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The National
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
The answer to the indy question is staring us in the face
Instead of pursuing doomed legal challenges or relying on Westminster's unreliable goodwill, there is a better way – one that could finally break the deadlock and secure Scotland's right to self-determination. Why current approaches have failed THE SNP's strategy over the past decade has oscillated between two extremes, neither of which has succeeded: 1. The pleading approach (2011-2022): Politely requesting a Section 30 order from Westminster. This worked in 2014, but collapsed in 2022 when Boris Johnson simply refused. 2. The confrontational approach (2022-present) Threatening an unofficial referendum or treating elections as 'de-facto' independence votes. This was rendered futile after the Supreme Court ruled Holyrood cannot unilaterally legislate on the Union Neither approach works. The first depends on Westminster's co-operation – which no longer exists. The second ignores legal and political reality – the UK will never permit a Catalan-style vote. A better solution: The Scottish Referendum Trigger Act THE answer lies not in demanding another immediate referendum, but in changing the rules of the game. Scotland needs a permanent, rules-based mechanism that ensures its right to choose – without requiring Westminster's permission every time. The goal? Amend the Scotland Act 1998 to create a legal pathway allowing Holyrood to initiate a referendum automatically – but only if clear democratic conditions are met. Key features of the plan 1. A 'double lock' threshold: 60% of MSPs must vote in favour (ensuring cross-party consensus). Pro-referendum parties must win a majority of Scottish seats in a UK election (proving sustained public demand). This prevents endless votes while making Westminster vetoes politically costly. 2. Limited UK veto – with strict conditions: Westminster could only block a referendum if: The Electoral Commission rejects the question (ensuring fairness). The UK faces a genuine national emergency (eg, war or economic collapse). This gives the UK Government a face-saving exit but makes arbitrary refusal indefensible. 3. Sunset clause and independent review: The law expires after 20 years unless renewed. An independent commission (with Scottish and UK representatives) reviews its impact after a decade. This reassures sceptics and allows for future adjustments. Why this plan could work The UK claims to be a 'voluntary Union' – this tests that claim without requiring immediate independence. It mirrors processes in other democracies (eg Quebec's Clarity Act, the Good Friday Agreement's border poll rules). It doesn't rely on goodwill but forces Westminster to engage – or risk appearing blatantly and indefensibly undemocratic. Splitting the opposition Soft Unionists (LibDems, moderate Labour) may accept it as a fair compromise. Some Conservatives could tolerate it, given the 20-year sunset clause. How the SNP can win in 2026 1. Make It A manifesto centrepiece: Frame the Referendum Trigger Act as Scotland's democratic guarantee – not an SNP demand. 2. Build A Cross-Party Coalition: Recreate the spirit of the 1997 Scottish Constitutional Convention that secured devolution. Involve trade unions, businesses, and civic groups – not just independence supporters. 3. Prepare A Fallback Option: If Westminster blocks reform, Holyrood could pass a 'Scottish Democracy Bill' forcing the UK to challenge it in court – and exposing its resistance to democracy. The bigger picture THIS isn't about winning independence tomorrow – it's about removing Westminster's veto permanently. Once in place, the UK can no longer ignore Scotland's democratic mandates. The debate shifts from 'if' to 'when and how'. By uniting the movement behind a winnable, legally sound goal, the SNP can reshape the constitutional debate for good. The question isn't whether this is possible – it's whether the SNP have the discipline to pursue it. This is how Scotland wins. Bruce Crichton Hamilton 'IT'S under review.' For how long will the news programmes of our TV channels, including the BBC, continue to repeat Israeli government and IDF propaganda when confronted with evidence of yet another atrocity perpetrated on innocent women and children, medical workers, local journalists and those simply seeking food to feed their starving families? There will be no independent reviews, and international journalists will still not be allowed into Gaza as long as international TV channels are content to allow evidence of genocide to be dismissed with soundbites aimed at hiding orchestrated slaughter and the associated lies. As with arranging to take children from Gaza for urgent medical attention, Keir Starmer has been slow to act in every phase of the recent hostilities while the UK Government continues to supply the IDF with weapons and military intelligence to continue the carnage. From initially being reluctant to call for an immediate ceasefire to his current convoluted ultimatum, it has been clear that Starmer considers support for Israel and political posturing more important than the lives of the