logo
Scottish independence convention would bring 'energy' back to movement that's become 'too abstract'

Scottish independence convention would bring 'energy' back to movement that's become 'too abstract'

Daily Record21-04-2025

Ash Regan warned that for many Scots the idea of ending the Union was "drifting into an abstract concept".
A summit on how to make Scottish independence a reality would help inject "energy" back into the campaign, an Alba MSP has said.
Ash Regan warned that for many Scots the idea of ending the Union was "drifting into an abstract concept".

John Swinney last week insisted "the time is right" for independence despite fears of a global recession sparked by Donald Trump's trade war.
It comes as the First Minister will this week host a summit of political and civic leaders to discuss how to "lock-out" the far-right from Scottish politics.
The event is a reaction to the rise in support for Reform across the UK, with polls suggesting Nigel Farage's party will make a substantial breakthrough at next year's Holyrood election.
But Regan, who will attend the summit, said voters should be inspired by independence as an alternative to the UK's economic woes.
She also took a swipe at the Scottish Conservatives for choosing to boycott the event.
The Alba MSP said: "We are close to only one year out from the Scottish elections, but for too many independence is drifting into an abstract concept.

"I will be attending the First Minister's summit on Wednesday - as unlike the Tories I think it's important to be in the room, instead of harping on about grievances outside the room.
"However, it isn't a summit aimed at locking Reform out of Scottish politics that we need. It is time for the Scottish Government, and Holyrood, to seize the political initiative on independence.
"An independence convention should be called this summer. It would bring energy back to the movement and allow for the constitutional imperative of independence to be reconnected to the economic necessity of delivering it as an immediate priority.

"With independence we would have control over our own resources to address people's concerns about the lack of investment in public services and the lack of support with their cost of living.
"Importantly, with independence we would have control over our own borders and immigration. That means that we would have an immigration system that suits the needs of Scotland and not a one size fits all model imposed upon us by London.
"The Scottish Government must signal that they are serious about taking Scotland forward to independence and bringing together representatives of civic society and Scotland's parliamentarians for a summit on independence is the way to show intent."

An SNP spokesman said: "The SNP is the party of independence.
"We are focussed on delivering for people across the country and making the case for taking decisions in Scotland for Scotland with independence."
Russell Findlay, the Scots Tory leader, last week said he would not attend an "anti-right wing" summit being held by the First Minister.
He claimed the event was "not required" and accused John Swinney of using the meeting to "deflect from the SNP's dismal record".

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

SNP warned not to ‘squander' £9.1bn boost after Chancellor Rachel Reeves unleashed £300bn UK-wide splurge
SNP warned not to ‘squander' £9.1bn boost after Chancellor Rachel Reeves unleashed £300bn UK-wide splurge

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

SNP warned not to ‘squander' £9.1bn boost after Chancellor Rachel Reeves unleashed £300bn UK-wide splurge

