"SCOTLAND IS ONLY SMALL TO THOSE WHO THINK SMALL"

Alex Salmond - SNP Leader

Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond has delivered his vision for victory at the Scottish election. Addressing the annual conference in Perth, he said the party was "alive, kicking and winning".

Mr Salmond, who is bidding to return to Holyrood as an MSP, also claimed that support for Scottish independence was at an all-time high. He set out his plans for health, education and the economy in a hall packed with more than 1,000 delegates.

Mr Salmond told the conference that the party had a "dramatic six months" ahead, before the Holyrood elections next May as he pointed out a string of local by-election victories.
The MP said: "Today we ride on the crest of a wave - this time, in our time - there shall be change for Scotland."

He continued: "Two years ago when Nicola (Sturgeon) and I came to lead this party, I told this conference that I was not here to go through the motions, but back to rid Scotland of a small-minded managerial administration and to deliver a vision capable of touching the very soul of Scotland. "I am standing for first minister and we are running to win."

Mr Salmond, who was given a standing ovation before and after his speech, said an SNP government would give everyone a fair chance and make Scotland an international economic player. He said the burden of debt would be removed from Scottish-domiciled students and graduates and floated the idea of dedicated class teachers at secondary school.

He also raised the prospect of every home and school having a wind generator, solar panels or insulation system and gave backing to the world's first commercial carbon-capture hydro power station.

On health, Mr Salmond promised an inquiry into the problems surrounding Holyrood's flagship free personal care for the elderly policy and said there would be direct election of health board members. And he again criticised the "illegal" war in Iraq, calling for British troops to be brought home.

He also launched an attack on Labour, branding its vision of Britishness "narrow, bland and boring" and criticised Jack Straw for having the "temerity to instruct his constituents on what to wear". "Jack Straw - Alf Garnett without the braces," said Mr Salmond.

Then it was the chancellor's turn: "Gordon Brown wants to be British prime minister so he tells people to plant a Union Jack in his back garden and that Paul Gascoigne's goal against Scotland was his favourite moment," he added.

And Mr Salmond criticised First Minister Jack McConnell's often-used slogan that Scotland was "the best small country in the world".

"That one phrase encapsulates everything that is wrong with the first minister, with the executive and with our national tourist agency," he said.

"It combines the worst of what's like us with the worst of an inferiority complex. "Scotland's only small to those who think small. It's time to think big."

See a video of the speech here

SNP Plan for Scottish Olympic team

ALEX Salmond unveiled plans yesterday for Scotland to have its own Olympic team, whether or not the country is independent.

The SNP leader said that if he became First Minister next May, he would immediately start the process for Scotland to field its own team for the 2012 games.

Speaking on the first day of the SNP annual conference, Mr Salmond said there were already 13 states and territories which were not independent which had their own Olympic teams, so there was no reason Scotland could not join them.

Mr Salmond said the first step would be to convene a meeting of the governing bodies of Scotland's main sports to secure their support for the idea. If they gave their support, Mr Salmond would then approach the International Olympic Committee with a formal request for Scotland to have its own team in time for 2012 - whether or not Scotland had independence.

Mr Salmond acknowledged that there might be some athletes who preferred to compete in a British team but that is why he wanted to consult the sports administrators, to find a way through. And he argued that more Scots would have the chance to compete at the highest level with a Scottish team. He claimed that polls had shown that 78 per cent of the population backed a Scottish team.

Mr Salmond claimed that, at the last Olympics Scotland sent one athlete for every 210,000 citizens while New Zealand sent one for every 26,000 citizens.

He said: "The key thing in an Olympics is about participation and allowing a maximum amount of Scots to participate at the highest level."

Mr Salmond's plan amounts to a warning shot, fired across the bows of the BOA, showing that it that it might end up in a much worse position if it continues in its attempts to field a British football team in 2012.

"If we had a Scottish Olympic team, there would be no need for warfare between the BOA and the SFA and all athletes in all sports would have a better chance of being represented at a national level," he said.