people of Palestine. Regrettably much of the media have tacitly endorsed Starmer's duplicity and continue to refer to a 'war' and 'detainees' rather than 'ethnic cleansing' and 'Palestinian hostages'. While the words of Netanyahu expressing outrage at the pictures of two emaciated hostages are broadcast across UK TV news programmes, there is relative silence around two million people suffering in a detestably imposed famine and more than 2000 Palestinians held without trial, many of whom have been subjected to repeated torture. Goebbels would've been proud of how a fanatical right-wing regime has managed to effectively control the international news media while despicable atrocities are wreaked, on a massive scale, on innocent civilians. As another deplorable episode in human history unfolds, when will UK Government ministers and the directors of UK news programmes, all quietly complicit in genocide, finally reject the terror inflicted on millions of innocent Palestinians and not only act to end the supply of arms and military intelligence to the IDF but cease the repeating of Israeli Government propaganda on our screens? When will those for whom war crime international arrest warrants have been issued be held to account instead of rewarded with free publicity to contemptibly defend the indefensible? How many more tens of thousands need to die before the political and media conspiracy is ended? Stan Grodynski Longniddry, East Lothian AS a guid citizen of oor great country, when England are playing any sport whatsoever, my loyalties always lie with ABE. Who the hell is ABE, I hear you cry? Anybody but England, of course – keep up! Put it this way – I've no time for cricket whatsoever, but when I sussed oot that England's fifth test against India had gone right doon tae the wire, I just couldn't resist and watched the last hour or so. When this wonderful specimen of a human being called Mohammed Siraj (left) bowled out his opponent, Gus Atkinson, who only needed seven runs to win the test series for England, I reckon folk at the Oval must have heard my screams of delight coming aw the way fae Fife! A ken, what a saddo! However, things aren't always that straightforward. Prior to moving to Fife in my mid-20s, I lived in Hawick in the Scottish Borders. Onybody that kens onything aboot Scottish rugby will tell ye that in the 1970s and 1980s, the days before professional rugby, the Hawick rugby team totally dominated rugby in Scotland. Put it this way, no many teams back in the day returned fae Mansfield Park wi a victory! I'll be honest, I'm a fitba man myself – much to the chagrin of the guid folk of Hawick, of course – but I do like rugby and was always extremely proud of those great Hawick teams. Of course, nowadays I avidly watch the Scottish team and I reckon in Finn Russell, Scotland has easily one of the best players in the history of Scottish rugby. So where am I going wi this? Well, I watched the British Lions recently against Australia and other provincial teams. Now, due to ma politics, when I hear the word 'British', it makes what teeth I have left grind themselves intae dust! So tae have tae watch Russell and his fellow Scottish team mates playing in this British team didnae sit well wi me at aw! As an aside, the team is actually the British and Irish Lions and was dominated by very guid Irish players. In the second winning test nine of the 15 players were Irish! However, I wonder how many Irish folk that yearn for a united Ireland were left feeling pretty squeamish that their brilliant rugby players were effectively having to bond wi 'the Brits'! This aw sounds extremely sad but I ended up praying for the Australians to win, hopefully helped by mistakes fae English players, wi aw the Scots playing a blinder but being badly let doon by their English team mates. A ken, pathetic, and I'm sure Russell and his Scottish team mates won't appreciate my thinking! Seriously, though, these contorted thoughts I have, I reckon reflect a deep inner feeling of utter helplessness I have that oor great country will not become an independent nation in my lifetime (I'm now 65). These feelings have, unfortunately, turned tae a burning resentment at the country, and it's pals in the press and media, that is foiling oor efforts tae be independent at every turn! Not nice feelings tae have, but hey, it's caud being a human being! Never mind though, I'll never forget the feeling when the wonderful Mohammed Siraj, smashed the wicket tae bits, tae prevent England winning the test series against India. In ma heid, he's already an honorary Scot! Aye, onybody but England! Ivor Telfer Dalgety Bay, Fife INTERESTING reading from Robin McAlpine on Wednesday. I am looking forward to next week's instalment. His comment, however, ( support for Scottish Independence was the settled will of the public in 1708) pity it wasn't the Scottish people who actually sign the Treaty instead of the Lords and Gentry looking after themselves. 