freedom, stability and prosperity. The UK is also the only country to have turned down its invitation to the special events to celebrate this momentous anniversary and will therefore not be represented.

On Sunday our clocks go forward an hour as it is spring. On the day Article 50 is triggered by the UK Government to leave the European Union the clocks will go back 60 years.

Scotland voted to Remain in the EU in June 2016. I believe we did this because it makes us safer, our country wealthier through access to the EU single market of more than 500 million people, it makes our country fairer with EU directives that have provided us with the fundamental right not to be discriminated against, as well as the right to be paid holidays, parental leave other benefits and very importantly the reconvened Scottish Parliament. It has also protected us from the worst excesses of Tory Governments in Westminster. We also have the EU to thank for funding for projects across Scotland – for example the University of Saint Andrews receives a quarter of its funding from the EU, and as a result of free movement is able to attract talent from across the Union.

At this time Scotland faces being removed from our European family against out clearly expressed democratic will, without even a token gesture to indicate that our country’s collective opinion has counted for anything. Can the UK therefore be credibly considered a state made up of 4 equal nations when 2 of those nations are being effectively ignored? The future of Scotland should not be imposed upon us. It should be the choice of the people of Scotland.

After all in Scotland sovereignty lies with the people, a fundamentally different concept to that in England and Wales where sovereignty lies in parliament. This is why for example Mary was Queen of Scots and not Scotland, whilst Queen Elizabeth the 1^st was the Queen of England.

Alyn Smith, SNP MEP states “Make no mistake, Europe is interested in Scotland. We are a good news story for Europe, and our First Minister really made our European neighbours take notice when she used her first speech after the UK wide Brexit result to reassure EU nationals living in Scotland: ‘This is your home: you remain welcome here and your contribution is valued’”.

He also says “It’s time for Scotland to roll up its sleeves and make its own moves on the global stage. Last week, I addressed the European Parliament, President Tusk and President Juncker and told them that, just as the EU will not be intimidated by threats from the London government, neither will Scotland. It is only right that our national parliament in Edinburgh debate, and decide, on Scotland’s interests. What self respecting parliament or government would not? We will not be bystanders as the Tories steer the ship towards the rocks.”

This is why the Scottish Government is seeking a mandate to ask the UK Government to hold a further independence referendum as a means to allow the Scottish people the right to choose their future in very different times from only 2 and half years ago. This looks very likely to be granted as the Scottish Greens are in favour and will be able to carry the vote with the SNP who had a very clear mandate for it their manifesto….

‘The Scottish Parliament should have the right to hold another independence referendum if there is a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014 such as Scotland being taken out of the European Union against our will’.

That manifesto commitment combined with the result of the Scottish election in 2016 which returned a pro-independence majority, and then the outcome of the EU referendum gives the Scottish Government an unquestionable democratic mandate for an independence referendum.

The UK Government’s reaction has been to state categorically that ‘Now is not the time’. The Scottish Government agrees with this as it never wanted a referendum before the terms of the UK’s exit are agreed.

The sensible time to have a referendum will be when agreement (or not) has been reached with the EU as to the terms of separation but before the UK actually leaves the EU. This would allow the Scottish people to make an informed choice between these 2 futures, both of which involve change. The referendum could be held while the other parliaments in the other EU countries are ratifying the agreement. This window of time corresponds exactly to that stated by the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Another reason for the timing of the independence referendum before Brexit is to allow EU nationals who did not have the opportunity to vote in the EU referendum a vote. It is important that they should, as in the last independence referendum, have the right to vote on something that will affect them more than most other sections of the community. Thanks to the Brexit vote this group of people feel less welcome and some have started to leave all ready. Scotland needs EU migration to reduce the impact of the impending demographic time bomb caused by an ageing population and shrinking tax base. Without them Scotland may not be able to preserve many of the essential services that it presently provides for its population as it will not have the money. Presently however the UK Government is in charge of immigration and looks set on Brexit to make it much more difficult for people from the EU to come and work here. This I believe is one of the most fundamental problems with Brexit. It will compound problems that all ready exist.

Scotland’s people should have the right to decide their future. We cannot avoid change, but we can choose the change we want.

I wish Nicola Sturgeon would stop using Project Fear in her pursuit of Scotland staying within the EU whilst it is in the UK. There are plenty of positive things about being in the EU which she could use instead.

She could use many things like the following...