Lesley McKenna, the British Olympic snowboarder from Aviemore, said athletes are happy to represent Scotland . "If there was a Scottish Olympic team, I would be very happy to be in it for sure" she said.

Wales and Scotland 'will be free nations'

Plaid Cymru president Dafydd Iwan has called on Scotland and Wales to keep working towards "freedom" from Westminster. Addressing the SNP conference currently under way in Perth, Iwan said the day was approaching when both Scotland and Wales would be free nations.
He used his keynote speech on Friday to reveal statistics from the latest opinion polls carried out on behalf of Plaid which show support for Plaid is still growing ahead of the assembly elections next May.

And he said it was evident that the SNP had a "great chance" of success at the Scottish elections, also being held in May. "People in Scotland and Wales have had enough of Labour spin, the undermining of local democracy and civil rights, increasing centralism and warmongering," Iwan told SNP delegates.

"And as the day approaches when Wales and Scotland will be free nations, we must not let the trappings of power diminish the dream of freedom, or tarnish our vision.

"What the SNP and Plaid Cymru are about is the most exciting of all political projects - freeing the potential of our respective nations for the benefit of all our people.

"And this new freedom will mean the creation of a new dynamic relationship between all the nations of the British Isles, which will be to the benefit of all who live in these islands.

"When we are all free to be true to our own identity, we can then work together to help create a world where humanity triumphs, and wars and oppression will be things of the past."

Why BBC's political show refused Scottish question

The Scottish Labour and Lib Dem parties both decided in the constitutional (devolution) convention that broadcasting powers should be devolved to Scotland.

Those powers mysteriously disappeared when the bill went through Westminster and Tony Blair specifically interfered to stop a Scottish 6 O'Clock News programme.

This story explains why we need broadcasting to be controlled in Scotland and the only way this will happen is by voting for independence. - JOE

Why BBC's political show refused Scottish question

THE BBC last night defended its decision to prevent a Question Time audience member from making a point about Scottish politics on a programme being filmed in Glasgow.
Martin Grey, of Motherwell, was chosen to join the audience for the show, which is being broadcast tonight.

But when he told a researcher that he planned to ask the panel about the Scottish Liberal Democrats' pledge not to enter a coalition with the Scottish National Party because of its commitment to an independence referendum, he was told his question would not be allowed.
Mr Grey said: "[The researcher] stated this question would not be appropriate as Question Time is aimed at a UK audience and requires questions to be both timely and relevant to the UK.

"Asked if there was any room for a Scottish-specific question with interest to the whole of the
UK, on a programme filmed in Scotland, [the researcher] answered 'No'."

Last night, a spokesman for the BBC said: "Every week on Question Time, we have to ensure that the discussion reflects the big national UK and international stories.

"Unfortunately, when there is a busy news agenda, it is not possible to ask every question that those in the audience would like to ask," he added.

http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1509072006

Tommy Sheridan and Lloyd Quinan's speeches at Independence First Demo

Lloyd Quinan's speech

Tommy Sheridan's speech

See more at : http://www.youtube.com/group/independencefirst

Videos from the Independence First Scottish Democracy March on 30th September

Shot from Kev Williamson's phone.

Here's another video of the march featuring SNP rep. Aileen Campbell's speech.

First of a set of three videos of the march, there's a lot more on : http://www.youtube.com/group/independencefirst

INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT UNITES FOR DEMOCRACY FOR SCOTLAND RALLY

Campaigners who are calling for a referendum on Scottish independence have had a highly successful march and rally in Edinburgh.

On Saturday 30th September around a thousand people marched behind a full pipe band from East Market Street onto Princes Street, up the mound, over George IV Bridge and down the Royal Mile to end up at a rally outside the Scottish Parliament.

The march and rally, for Independence First http://www.independence1st.com/ the Scottish independence referendum campaign was a substantial demonstration and a spokesperson for the campaign said it was "a powerful message to the Scottish parliament that democracy will not be denied."