'Parcel of rogues in a Naaaaation' Now there's a thought ! Ken McCartney Hawick AS a kid I got to see the kit that dad was designing & getting manufactured for those first generation Magnox reactors, with all the lessons being learned as the fuel rods fatigued, jammed & otherwise steadily reduced the % of the reactor core still working 100% All of those nuclear stations are basically 'gubbed' to use a term well understood in Glasgow, but we're still paying out on these 'dead' power stations, for decades, or tens of decades more with the cleaning up work. The other week I chatted with an engineer still working in the current nuclear industry, but not on any new work, she was still doing the cleaning up for the 'decommissioned' Magnox and AGR from the last century, for decades to come For contrast I decided to take a 'literal' dip into the offshore renewables, after learning of the significantly visible forest of offshore turbines, which both Scottish Government & Westminster are claiming bragging rights for, But these behemoths of the old-style windmill are both challenging in size & visual 'offense' with a need to limit their operating speeds, or outputs when wind speeds go past a limiting value. However I also found our hidden renewables, funded by private money, and not the public purse, quietly, like Scotland's progress towards a restored independence, sitting under the waves. This isn't only the recently commissioned 2 megawatt 'sausage' (Orbital - a Scottish based company launching the first 'vessel' made in 40 years from a Dundee shipyard, with MOU's to sail them out to locations in USA and Canada, but the growing array of seabed tidal turbines, that have been getting installed for almost a decade, (MeyGen - a name check) again with private backers. Perhaps this is an even bigger headline story than the exposed and visually prominent wind farm, or the 'debate' that somehow discounts that 100+ years of clean-up costs fro nuclesar power, which looks decidedly weak when the greater consistency of 4 tides every day trumps the vagaries of the winds, especially when the Scottish seabed figures for 2023 report 51 GIGA Watt hours of power generated, a world record Scotland is vastly under using our energy resources. For millions of years water has been flowing downhill, and for several millennia that power has been used by people to produce things. Currently I note that a 200+year old system in Inverclyde is just running to waste, whilst rivers buried under Glasgow for around 175 years, can either provide small sustainable power for local street lighting, or move unwanted heat from one place to a place where it an be extracted for other uses. We have even solved a problem that's plagued London's Underground thanks to the Pinkston Burn, which has been flooding through stations on Glasgow subway since 1896 to create the fresh ambience of being next to a mountain stream But I'll sign off here as a dangerously lateral thinker with a question - why, with the wide variation we get in wind speeds, is no one seriously applying the Bernoulli Equation, and using the more easily regulated air pressure for electricity generation? H Glasgow First they came for journalists, and i did not speak out, because they said it was fake news. Then they came for the protestors, and I DID speak out. Then they came for our laws, and I DID speak out, Then they came for the truth, and I DID speak out. Now they have come for me at 3am, they have taken my phone so I can't tell anybody where I am. Is it too late for the rest of you to WAKE UP? Are you ALL going to wait till they batter down YOUR door at 10pm, 3am, or whatever time the Stepford Wife in the Home Office decides? 361 journalists were behind bars on December 1st 2024. Israel was responsible for nearly 70% of journalist killings in 2024. WHEN is this going to stop? Margaret Forbes Blanefield
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
SNP's conference agenda must let us debate routes to independence
Malcolm Smith's Sunday National letter (Scottish Government has a moral obligation to break the law) makes the related point that the SNP have missed major opportunities to make a break with Westminster with the backing of the Scottish people. He goes on: 'There is no guarantee that a constitutional crisis and rift with London would be successful. It doesn't have to be. It has only to be the spark that will set a fire under the people of Scotland and shed the SNP of their establishment image.' READ MORE: John Swinney dismisses SNP members' rival independence plan The policy proposal in my recent letters to The National is all about lighting just such a spark – one legitimate in our own legal and constitutional traditions – that can gain support from a majority of Scots. The main options that have been put forward as 2026 SNP manifesto offers of routes to independence are essentially only three: 1) As before, if a majority of our MSPs are elected then Holyrood will ask Westminster for a Section 30 'permission' for a referendum on independence; 2) Say that Holyrood 2026 is some sort of plebiscite election on independence; 3) Say we will assert competency over Scottish constitutional matters if elected. The last option is that of the resolution put forward by Newington and Southside branch SNP as A Manifesto for Scotland's Right to Decide, and reads: 'Conference recognises that the policy of seeking a Section 30 order from the UK Government to hold a referendum on Scotland's constitutional future has proven ineffective. More fundamentally, it undermines Scotland's sovereign right to decide and contributes to the gap between public support for independence and support for the SNP. 