LABOUR challenged the SNP not to 'squander' a £9.1billion boost to Holyrood's coffers after the Chancellor turned on the taps at her spending review. Rachel Reeves unveiled a £300billion UK-wide splurge in a bid to appease voters after her party's rocky first year in power. 2 Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar labelled the extra money as 'game-changing' 2 Finance Secretary Shona Robison claimed that if Ms Reeves was being fair, she'd have sent an extra £1bn a year to Holyrood Announcing her long-term spending plans for the years from 2026, she confirmed major investment in defence and nuclear power plus a three per cent above-inflation increase to NHS spending down south. Ms Reeves admitted 'too many people in too many parts of our country' were yet to feel the benefits of the 'change' they voted for when Labour swept back into power last July. The knock-on effect of the Chancellor's funding pledges means a massive cash boost for the Scottish Government to spend as it sees fit. Nats ministers will get an average annual boost of £2.4billion on day-to-day spending and £400million for major projects in the years to 2029. That's on top of the £4billion-plus yearly bonus delivered last October from the first Budget of Sir Keir Starmer's government. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar labelled the extra money as 'game-changing'. He said: 'These plans will bring billions of pounds of investment to Scotland — on top of the record Budget settlement. 'But the massive increase in funds must not be squandered by the SNP government, which has a track record of waste and failure.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said voters would face a clear choice at next May's Holyrood election. He said: 'It's either a third decade of the SNP, who've squandered their opportunity over the last 18 years and squandered the £4.9billion extra the UK Government gave earlier. Top 5 takeaways from Spending review 'Or a government that's committed to investing in public services and infrastructure, renewing Scotland and working with a UK Labour government to deliver jobs right across the country.' But experts warned the extra cash could be swallowed by Scottish Government pledges such as pay hikes for public sector workers and higher devolved benefits. FUEL AID HOPE NATS' Finance Secretary indicated the SNP might dish out more cash to pensioners after Labour's winter fuel payment U-turn. But Shona Robison refused to commit to passing on all of an estimated extra £120million from Westminster to struggling Scots OAPs. Labour has now said older people down south with an income below £35,000 will receive the handouts, following an outcry when they were axed. Experts reckon the extra funds now due to Holyrood will be enough to cover £100 payments Nats have already pledged to pensioners. Asked if the payments could be increased, Ms Robison said: 'There's other things we need to fund as well which is why we're looking at the options. We'll deliver the best deal for pensioners.' Nats ministers are already set to spend £2billion more on welfare by the end of the decade than they receive from Westminster. But SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison claimed that if Ms Reeves was being fair, she'd have sent an extra £1billion a year to Holyrood. She said: 'This review is business as usual from the UK Government, which is yet again treating Scotland as an afterthought and failing to provide the funding we need. 'Had our resource funding for day-to-day priorities grown in line with the UK Government's overall spending, we'd have £1.1billion more to spend on our priorities over the next three years. In effect, Scotland has been short-changed by more than a billion pounds.' But despite the extra cash, an expert warned SNP policy decisions mean tax rises or spending cuts may be needed to balance Scotland's books by 2027/28. David Phillips, associate director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the winner of next year's election 'will face tough choices' due to increased NHS, benefits, and public sector pay costs. Earlier, Ms Reeves told the Commons her plans were the start of Labour's project to 'renew Britain'. She vowed to back the Acorn carbon capture project in Aberdeenshire. But official documents raised questions about how the scheme, to store gas emissions under the North Sea, would be funded. NUCLEAR SWIPE AT FM & CO RACHEL Reeves slammed the SNP's opposition to arms factories and nuclear power as she confirmed defence spending hikes. The Chancellor announced an £11billion boost for the armed forces plus a £600million increase for security and intelligence agencies. She also confirmed a £250million redevelopment of the Faslane base on the Clyde, where new nuclear submarines will be stationed. It means defence spending will be upped to 2.6 per cent of GDP by April 2027. Ms Reeves blasted Nats' opposition to nuclear weapons and munitions. She said: 'Investment in Scotland, jobs in Scotland, defence for the United Kingdom, opposed by the Scottish National Party, delivered by this Labour Government.' Sir Keir Starmer previously set out the UK Government's Strategic Defence Review in a speech in Glasgow last week. Nats and Labour clashed as the No10 chief claimed Nats' goal of scrapping Trident nuclear missiles would make Scotland less safe. Sir Keir said: 'Imagine the effect that would have on the safety and security of the UK and of Scotland.' They concluded: 'A final investment decision will be taken later.' Scottish Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy warned UK taxes will probably have to rise at the Budget this autumn. He said: 'This spend-now-tax-later statement will offer no comfort to those betrayed by the first year of a disastrous Labour Government. 'Taxes remain sky-high and the Chancellor will almost certainly have to hike them further to pay for her spending plans, breaking yet another of her promises.' Mr Hoy added: 'Scots are saddled with two failing, high-tax, left-wing governments — one at Westminster and the other at Holyrood.'