• Europe has been scarred by wars for centuries. With the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community, and its subsequent development into the European Economic Community, the European Community and then the European Union wars between the member states have ceased. The EU therefore helps keep the peace amongst the countries in Europe as it means as a member we are constantly in touch with other countries and working together to find solutions to pan European problems. 
• Is it not better for the UK to remain in Europe and continue playing a part in the European club than turning in on itself?
• In my opinion it is essential for there to some degree of pan European Government which deals with issues affecting the whole continent. Will leaving help this European Government which in its present incarnation is the EU do its work? The answer has to be a big fat NO.
• In a world dominated by multinational companies who want to produce things the cheapest way possible does it not make it essential to have a larger Governmental body to fight Europe's cause and stop a race to the bottom as far as wages, employment rights, health and safety at work, human rights go. The answer has to be YES. And is not better if we are a member of this organisation. The answer again has to be YES.
• I could go on.....but won't for brevity.

As an ex Yes Scotland campaigner who continues to fight for Scottish independence Nicola Sturgeon's use of this Project Fear tactic is at best an embarassment.

During the Scottish Independence campaign the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon quite rightly complained bitterly about these same tactics being used by the Better Together campaign on London's and David Cameron's instruction. These tactics amounted to largely unfounded scaremongering stories designed to make the electorate scared of Scottish independence.

One of the more light hearted attempts to fight Project Fear during the Scottish indyref

Now in the ITV European Union Referendum Debate on Thursday 9th June 2016 on ITV, STV and UTV she was quite happy to appear on the same platform with a representative of the Labour Party and the Conservative Party using this same Project Fear technique, this time against leaving the EU rather than the UK. This was even more embarassing given that she and other representatives of the SNP in this debate had even complained of the use of this technique during the earlier part of the Remain in EU campaign.

In my opinion Scotland's relationship with the UK is considerably more toxic than the one between the UK and the EU.

• This is because the EU is a voluntary club of countries who have agreed to share sovereignty to try to solve the European continents problems. The UK is cobbled together country which is dominated by one country i.e. England, and all sovereignty is retained in England and the Uks capital and its parliament in London. 
• The EU also does not demand that one of its constituent countries holds nuclear weapons on its behalf against the wishes of its devolved parliament and the majority of its people when they are considered too unsafe to be held in the one closest to its main parliament. 
• The EU does not like the UK does with Scotland lie and cheat to hide the size of its wealth in order to balance its books which the UK has done with Scotland since oil was discovered in the North Sea in the 1970s. The EU has no form on conning one its countries out of realising the value of its own natural resources. Please see this https://youtu.be/uzW63Qa18t8
• I could go on but I won't for brevity.

Has Nicola learned nothing from Labour's demise in Scotland since they shared the same platform with the Conservatives during the Scottish Independence Referendum or #indyref?

Will this damage her and the SNP like Labour during the indyref?

I am pleased to say I don't think will damage the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon as much as doing the same thing did for Labour and the Scottish indyref, simply because the EU referendum is not as important to Scots as the Scottish one, and the campaign is much shorter. Only time will tell as to how much damage this has actually done and how it will help or adversely affect the cause of Scottish independence.

After all, whether campaigners for Scottish independence like it or not, the cause of self determination for Scotland is at least currently caught up very closely with how well or badly the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon does.

She may be 'telling it as it is' which is what Humza Yousaf's opinion on the matter (was on Wednesday 15th June 2016 on facebook), and the Leave campaign may very well be an attempt at a right wing coup in the United Kingdom - see the following newspaper story from the Herald on Wednesday 15th June 2016. Nicola Sturgeon says Leave campaign is an attempted right wing coup . But that really doesn't explain why she is not talking up the positive of staying in the European Union at least equally.

I am at a loss as to why Nicola Sturgeon has decided to do this. Perhaps someone can enlighten me as I think it an extraordinarily dangerous move to make.

What Business for Scotland say about the effect of Brexit on Scotland.

A Scottish Political Fable continues : Animal Farm 2 - Its not what you know, but who you know.

This post follows from my previous one on the same subject which can be accessed using this link...
 http://thefreescott.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/a-scottish-political-fable-animal-farm.html

The story continues in my ex political party branch. I do wish I had never joined this party, or at least this branch, as it has made my opinion of politicians even lower than they were ever before.

Fred, the one filled with bile and hatred for anyone who says something which he doesn't like, who I mentioned in my previous post is a good friend of the Branch Leader who also happens to be the MP. Therefore Fred has considerable support for high quarters for his antics which have in effect ruined the branch. So many activists have now resigned and left that I can't count them. Some who have not yet left are actively considering this. And I can't say I am surprised.

The person I called Seamus has now resigned his position on the branch committee. Having been hounded and bullied for a facebook thread which was far more innocent than many that were doing the accusing had written themselves. He in my opinion was the best head this branch never had and will never get the chance to have now ever again.

Fred's cohort Arthur who was far more vitriolic at the meeting in question, has been promoted and now works for the MP/ Branch Leader and also the new MSP. This is his reward for being a thug, a bully and a yes man. He has no experience or qualifications for these posts apart from being a good friend of the MP/ Branch Leader.