'Conference reaffirms that referendums on how Scotland is governed, when held under mandate by the Scottish Parliament, must not be subject to an external veto. Sovereignty lies with the Scottish people, not Westminster. 'Therefore, Conference agrees that the SNP shall put in their manifesto for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, that if a majority of SNP and other pro-independence MSPs are returned to Holyrood in 2026, they will bring forward a bill to assume responsibility for constitutional affairs as directed by the people of Scotland. This will include the right to hold referendums on increased powers and independence – driven by the will of the people.' READ MORE: Richard Walker: Indy plans are like buses – you wait ages for one and then ... There is also a short supporting statement attached to this that expands on what is implied here. I have been in touch with some of the spokespersons for the SNP branches involved in submitting a motion on the second, 'independence election', option and have been invited to attend their meeting in Perth tomorrow. I am happy to do so and look forward to lively and respectful debate on the respective merits of the resolutions. At a meeting in Portobello last Thursday, I handed over a copy of the Newington Resolution and its supporting statement to John Swinney. John said he would get back to me with his response to this specific motion. Disappointingly, he has not yet done so. The provisional agenda for SNP conference is due to appear today. It is vital for full and open debate on our manifesto offer for next year that all three of the main differing options are in that provisional agenda for consideration of support from branches and possible amendments. Mike Wallace Edinburgh
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
John Swinney is appealing for five more years of managing devolution
In essence it is a plea for more of the same. A plea for at least five more years of managing, and often failing to manage, Donald Dewar's devolution trap. A plea to allow the SNP to cling to power and beg our Westminster betters and masters for another referendum in the sure and certain knowledge that they will just say no. A plea that will see Mr Unwin having to remain an SNP activist for the foreseeable future – possibly for the rest of his life. Mr Unwin claims that John Swinney's leadership has 'brought a degree of honesty back to the independence movement', which he thinks has been 'sadly lacking over recent years'. This is a little odd, as Mr Unwin was an enthusiastic supporter of the former First Minister Humza Yousaf appearing in support of him in social media posts. As is usual in support of the Holyrood status quo, Mr Unwin details the usual list of 'free' stuff. Prescriptions, baby boxes, bus passes etc etc. This list, paid for by taxation, did not impress the electorate in July 2024 at the UK General Election and will not impress them much more in May 2026. Is this the best we can do? The most telling aspect of Mr Unwin's case is the sentence 'How do we achieve independence? In a large part, the process is not as important as people think. Certainly not important enough to waste all our time and energy debating'. If we have no idea of the process, how in God's name we will never reach the end result? Glenda Burns Glasgow IF Mr Swinney thinks that Westminster will grant a Section 30 if we get a majority of SNP MSPs next year, he is either delusional or he's taking the independent movement for mugs. If the situation after the election is just one short of a SNP majority, Westminster will use it as clear evidence of Scotland not wanting or being interested in independence even if Alba, Greens or any other pro-independence party get elected John Swinney has stated that only SNP MSPs will count. Why? Is he going to ignore other parties that want independence for the sake of his ego? We need all the help we can muster in 2026. Every pro-independence MSP must count towards a majority and John Swinney must state that loud and clear and not give Westminster another stick to beat us with. M McDermott Old Kilpatrick FOLLOWING comments on The National website attacking John Swinney and the SNP leadership in general, I decided to ask these critics just what, exactly, was the workable, creditable alternative plan they had to achieve independence for Scotland. After that I was subject to some highly personal abuse, questioning my intelligence, character, judgement and this did indeed include swearing. Nonetheless, not one of these persons could quote or tell me what alternative plans they had. True, there was one suggestion, that of Holyrood declaring UDI. However, as I did point out, this was hardly a resounding success for Ian Smith and his government, I doubt it would work for Scotland. I may well have kicked over a hornet's nest for asking such questions, but at the end of the day I have still to hear just what, exactly, an alternative