Latest news with #StuartMcHardy
The National
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
‘Scottish cringe' persists despite evidence of our distinctive culture
At the heart of self-determination is an appreciation of Scotland's national identity and culture, and thinking around this fundamental topic was well presented by Stuart McHardy and Roger Emmerson. From having the largest building in the world 5000 years ago at Brodgar to the diverse architecture of today, there is strong evidence of a distinctive Scottish culture, yet still there are those within our midst who pour scorn on such thinking and who seem to incurably suffer from the indoctrinated 'Scottish cringe'. READ MORE: Ian Murray 'does not understand how devolution works', minister says Of course, unfortunately our national football team often seems to inadvertently serve such apparent national-deprecation, but the truth is our national identity and culture have been deliberately suppressed by a British establishment elite intent on exploiting Scotland's resources for self-enrichment. At the core of this cultural ravage is not oil and gas, nor wind and tides, but our people. Whether it has been to lead troops into battles on foreign soils to secure further resources to fuel the further wealth generation of the lords of the British Empire, or to lead academic research in Oxford and Cambridge universities to support that expansion, Scots have made immense contributions to Britain's development since the 'Act of Union' in 1707. Yet, even in Scotland our internationally lauded universities are considered by some to be 'second-class', especially by those who harboured ambitions, often fostered at private schools, to attend Oxford and Cambridge and expect they should have an unalienable right to enter a Scottish university should they fail in that ambition (irrespective of the personal qualities and achievements of others who did not benefit from 'special privilege'). Perhaps it's not surprising that in an unequal society where royalty are treated like superstars and their patronage is sought by some with the least ethical and humanitarian principles, others feel compelled to attempt to climb the greasy ladder where personal influence is more important than competence, but it means more work is needed to convey the message that true egalitarianism benefits us all (including the super-rich, who can become better citizens of a planet with depleting resources). READ MORE: Can fiction free a nation? A Scottish writer looks to James Joyce for answers Scotland has much more to offer the world, but for us to be confident as a nation we must counter arrogantly patronising remarks or ridicule, recognising that many Scots have been, and continue to be, successful not only in Scotland but around the globe without needing to sell their souls to the British establishment, and the sooner we can convince others to reject the denigration of our history and our culture, the sooner we will have overwhelming support for independence. That also requires not blindly accepting, never mind parroting, the anti-Scottish Government soundbites of the UK mainstream media and the BBC. I spoke with Lesley Riddoch about the Debate Night programmes at the convention, and she rightly pointed out that it's not Stephen Jardine's job to make arguments supporting Scottish Government decisions irrespective of misleading pro-Union propaganda (although hosts of other BBC programmes routinely make arguments supporting UK Government decisions) but that representatives of the Scottish Government need to be more assertive on such programmes. If our elected representatives cannot demonstrate the fight necessary to combat the lies and distortions of the UK press and devious politicians in such forums, they should not be there and probably should question whether they are the best ambassadors for their communities of independence. Politely saying nothing or allowing constant interruptions or partial framing of questions is not only letting down government or party colleagues, it is effectively condoning the suppression of Scotland's voice, and must not be accepted. The frustrations of more than 300 years of colonial rule must be expressed by SNP and other independence politicians at every opportunity, and every opportunity to advance the cause of independence must be grasped. Even where prospects are not considered great, unsuccessful campaigns can still generate interest and positivity which cumulatively, perhaps aided by a broadly-convened national convention, can help to build unstoppable momentum towards achieving Scotland's necessary and rightful status as an independent nation. Stan Grodynski Longniddry, East Lothian
The National
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Here's what's on the agenda at our next independence convention
Independence Forum Scotland is fast approaching its Summer Convention on Scotland's Future, which will be at the Salutation Hotel in Perth on Saturday, June 14. It's our second such gathering, coming hard on the heels of the inaugural Edinburgh event in March, which was widely regarded as a success. There's still room for improvement, of course, and making sure that the June convention reaches and surpasses those standards has been at the forefront of the planning committee's thinking over the last few weeks. To guide us, we've had some excellent feedback from the Edinburgh participants, some of whom will be joining us again. READ MORE: Anas Sarwar refuses to say if he supports RAF surveillance flights over Gaza They've set out a wide range of topics they'd like to see covered there and in future meetings. We've had valuable suggestions on logistical aspects of the day, such as clarity of messaging, audibility in a crowded space and having a variety of approaches to topics. We expect that those attending the Summer Convention, whether they're returning or taking part for the first time, will see the benefits of that advice. Our programme will be more streamlined than in March, with a slightly shorter day and more in-depth focus on fewer topics. Crucially, there will be more opportunities for attendees to have group discussions at their various tables, with a view to capturing as diverse a range of views as possible. The opening session of the day will be a discussion led by Stuart McHardy and Roger Emmerson, on what it is to be a Scot today – wherever you were born. We hope it'll prove to be a great ice-breaker to get people thinking and talking. We'll then have presentations to update us on the three areas discussed back in March – land, energy and democracy – including a forward strategy paper compiled by our colleagues Energy Scotland, which you may already have read about in The National. It will include a call to the Scottish Government to support the formation of a group of Scotland's energy professionals to undertake a 'watching brief' on the progress and plans of the various UK Government agencies involved in implementing UK energy policy and governance in Scotland, including Ofgem and GB Energy. The afternoon will be devoted to an in-depth discussion of poverty and the wellbeing economy, with an introductory video by William Thomson of Scotonomics and contributions from Common Weal head of policy Craig Dalzell, lawyer and activist Eva Comrie and others. It's a huge topic, and it would be unrealistic to expect a single afternoon's airing to be able to do more than scratch the surface of it. However, if convention participants emerge from the discussion more informed about the overall issues, the currently available policy options and the more radical solutions to which Scotland might aspire, that will be a job well done. The wellbeing economy, in particular, is a term that frequently arises in the context of independence campaigning, but is often understood in fairly vague terms. In 2022, the Wellbeing Economy Alliance came up with a 'headline' definition: 'A wellbeing economy is an economy designed to serve people and planet, not the other way around.' However, there's still room for differing views on the changes required to create such an economy. For example, would it be a slow transition or a rapid transformation? Could we keep the best bits of capitalism and refocus our growth efforts? Would the role of markets have less priority? Or would we be looking at a completely new paradigm? We can expect some lively conversations at each of the tables, and in the panel discussion and Q&A with which we'll round off the topic. Does all of that pique your interest? If so, we'd be delighted if you could join us in Perth on June 14. Attendance at the Summer Convention is free but booking is essential. There are still spaces available, although they're filling up fairly rapidly, so if you're planning to reserve a spot we'd encourage you to do so sooner rather than later. There's a link to an online booking form on the 'National Convention' page of Independence Forum Scotland's website We'll also be happy to answer any questions you may have – just email us at convention@ See you in Perth!