There was an excellent turnout of members of the public and political activists from all the various groups who support Scottish independence (including the four pro-independence parties which have representatives in the Scottish parliament). Independence First had distributed 10,000 leaflets for the event and have also launched an e-petition through the Scottish Parliament website which has a further month to go.

Speakers included the SNP, SSP, Greens and Solidarity parties plus Bill Wilson, Lloyd Quinan and Campbell Martin MSP as well as the band Scotia and singer Ted Christopher who provided entertainment.

The rally began with an outline of the situation that had led to the union by Dr Tony Parker an academic from the University of Dundee. Parker pointed out that political control had been lost with the 1603 union of crowns as had trade with France.

The English Government eventually effectively threatened Scotland with invasion after cutting off her trade routes and bribed the politicians of the day.

Bill Wilson of the SNP who spoke for Independence First pointed out that these politicians "fled through the back door" from an angry mob and the numerous petitions lodged by the Scottish public against the union.

Wilson said the importance of Independence First was that it was broad enough to include absolutely everyone who supported independence and he also mentioned the e-petition IF are running through the Scottish Parliament (sign at:

epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp)

Independence First activist Chris Osborne gave some of the history of Independence First and explained that the movement had started from initial internet discussions around a small group of activists who were deliberately drawn from different political opinions to think up ideas to promote independence. These ideas eventually solidified behind the referendum proposal as being the best route to achieve the maximum possible support for independence and the campaign had grown from there.

Tommy Sheridan MSP of Solidarity said that his vision was of a free socialist republic without nuclear weapons and he fully endorsed Independence First's call for a democratic referendum as the first step towards that aim.

Carolyn Leckie MSP of the Scottish Socialist Party said that her commitment to Independence had been absolute ever since she was a young child and that Scottish independence was the key to unlocking a much fairer society.

Aileen Campbell of the Scottish National Party blasted the Liberal Democrats for ruling out an Independence Referendum "How can they call themselves Democrats?" she asked. "Make no mistake if we win an election we will hold our referendum and will win it for the people of Scotland" she pledged.

Lloyd Quinan announced that the campaign had received supportive messages from other national independence groupings in the Basque Country, Catalonia and Corsica. "There is huge international support behind our cause. Our simple demand for a referendum on independence can be respected by any democrat.

To a resounding cheer he said "I am Scottish not British". He added "Anything the British or Brutish Imperial State does, it doesn't do in my name or the name of the people of Scotland we need our own international voice."

Activists from all parties and groups were impressed by the organisation of the event and the substantial turnout. Douglas Blackie an SNP activist from Aberdeen commented "This was a fantastic day and a fantastic march. I'd say it was bigger than the SNP's Bannockburn marches, it's the best march I've seen for years."

Brian Archibald a Shop Steward from Midlothian commented "This was the broadest and most positive political demonstration I can remember from twenty years campaigning for independence."

Joe Middleton Press Officer of Independence First said the march "was a powerful message to the Scottish parliament that democracy will not be denied for the people of Scotland." and he also said it proved the worth of having a campaign purely about support for a democratic referendum on independence.

"The great turnout here today proves that our campaign has genuine political weight. The next step will be to call for a million people to use their votes for independence in the first and second votes for the Scottish Parliament. One million people is not a lot of voters in a country of 45 million and it's well within the grasp of the independence movement if we work together."

ROCKSTAR NORTH ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXCITING CHALLENGING GAMES

They are not responsible for people shooting themselves and others when they should never have had access to guns in the first place.

I have played and enjoyed all the GTA games. They are an incredible feat in that you interact with (almost) a living briefing city, can drive for miles and yes, as this is a gangster game have shoot outs with the cops and whack pedestrians with baseball bats.

Rockstar didn't invent thugs, murder or bad behaviour they merely created an immersive gaming experience which is streets ahead of every similar game. They also made huge amounts of money while doing so. This has presumably made them a target of lawyers.