When Reeves hikes our taxes to fund spending splurge we won't be thanking her – it's a high-stakes bid take on Farage
When Reeves hikes our taxes to fund spending splurge we won't be thanking her – it's a high-stakes bid take on Farage

The Sun

time3 hours ago

  • The Sun

When Reeves hikes our taxes to fund spending splurge we won't be thanking her – it's a high-stakes bid take on Farage

ALMOST in every breath today Rachel Reeves spoke of making 'Labour choices'. But that is not the cuddly, Tory-lite Labour that we were promised before the election. 3 3 Instead she has reached for the party's old comfort blanket of higher taxes, higher borrowing and higher spending. Her massive spree means she can point to shiny news infrastructure projects and talk the language of 'renewal'. But she is now running the economy at its uppermost limits after failing to get any serious grip on welfare and our spiralling debt. It is a high-stakes gambit designed to win over working class voters that Labour is bleeding to Reform - who the Chancellor noticeably devoted time to attacking today. Many of those flocking to Nigel Farage do so out of growing despair that - in his words - 'Britain is broken'. It is why she made big plays on ploughing money into defence, the NHS and ending migrant hotels. But they won't thank the Chancellor if it means putting their taxes up even more in the Autumn… It hasn't been an easy 11 months for Ms Reeves - in fact, it has been brutal. Her short Chancellorship has been blighted by the winter fuel debacle, fury over tax hikes, angry farmers and rows over welfare spending. A YouGov survey today found just 12 per cent of voters think she is doing a good job. Ms Reeves will hope today marks the point those paltry popularity numbers start to rise. Or it could be the moment where things start to get even worse. 3

Campaigners protest outside Holyrood demanding better paternity leave
Campaigners protest outside Holyrood demanding better paternity leave

The National

time3 hours ago

  • The National

Campaigners protest outside Holyrood demanding better paternity leave

'The Dad Strike', organised jointly by charities The Dad Shift and Scottish-based Dads Rock, is calling for the UK to bring its paternal leave laws in line with comparable countries. It comes after a parliamentary report published yesterday called the UK's paternal leave system 'one of the worst in the developed world'. Under the current system, fathers are entitled to two weeks of paid leave, with those eligible receiving £187.18 a week or 90% of their average earnings, whichever is lower. Thomas Lynch, chief executive of Dads Rock, said there is 'a huge disparity' in how people can access paternal leave in the UK. READ MORE: SNP minister responds to 'secret meeting to discuss John Swinney leadership' reports 'There's a whole range of families who are getting next to nothing [in paternal leave] and we know that ultimately that's not good for the child, relationships, or mental health,' he said. Lynch added: 'We believe that small change could make a huge amount of difference to families and get them on the right foot to begin with as opposed to the pressure that you feel at the moment to return to work or to go back to work.' (Image: NQ) Attending the protest with his baby daughter was César, from Spain. The country boasts one of the most impressive paternity leave systems, where all parents are guaranteed sixteen weeks of uninterrupted, full-paid leave. He has lived in Scotland for ten years and had to go through the UK's parental leave system when his daughter was born. Comparing his experience with that of friends and family in Spain, he found the UK system 'unfair'. César said: 'My wife had a C-section. That's a major intervention and the recovery time is six weeks.' 'After two weeks, I had to go back to work for five days. Everything after that was covered by my holiday allowance. Our extended family are in Spain, so it gets really difficult.' Also present at the protest was Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell, who called the current system 'completely unsustainable'. 'It's not just unfair on dads but on their partners as well. It is really outdated, and we need to be extending paternal leave to way beyond two weeks.' While the matter of paternal leave can ultimately only be changed by Westminster, Ruskell believed the Scottish government could 'set a positive example' by changing paternity leave rules for employees in bodies such as the Scottish Parliament, where Ruskell says he has been asking for better paternity leave for his parliamentary staff. (Image: NQ) The UK government is carrying out a review, which is due before mid-July, and would look at all current parental leave entitlements. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'While employment legislation - including maternity and paternity rights - is reserved to the UK Parliament, the Scottish Government continue to champion and support fair work practices. 'Scottish Ministers have called on the UK Government to enhance current paternal leave and pay provision as part of its wider Make Work Pay reforms and will continue to do so as the relevant legislation is developed.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store