plan to that suggested by the SNP leadership is. Which rather proves my point, I think, that those who can do, and those who can't criticise. Andrew Haddow Glasgow TONY Kime's letter highlighting and listing many of the SNP's achievements in government should be pinned up in every MSP's constituency office as a reminder to visiting constituents and ourselves of the many achievements of the SNP in Government. Over the next nine months of campaigning, we should never forget those achievements and as the Government, we should concentrate on improving the services of 'devolved matters', which we have powers over. Yes, we must continue to highlight how much Scotland is being short-changed by Labour at Westminster, but we must campaign on the positives of our achievements. Catriona C Clark Falkirk WHAT next? Since the Labour government has increased the tax on employers, some small businesses can't make a profit. The extra tax in some cases amounts to their profit margin. They have to make cuts or go out of business. Public-sector bodies – NHS, schools, universities etc – are worse off. So much for Labour wanting to increase productivity and create employment. Let's face it, the UK is broke, £2 trillion in debt, and that will never be paid off unless something radical is done. Since a lot of the debt is owed to ourselves, the Bank of England, who just printed it, 'funny money,' could it be written off? Either way, what a mess. This all stems from the Thatcher privatisation of all the country's assets. Also, Blair entering into illegal wars trying to punch above our weight side by side with the USA. Either way, we need a total rethink. The UK is not a superpower. The sooner we realise that, the better. Westminster need to live within their means and stop wasting billions. Meanwhile, Scotland has the answer for ourselves with independence. Take control of all our assets and run our country the way it should be for the benefit of all in Scotland. Herbert Petrie Dyce, Aberdeen
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI(M) condemns police clampdown, arrests in Karedu village
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Committee has strongly condemned the 'forcible and illegal attempt' by the government to acquire land from farmers in Karedu village, Nellore district, for the IndoSol company. In a statement on Tuesday (August 5, 2025), CPI(M) State Secretary V. Srinivasa Rao accused the government of creating fear and confusion among villagers to extract land consent by coercion, despite local farmers' resistance. The revenue officials had reportedly entered the village and started collecting Aadhaar numbers, land documents, and passbooks from each household. When villagers refused to comply, they were allegedly intimidated. During the standoff, leaders of the Rythu Sangham and Agricultural Workers' Union, including Kumar, Pullayya, and G. Venkateswarlu, were arrested and taken to Ulavapadu police station, according to CPI(M). The CPI(M) leader alleged that Section 30 of the Police Act was imposed across the entire Ulavapadu Mandal, and police posts were set up surrounding Karedu village, effectively placing the village under siege. 'False cases are being filed against farmer leaders. People are being prevented from holding meetings. All of this is part of a plan to illegally seize land by instilling fear,' he alleged. CPI(M) demanded immediate withdrawal of the police siege, release of the arrested farmer and union leaders, respect for the Gram Sabha resolution opposing land acquisition, and withdrawal of the land acquisition notification for the IndoSol project. He said the public resistance would be intensified if these demands are not met and called the current actions unconstitutional and undemocratic.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rythu Sangham condemns arrest of union leaders in Karedu village
The Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham has strongly condemned the 'arbitrary' arrest of farmers' and agricultural workers' union leaders at Karedu village in Nellore district. A.P. Rythu Sangham president V. Krishnaiah and General Secretary K. Prabhakar Reddy in a statement on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) said that Mooli Vengayya (District Secretary, A.P. Rythu Sangham), Mangala Pullayya (District Secretary, A.P. Agricultural Workers Union), and Kumar (CITU leader) were detained by Ulavapadu police under the pretext of Section 30 when they attempted to visit Karedu. The leaders termed the arrests an undemocratic and oppressive act, questioning the government's decision to ban people's representatives from entering the village. Blaming the State government, they said that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is afraid of people's movements. The arrests are an attempt to suppress public dissent and hide the government's forced land allocation to IndoSol Solar, a subsidiary of Shirdi Sai Group, against the will of local farmers. 'This is a ploy to stifle the voice of thousands of farmers and agricultural workers who are openly protesting the coercive land acquisition. But repression through police force cannot silence people's resistance,' they added.
