Frustration at the lack of progress to secure better lives for current and future generations of Scots has raised the number of independence campaign groups working outside party politics.
Campaigns focus on all sectors of society, energy, currency, banking, the economy, land reform, foreign policy, defence, pensions, housing, healthcare and education. Groups of committed, professional volunteers have more front-line experience in these areas than elected representatives and are keen to collaborate. Yet they are excluded from conversations in favour of costly consultants with less first-hand knowledge and narrower agendas.
Two of these campaign groups – Yes United and Independence Forum Scotland – have taken the lead in ‘putting the band back together’. The aims are to build a manifesto and policies for a more equal and richer country where no one is let down by a system that prioritizes profit extraction over people, and to have some fun along the way. This chapter of ‘The People vs Party Politics’ is one of a series of events planned throughout the year to quietly and determinedly do the hard yards to build a better nation. As the names suggest, Yes United and Independence Forum Scotland want to collaborate with people and groups with common aims. This first joint venture has attracted a long list of well kent names and tickets are selling out fast.
Event: Politics and a party without the political parties
Venue: Òran Mor, Byres Rd, Glasgow
Date: Saturday 14 March,
Time: Politics 10am – 4pm; Party 6pm till late
Broadcaster, blogger and film producer Lesley Riddoch, former MP Phil Boswell, and long serving MP and independence campaigner Jim Sillars will lead the daytime line up at the Spring Conference on Saturday 14 March at Òran Mor on Glasgow’s Byres Rd. Lesley’s unrivalled knowledge of the potential of small independent countries will set the tone for the day. Phil, whose wit and wisdom is a cornerstone of Through a Scottish Prism podcast, will kick off the afternoon’s proceedings with his own take on the morning’s discussion topics. Jim’s passion for independence is matched only by his experience and eloquence in explaining how it can be achieved.
Discussions on Scotland’s Economy, Energy Sector, and future relationship with Europe will be a chance to explore options and consider the pros and cons of different ways forward now and post-independence.
The broad questions are:
- On the Economy, what priorities and choices will most benefit the key economic sectors in post-independence Scotland?
- On Energy, what current actions will be most significant in progressing an independent Scotland’s affordable and sustainable energy strategy?
- On Europe, what relationship does an independent Scotland want to build with the EU and what opportunities and challenges does this present?
To include as many voices as possible in the conversation, people will move between roundtable discussions managed by experienced facilitators. A summary of discussions will feature in a plenary session in the afternoon and feed into the Manifesto for Statehood being drafted by Yes United with a host of expert groups and specialists across Scotland.
The conference is followed by an evening showcase of musical talent, from 6pm till late, with performances by Eddi Reader and John Douglas, Bobby Bluebell, The Countess of Fife, King of Birds, Mellow Party, Sulidae, Roo Geddes, and Tommy McKay. Poetry is by Seahorse Poets, Allan Law, Graham Fulton, Linda Jackson, Donna Matthews, and Jen Dunn. The evening is a reminder of how important culture is to national identity, and a celebration of an arts/music sector that manages to flourish despite challenges like the cultural vandalism currently happening at BBC Radio Scotland.
The cultural stream, embodied by National Collective and a host of individual performers, was a highlight of the 2014 Referendum campaign. Bella Caledonia’s Songs for Scotland in the same iconic venue at Òran Mor, and The Yestivaltour that attracted huge audiences around the country are enduring memories. The momentum may have stalled after the referendum result, but an overwhelmingly positive response to the current event shows the spirit of independence is alive and well within the arts community.
People from all sectors of society are putting in a ton of work to promote the case for independence. Polls show support remains constant at over 50%, but with no common strategy or date to work towards, the sense of urgency to see it delivered is missing. It’s time for a Yes movement revival, so we’re putting the band back together and having a party, without the party politics.
Tickets, (excl. booking fees), at £10 for the daytime conference with lunch included, £20 for the evening, or £25 for both, are available at the Independence Forum Scotland website the Yes United website or directly from Ticketsource.
For further information contact: convention@independenceforum.scot or admin@yesunited.scot
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