For the Undecided

"I have been looking at both views on Independence and have asked myself how we got here. The simple answer is that the SNP have an overall majority in the Scottish government and in their manifesto they promised a vote for Independence. A deeper question is why did the SNP manage to gain a landslide victory and half way into their second term remain by far the most popular party in Scotland.

The Scottish people have always been a left of centre nation politically. In a relatively short time in power the SNP Government have protected what is important to the majority of the people of this country. Free care for the elderly, university tuition, free eye tests and prescriptions and a freeze on council tax. They have, with a limited budget attempted to mitigate the worst of the austerity measures like the bedroom tax. They are opposed to the privatization of the Scottish NHS & Postal service. These are the policies that the majority of the Scottish people believe in, not just the 30% or so hard core Scottish Nationalists.

The Scottish people have witnessed successive UK governments move further to the right to appease the voters of Middle England. These parties tell the RUK electorate that these policies cost too much, but we in Scotland have them, and have, through decisions taken by the Scottish Government and for the Scottish people, managed to maintain them. This has been achieved without full fiscal control of Scotland’s financial contribution to the exchequer and within the budget allocated through the Barnet formula. 

Scottish people fear that the progress achieved will be unravelled by continued austerity and by right wing governments that we did not vote for.

This referendum we have two options on the ballot. Should Scotland be an independent Country; YES or NO.?
A frightening proposition for many and one that could have been avoided. Herein, lies the true paradox and the greatest lie presented by Better Together. All Unionist parties appeal to you to “Remain in the UK, as equal partners and continue with a union that has served us well for 300 years”. THEY, not the Scottish Nationalists had the power to deliver exactly this but failed.

Had DEVO MAX been offered on the ballot then I believe that this would have been an easy choice for the majority of the
Scottish electorate. Equal Nations, with full fiscal control over their financial resources and a shared policy on both Defence and Foreign affairs. Our finances, controlled by a Scottish Government to preserve Scottish services and promote the values that we hold most dear. A United Kingdom of equals, left to pursue their particular National values and aspirations as pertinent to them but still within the union. 

Unfortunately, for many, this option was not offered. From what began as an SNP promise with limited appeal has grown into the YES campaign. This campaign is not about the SNP, but has become a growing movement that has appeal across all sections of Scottish society. Comprising of people who wish to protect what has already been achieved by the Scottish Government and to build a society based on the needs of the vast majority of the peoples of this country. Westminster had a chance to provide the option that the majority of Scots would have accepted. They have offered nothing new and have gambled on a NO vote to preserve their power base in this unequal relationship. If, as David Cameron has stated, he would fight tooth and nail to preserve the Union then why has he not acceded to the wishes of the majority of Scots? 

This is about so much more than British or Scottish Nationalism. We have moved on. Devo Max is NOT on offer. You have to take a side. With a YES vote you have a chance to enshrine the values of the majority of the Scottish people into a written constitution. Whatever Scottish political party may be in power at any future date will be bound by this constitution, your constitution. A constitution that the majority of the peoples of Scotland voted for.

Alternatively, you have to accept that if you vote NO that the UK government does not consider Scotland an equal partner, only as a region of the UK. They have already proved this by their actions to date. Westminster, at the stroke of a pen can undue all of the good work accomplished by the Scottish government. Your aspirations, your values, what you believe in can be undone overnight against the will of the majority of the people of Scotland. Is this democracy? Is it acceptable to you that you are perceived not as a country but as a subject of a region of the UK?

Ask yourself what are the things that you hold most dear. Then ask yourself what is the best way to protect what this is. This is what you are voting for. 

I am confident that come September 18th that your vote will be YES."


This comment was made by Garry Burgess on a Facebook Group I am a member of. For me, it encapsulates so eloquently the whole Independence debate so far. If you are undecided, or even a No voter, please take a moment to read it. I am sorry about the font size, but I can't work out how to enlarge it and make it readable. xx