Had the minutes of the meeting where the bullying actually took place actually reflected what occured it would have been impossible for Arthur to get these positions. Indeed in my opinion Seamus could have made it a police matter as if it had happened in a public place outside in full view there is no way they would have not been involved.

Arthur all ready had a job. Therefore both the MP/ Branch Leader, and the MSP (no doubt on the MPs instruction) have placed Arthur in jobs which could be more effectively done by another far more qualified person with relevant experience on the basis of his friendship with the MP/ Branch Leader.

This is called cronyism or nepotism. The definition of these terms is below.

'the practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.'

This also means fully qualified people who are currently unemployed in the branch area who would better at the jobs that Arthur is now being paid for have not had the chance to even apply for them.

I am disgusted and enraged, but can do nothing but take my bile and anger out in this blog.

It is pointless saying anything at meetings even if I now went to them, as the minutes reflect what the Branch Leader/ MP wants them to reflect and not what actually happens. Therefore I shall save my breath.

Supplied by a contributor who wishes to remain anonymous. I have no idea which party or which branch is talked about in this post. In Scotland however if there is an MP involved the party involved is unlikely to be only 1, and the contributor is aware that this page is for those that believe in Scottish Independence.

Unite to fight for Scottish Independence

I do wish the Yes movement would stop bickering over what the best tactical pro-indy vote would have been in a system in which tactical voting is practically impossible. I have heard many folk in the pro-independence movement becoming really annoyed and disheartened by blaming people for voting a particular way or other. It is over and we could talk ad-infinitum over the SNP's #bothVotesSNP being a good idea or not, or some people splitting their vote between the Greens and the SNP.

The ballots have been cast in the Scottish Parliamentary elections for another 5 years, the polling stations long closed and the results are in, squabbling over could haves and should haves can serve no purpose than divide a movement that must be united if we are to move our cause forward.

There is majority for independence in parliament it is our task now to ensure there is a clear and consistent public support for independence. 

There is also the advantage to having the Tories as the main opposition. Nicola Sturgeon as newly elected First Minister can now put Ruth Davidson on the rack over what the Conservatives are doing in London and how this is adversely affecting Scotland and its people. Thinking about it this should be very easy!

Also should this dynamic persist as looks very likely, when the Scottish Independence Referendum comes around it should be much easier to argue that the only way to a more socially just Scotland lies in the path to independence. Do you want A Tory Government for Westminster to decide on what is best for Scotland or do you want Scotland to decide what happens? I know which one I want. 

Before the Scottish #indyref in September 2014. My head said YES but my heart largely said NO.

I am very impressed by the standard of debate on the subject of the Scottish independence referendum amongst the ordinary people of Glasgow and around Scotland. That is the whole point of this exercise i.e. to involve the people of Scotland in the running of their own country and where they want it to go in the future.

It is very clear of the significant amount of information is mentioned for a positive Yes vote, but there seems to be no positive vision of a No vote as there are no valid reasons are mentioned above.

If I was taking this debate alone I would vote YES because I believe that there is a far greater deal of certainty with a NO vote i.e. that things will get worse as they have been doing in the UK for the last goodness knows how many years.

To take one example from yesterday the privatisation of the Royal Mail which all the polls show the public do not want and would not be happening in Scotland if the Scottish Govt actually had control over it.

To mention something from above about workers rights being compromised in an independent Scotland, has this not all ready happened and is continuing to happen in the UK (or have I been living on another planet for the last 30 years?).

At least with a YES vote Scotland might actually get the Government it actually votes for that has control over all its own affairs. To take two recent examples...

1. Of Scotlands own MPs 11 voted for the cuts in benefits whilst 46 voted against. It is being imposed nonetheless.

2. Of Scotlands own MPs that you voted for, 4 voted for the bedroom tax, 41 against. It is being imposed nonetheless.

Interestingly 52% of small to medium sized businesses polled were in favour of independence too.

I don't want the certainty of being on a slowly sinking ship no matter what Scotland votes for. I want to be on a ship (or an independent Scotland) when we might actually have a chance of influencing the steering unlike the status quo. Although the Scottish Parliament has helped in some ways it has also emphasized what powers it does not have.

For example would the Scottish Government position a nuclear deterent, if it decided to have one, around 30 miles from the country’s largest city? I think not.

I continue to look forward to receiving a positive reason to vote NO. My heart largely says NO as it still wants to believe in a vision of all the peoples of the UK working together for a better future, but that is not based on fact or the experience of the last 30 years, and also my study of history before that.

My head says YES. All the facts, figures, evidence, etc. point that way.

I will however decide for sure nearer the time although I definitely know which way I’m leaning.