The GTA games are GAMES. If they make you want to go and kill someone then guess what, you're away with it already and could be set off by any aspect of the media from a bit on tv news to a film or a cartoon!

Adult games are built for responsible adults to enjoy, the fact that some unfortunate decides to imitate art is not the fault of the publisher it is the fault of the sick society which allows everyone access to guns then wonders why people get constantly shot.

Mike Russell's 'ideas' of a new Union belong in the Dustbin

Your letters (Glasgow Herald)
September 26 2006

YOU report that Mike Russell's new book poses "a dilemma" for the SNP's policy in holding a referendum on independence in a first term of government (September 25).

It does not. Recent opinion polls show that independence is the favoured option of the majority of Scots. Pete Ellis's letter shows that many from other parties are coming round to the idea.

Mike Russell's suggestion of a "New Union" whereby foreign affairs would continue to be a "reserved matter" meaning Westminster would continue to deny Scots a voice in the United Nations will find little support in the SNP, and it is interesting that Mr Russell launched his book after his party's list rankings had been voted upon in the South of Scotland where he achieved second place ahead of candidates who are more committed to current SNP policy and genuine independence.

Gavin Fleming, 517 Webster's Land, Grassmarket, Edinburgh.

I REFER to Monday's article outlining a paper produced by Mike Russell, entitled Grasping the Thistle. I have no doubt that the overwhelming number of SNP members will consign this paper to the dustbin, as will I.

This paper outlines some ideas that are anathema to the principles of the party. The SNP has a proud pro-public-sector ethos, believes in a taxation system that is fair and based on the ability to pay, and has an excellent track record and policy development on international issues. These key principles chime with the Scottish electorate.

On the other hand, this British New Labour government's record on foreign policy is far removed from the ethical one that was proposed by New Labour in 1997. I would not wish Scotland to share sovereignty on these issues.

I am deeply opposed to the war in Iraq, and I find the military aid this British government gives to countries such as Colombia, the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade-union activist, to be deeply repugnant.

Our civic nationalism is not ugly, and neither is our internationalism. That is why SNP members will reject any notion of shared sovereignty on defence and foreign policy.

Chris Stephens, 25 Allan Avenue, Renfrew.

WHETHER the ideas contained in Mike Russell's forthcoming book represent New Nationalism or New Unionism will have to await publication and a thorough examination. But the economic prospectus contained in his book, as outlined in your sister Sunday publication, seem very similar, and in some cases virtually identical, to those commentators who espouse a neo-liberal agenda.It is politically inevitable that the epithet "tartan Tory" will be accorded, by the SNP's political opponents, to those who promote vouchers in our education system and the abolition of inheritance tax.

SNP members like me will, on the other hand, await with real anticipation the publication of Mike's book before we pass judgment. His proposal, for instance, to freeze public spending is not a million miles away from a proposal put forward some time ago by Alex Neil, who suggested savings on the abolition of Trident could be used to put a peg on taxes; however, as Mike seems to propose leaving defence and foreign affairs in the hands of Westminster, albeit temporarily, the runes are not good.

As the old Scottish saying goes: "If you fly with the neo-liberal craws, then you will be shot with the neo-liberal craws."

Bill Ramsay, 84 Albert Avenue, Glasgow.

Liberal Democrats not democratic about Scotland

Labour's Buddy Nicol Stephen - Still denying Scotland a choice on Union

Lib Dems flag up home rule block to SNP pact

DEPUTY First Minister Nicol Stephen has ruled out a coalition with the SNP if they insist on holding a referendum on independence. In an interview with Scotland on Sunday on the eve of this week's Lib Dem conference, the Scottish party leader issued a firm denial that he would agree to a referendum in return for a seat in an SNP cabinet.

Speculation has been mounting at Holyrood that the Lib Dems were considering a coalition with the Nationalists after next May's election. However, in order to do so, the two parties would need to agree on the SNP's plans to hold an independence referendum.

