I was not minded to repeat this blog – but then I read a tweet from Joanna Cherry that hit the nail on the head. We must resurrect Yes Scotland – and my bit – get it right this time.
From the outset, I believe the SNP in the Scottish Parliament have done a fantastic job; often against the odds. The Scottish people {and by this I mean all people resident in Scotland and many overseas} have never been better represented than the current term of the SNP led Scottish Government.
The SNP Westminster Team, in a very short space of time, have journeyed from raw individuals to seasoned Parliamentarians who command the respect of the whole house. Even their rivals who jeer, shout them down, ghost and taunt them behave as such because they respect them or fear them or probably both.
I am not going into the details of where we are now or how we got here. We all know that or at least should. I want to look forward to the future that is not just possible. With the right approach it is probably and inevitable.
A watershed moment for me was a tweet from Joanna Cherry QC, one of our most prominent stars in Westminster. Joanna suggested we need to appoint a Referendum or Independence champion. I know that Angus Robertson founded [Progress Scotland] to research the case presented in 2014 and consider an appropriate strategy going forward. I am generally in agreement with Angus’s remit. However, I want to chuck in my three halfpence worth.
As a lifelong Scottish Independence supporter, albeit a European by birth and 25 years City of Londoner by work and a Clydesider by passion; I returned to Scotland a couple of years ahead of the Referendum to campaign, knock on door and even appeared on Japanese TV and Catalonia TV.
My observations of the campaign were incredibly positive. The spirit was totally harmonious, we were a family, a community and we actually felt we would win.
However, I had reservations, serious reservation that have stayed with me. Joanna’s tweet brought it all rushing back as we are about to embark on IndyRef2.
Profile [Blair Jenkins] was the Chief Executive of Yes Scotland. I spoke to him very briefly on a couple of occasions at presentations. He came across as a thoroughly decent, honest and very capable guy. That said I was moved to produce quite a scathing blog in Feb 2014 [Blair Jenkins] This was not a criticism of Blair, rather an expression of what was going wrong. I produced many blogs along the way at www.bigHvan.com . Following the narrow defeat in the Referendum I did an autopsy blog. I won’t go into that. I am sure that Angus probably picked up all these points and many more.
I would like to pick out and develop a coupe of points. Firstly though, I would like to clarify what is meant by a referendum as opposed to an election to clarify some very mis-used terms:
REFERENDUM
From the Latin ‘thing to bring back‘ the root is REFER. The Cambridge Dictionary defines it clearly [referendum]. It is an Opinion, a view on a number of opinions, a choice or a preference. What it is NOT is a legally binding decision. The House of Lords is a Revising Chamber. Matters are sent to them. They debate and return to the Government who choice to agree in part or whole or disagree then put their decision into Law as necessary. In a nutshell, A REFERENDUM IS ALWAYS ADVISORY; it has nothing to do with democracy until it is acted upon by a democratically elected Parliament.
ELECTION
I repeatedly criticise the British version of electoral democracy which differs from many other countries. However, it is what it is, for now. An election is a legal DECISION based on POLITICS made by the people who choose candidates or their Party, who in the majority form a Government for a term. A Terms is supposed to be 5 years these. The various Parties produce a manifesto of proposals and their candidates present and explain the details to their constituents. At the end of a term in office the Members return to their constituents and explain their performance in office and re-seek their vote in The General Election. The key word was ‘Decision‘. This is a legally binding instruction to Parliament that will make their pronouncement on the Count and the Voting Arithmetic.
I hope it is clear there is a fundamental difference between a REFERENDUM and an ELECTION. This is an opinion versus and instruction or decision.
Let me labour this point just a little more. In a Referendum the people are being asked what they Feel, what is their opinion, what is their view. There will be background of course. People will express their views but in the end every single person has to decide what they Feel.
In an Election, many promises are made about what candidates or their parties COMMIT TO DO. The people have to make a binding decision based on whether the candidate is to be believed and whether this is something they want. Ultimately they will be judged on how well they have performed.
TRANSLATING THE DIFFERENCE
Whether we call the Indy Referendum about Independence, Self Determination of Sovereignty the GREAT CON is to associate this with politics. In the main, an independent country is a stable entity. OK sometimes they change names or borders or allegiance but they exist on a continuum. This is what the people of a country (in theory) want. Politics is very different. The people of a country elect politicians for a period of time to carry out their wishes to protect, develop and enrich their country. This is done in cycles or terms. We continue or ramp up the stuff that works and change the stuff that does not.
THE PROBLEM
The Scottish Referendum of 2014 purported to be a Referendum but instead behaved like an election.
Mistake 1: Publishing the White Paper felt really good. A proud moment. It was sheer folly. Better Together DID NOT publish their counter argument. The recruited their best Spin Doctors, Liars and Media lackeys to go through The White Paper and rip it apart, line by line. Scotland was humiliated. We appeared incompetent.
The SNP secured the Referendum. That was amazing. The should have done the pitch for an Independent Country in broad, vague easily digestible snap shots. For example, we will review the entire political structure and unsure it works for all. We will consider the best use of our assets. We will consider the health and welfare of our nation and put robust structures in place to deliver on on promise. Will will adopt a policy of continues improvement in all we do to continue to grow as a nation and with our partners and neighbours. Really, that simple. After their pitch, they step back completely out of the picture leaving this for the people to give their view.
Now, Better Together can consider the SNP pitch. They can refute aspects of the pitch-which would almost certainly make them look either stupid or trivial. When they throw that back at the SNP I can tell you right here, right now what the answer would be to every single question.
WE HAVE STEPPED BACK NOW. WE HAVE DONE OUR PITCH. IT IS NOW UP TO THE PEOPLE. CAN I SUGGEST YOU GET YOUR PITCH IN OR WE WILL BE PUSHING AGAINST AN OPEN DOOR.
AND FINALLY
Mistake 2: The SNP did not back away. They stood their ground and, I believe, this cost us the referendum. Had we won, and I believe we should have, the SNP would have come back and continued the job they were doing and beginning to implement the NEW VISION. In not backing away, the principal political characters such as Alex Salmon and Nicola Sturgeon totally eclipsed the man charged to deliver a positive outcome, Blair Jenkins. I must apologise to Blair, because in hindsight he became the victim of SNP over enthusiasm, over confidence and shortsightedness.
IN CONCLUSION
87% of YES voters in 2014 were not SNP. This speaks to the assertion that Independence is not political. The great divide in Scotland between Independence and Union supporters includes many divided across political boundaries. Just as you will not get a Tory over to Labour or vice versa, if you tackle this as a political question you will not succeed. We must have a different strategy. We must sell to everybody and especially those with a different or no vision, we must sell them an inclusive vision for a Scotland where they enjoy the same benefits and freedoms as everyone else. But beware, if you try to sell a Party’s vision, you must remember their vision is first and foremost to get re-elected.