I
have to admit it, I’m excited. We’re not just living in interesting times: we’re making
interesting times, but even more, we’re making history.
Last week (March 29th 2017) we had the triggering of Article 50, and the Scottish
Parliament’s vote for a 2nd independence referendum, (28th
March 2017) not now, not today, but when
the time is right for Scotland, this is history in the making. That the UK PM
should visit Scotland, last month March, not meet in Bute House, not hold a
press conference, far less a joint press conference, nor issue a formal, agreed
communique, smacks not just of disrespect, but has a whiff of being ‘feart’!
This PM, unelected, with a small majority in Westminster, is currently
presiding over a constitutional crisis that might be deemed ‘unprecedented’. NI
potentially returning to direct rule, not voted for by the electorate in the
recent elections there; Wales beginning to flex its political muscles, and with
a failure to discuss and negotiate with Holyrood, we clearly see a government
in disarray. And that’s before we consider their (lack of) preparedness to
actually conduct Brexit negotiations.
Oh,
did I forget the wee matter of war with Spain.
So, what did the PM’s visit achieve when she
shuffled into Scotland and left, rather hurriedly? Virtually nothing, except
perhaps a kick in the teeth for Northern Ireland . She felt it was sufficient to leave NI out on the periphery, being dealt
with by her MP, Brokenshire, (Broken? Aye, probably a foretaste for rUK) but
not sufficiently important for her to go there, to demonstrate a caring belief
in the future of NI and its ability to manage its own affairs from Stormont.
At
least though, NI has been spared another glib phrase, such as ‘now is not the
time’.
The PM has no rationale for continuing to state the
obvious. We know now is not the time:
that’s why our FM Nicola Sturgeon laid out a time table that follows the
rationale of 18 and 6 months. Rationale and pragmatism in action. From my
memory of 2014, one accusation thrown at pro inde people was the romantic view
we were adopting with regard some mythical, utopian rosy future, lacking
resources and sustainability. So I must ask, how more pragmatic do we need to
be, as we witness the failure of the PM to halt the slide into inward looking
protectionism, obviously centred on London and the Tory shires Actually, it’s
not a failure on the part of the Tory govt; it’s their aim and objective:
survival at any cost, and at the cost of others, including ours.
The
vote in the Scottish Parliament 28 March 2017 is our history in the making, Either
we make it work this time, or we slide into the abyss of Tory mis-rule for
years to come, and the almost certain diminishing of devolved powers hard won. I
know what I would want to see.
But as the plates shift on the island of Ireland,
and with the Spanish Foreign Minister
Alfonso Dastis, showing movement, we hear the same negativity from
unionists here. ‘She should be doing the day job’ Well,
The
FM has been in the USA with news of a climate change agreement with the Governor of
California and a £6.3 million deal for jobs here on the first day of her visit
Please
note: This is the day job!
So with the May
elections looming, will unionists really band together with tactical voting in
certain constituencies and local authorities?
Is the visceral hatred
(or fear?) of the word ‘independence’ such that (some, nay many) Labour voters
will hold their collective nose and vote Tory just to keep the SNP out?
Why do (some) Labour voters
ut Tory ideology before the socialism that Labour espoused for so long?
Since I can’t answer any
of that, the least I can do is welcome the revitalisation of
Labour for Independence
and others such as
Pensioners for
Independence and these are pensioners from all political party persuasions and
none.
No matter differences along the way, surely the time
to debate the particulars of political parties and their policies should be an
independent Scotland.
We all appear to want to fight austerity, and protect
workers’ rights.
We all appear to agree that a hard Brexit will be
detrimental to future prosperity.
We all realise that the future could be so much
better and the best way to achieve that is if we decide our future, and not have it
decided for us by others.
There is a role for Labour in Scotland but in the
future and in an independent Scotland.
Labour,
it’s just not now.
Now
is not the time for Labour in Scotland
so
please
look to Labour for Independence
Labour
for Independence
Article
50 https://www.planforbritain.gov.uk/news/prime-ministers-letter-donald-tusk-triggering-article-50/
Scottish
Government votes for 2nd referendum
Scottish Pensioners for Independence https://www.facebook.com/PensionersforYes/