Stephen was believed to have been open-minded about the issue but he said: "We are clearly opposed to a referendum on independence. We are not a party that supports independence, and the only reason for holding a referendum would be as a first step to separation."

Aides said Stephen's opposition to a referendum was unbending. It leaves the prospect of an SNP-Lib Dem pact looking increasingly unlikely, and the likelihood of the Lib Dems once again heading for a partnership with Labour after next year's poll.

Talk of an SNP-Lib Dem coalition has been talked up following several polls over the summer which show the two parties gaining ground on Labour, suggesting they could gain enough seats to win a majority in the Scottish Parliament.

Stephen claimed the Lib Dems had a realistic chance of becoming the largest party in Scotland after next May's poll. As a result, he revealed that he intended to scrap the clause in the party's current constitution which states that after a Scottish election, it should speak to the largest party.

"We will delete the clause that says we must speak to the largest party because we believe we will be the largest party," he said.

Stephen's categorical opposition to an independence referendum was criticised by SNP leader

Alex Salmond last night. "What Mr Stephen should do is reflect on the fact that by a margin of more than two-to- one, Liberal voters support an independence referendum, and by a similar margin they oppose a continuing coalition with the Labour party," Salmond said.

"If they continue to stay in Labour's pocket, then they will be destroyed by the electorate. If the SNP win the election, then we will be entitled to ask for a mandate.

"That is the decision of the electorate and a party that tries to gainsay that will find themselves in desperate trouble with the Scottish electorate."

Liberal Democrats not democratic about Scotland

From: Letters (Glasgow Herald) September 25 2006

AS A former Liberal Democrat activist who returned my party card after 20 years in protest at the revolting coup which overthrew Charles Kennedy, I find little in Malcolm Bruce's letter (September 23) to tempt me back. Mr Bruce appears to echo the outright rejection by Nicol Stephen of an independence referendum as some sort of warped "principle".

As a Liberal Democrat I was never troubled by the idea of independence either way. I have certainly never seen it as "separatism" as Nicol Stephen claimed six times in a single interview last week, and there are, indeed, many LibDems within my former party who regard it as a positive move.

I can recall attending fringe meetings on behalf of democratic rights in such countries as Burma, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Tibet and Iran at Liberal Democrat conferences.

Why does my former party oppose the same rights for Scotland, and what are my former colleagues so afraid of losing if Scotland opts for self-determination? Their careers, perhaps? If that is all that remains of our once great party then there is precious little reason left to vote Liberal Democrat next year. With a lot of regret I now announce myself a first-time floating voter in 2007.

Pete Ellis, Marshall Lodge, Station Road, Coupar Angus

A LibDem voter’s reasons for not doing it again
Your letters
September 26 2006

TRY as I may, I cannot do other than deplore the LibDem decision to rule out any form of a pact with the SNP in the certain event of no party winning a majority of votes in the Holyrood election. The greatest thing the LibDems have done in recent years was to vote against the Iraq war. It was a stand that won the admiration of many of us.

Events have shown their principled and clearly thought-out position to be well founded. The war has exacerbated Iraq's problems rather than solved them. Now we have a situation in which more people are dying per month in Iraq than were killed in 9/11, torture is far more prevalent than in the days of Saddam and the country has spiralled into civil war. It was this stand that secured my vote at the General Election.

The LibDems now, however, have apparently jettisoned principle and are only too willing to jump back into bed after the Holyrood elections with the party whose leader, Tony Blair, led Britain into that war on a tissue of lies. Any attempt by the LibDems to argue spuriously that Labour north and south of the border are two distinct entities is farcical. Scottish constituency Labour parties not only send MSPs to Holyrood, they also send MPs to Westminster. And Scottish Labour MPs were among those who most vociferously lampooned Charles Kennedy when he attempted to put the case for not going to war.

Labour deserves to be punished north and south of the border but the LibDems are apparently not prepared to participate in its punishment. In fact, quite the reverse is true. It should be noted that the LibDems have not ruled out continuing in coalition with Labour. And Labour knows that only a big LibDem vote can cause it to retain control in Scotland. In short, yesterday's men and women of principle have, in effect, let it be known that they will be tomorrow's Labour fellow-travellers.

