Scottish Independence

by Ken Ferguson

In one decisive step it was done. Presented with polls showing her main opponent not just on the ropes but out of the ring, Theresa May has called a general election.

It is a classic piece of ruthless politics which grasps control of the political terrain on which the UK’s future direction will be decided and greatly increases the danger of twenty years of hard nosed Tory rule.

In UK terms, the prospects are bleak with all the evidence suggesting that May will sweep Labour aside, shoot UKIP’s fox and marginalise the Lib Dems to cruise to a 100+ Commons majority.

Brutally that is why she did –

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The Scottish Socialist Party is committed to Independence. For us it is the way to radically change Scotland, tackling our low wage economy, the affordable housing crisis and shifting power and wealth decisively in favour of Scotland’s working class majority.

In firing the starting pistol on another referendum campaign today First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is making Scotland’s EU membership the central and overarching issue in the entire debate. It is a risky strategy. For there is a danger it sidelines the real economic and social challenges facing millions of Scots everyday. Securing a Yes vote in Scotland’s working class communities remains the key to winning this referendum. Therefore any campaign must put an inspiring vision of a transformed new Scotland in front of the Scottish people and offer them the prospect of meaningful advance.

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The SSP submitted a contribution to the Draft Independence Referendum Bill. While the questions were largely technical in nature, we included a covering letter to ensure that our thoughts on a second referendum are clear and unambiguous.

While it is important to review arrangements for the organisation of the next Independence referendum, the Scottish Socialist Party believes that thought needs to be given to the political context of that referendum. The issue of independence is not simply a constitutional question; in which independence is an end in itself. Rather, it should be seen as a means to an end. The purpose of independence is to provide a vehicle for the transformation of society; to create a Scotland radically different from what we have at present.

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Commenting on the publication of the Scottish Government’s paper ‘Scotland’s Place in Europe’ SSP national co-spokesperson Colin Fox said:

“You have to feel for Nicola Sturgeon in her attempts to influence Scotland’s relationship with the EU. She is reduced to making promises she cannot possibly keep.”

‘I will ensure Scotland’s vote is respected and we remain inside the EU’, Sturgeon insisted in the aftermath of June’s vote to Leave. This was then relegated to mean ‘I will ensure Scotland has a place in the UK negotiations’. Now it is merely ‘I will show how Scotland can stay inside the EU Single Market even if the UK leaves’.

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This is a revised and adapted editorial by Ken Ferguson – editor of the Scottish Socialist Voice.

The announcement by Nicola Sturgeon of consultation on a second independence referendum bill – is placed firmly in the context of a weapon in the Brexit battle, not as a central objective necessary for a renewed just Scotland.

Leaving aside that independence referendum polls show that the EU issue is not one that moves people from No to Yes in great numbers and that 38% of 2014 Yes voters voted Leave; the real danger in this approach is that it reduces independence to a tactic in a wider Westminster war.

The reality of this was underlined after the SNP conference by insiders who said the aim was to project the First Minister as the main UK anti-“hard Brexit”

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