A B Robertson, Window Rock, Innellan.

Letter from Scotsman:

Points of view

Referendum

The Liberal Democrats tell us that they will not enter a pact with the SNP unless the SNP drops its plans to hold a referendum on independence, which is about as silly a statement as insisting that they won't enter into a pact with vegetarians unless they drop their aversion to eating meat. Democrats? You must be joking.

David McEwan Hill Sandbank, Argyll

NEW LABOUR ARE EMBARRASSED BY MEMORY OF JAMES CONNOLLY

The ‘controversy’ of Edinburgh Council having a tribute to James Connolly (Herald and Evening News 14/09) is very interesting because it shows Labour up in their true colours.

What do we know about Connolly? Well we know he was a Marxist socialist who was a brilliant and inspirational speaker in the streets of Edinburgh and in the Meadows. We also know that he was an internationalist who supported independence for Ireland and Scotland and that he put his money where his mouth is. When he saw an opportunity to help Ireland towards independence he took it and was shot by the British state for his troubles.

We know then that Connolly was a highly principled man who was willing to die for his beliefs. He was also a true son of Edinburgh, so surely a monument to this great man would be a ‘no-brainer’ particularly considering that Edinburgh has a huge amount of people of Irish descent. Hibernian FC anyone?

Unfortunately today’s Labour party is a pale pink shadow of the socialism espoused by Connolly. The former leader of the council Donald Anderson even recently branded his own employees, council planners, as ‘Communists’ proving that he does not even know what the word actually means!

Ewan Aitken, the new Labour leader of Edinburgh Council recently tried to distance himself from Tony Blair (no doubt hoping to escape the bloodbath at the next elections) but he still wears the same Rosette and he still supports London rule for Scotland.

James Connolly was a genuine hero of the working classes in Scotland and Ireland. He was one of the most powerful speakers of his generation. Both he and his contemporary in Glasgow John MacLean opposed the horrific slaughter of World War One and the horrific abuse of the people of Ireland by British regiments.

If Edinburgh City Council want to be remembered as cowards and anti-Irish bigots then they are going the right way about it. If they want to line up with the Tories and condemn the memory of a much better man than any of them then of course they can do so, but they should expect an appropriate response.

At the next council and Scottish elections the people of Edinburgh and Glasgow can easily get rid of these so called ‘Labour’ shysters who are embarrassed by the memory of real socialists but are still happy enough to take money from the pockets of trade unionists like James Connolly today.

It’s easy, vote them all out and elect some local councillors who have pride in their own country and believe in a fairer society.

Labour's Brown and Alexander are excellent examples of the Scottish Cringe

An enthusiastic display of the Scottish cringe
Your letters (Herald)
September 11 2006

Wendy Alexander's carefully timed pro-GB polemic on nationalists and nationalism appears to be based on a false premise. Mercifully she spared us from the worst aspects of the Chancellor's Little Englander pitch to the south-east.

It was Boswell who said: "I do, indeed, come from Scotland, but I cannot help it." The Scottish cringe is surely most enthusiastically displayed by those Scots who genuinely seem to believe that Scots are uniquely incapable of taking responsibility for their own affairs and take every opportunity to broadcast that belief. We will doubtless be hearing much more of this in the months to come.

These are the people who have been entrusted with our government for decades and have presided with overweening complacency over its managed decline. They have neither ideas nor interest in how we might genuinely improve our own lot and contribute meaningfully to the wider world as other small, successful independent nations in Europe have done.

Kenneth MacColl, 24 Alexandra Place, Oban.

WENDY Alexander believes that the number of Scots living in England constitutes some sort of case for preservation of the Union. What a pity that on the same day that Wendy's witterings appeared in The Herald, Simon Hoggart in The Guardian described Scots living in England as "immigrants". Union? Wot Union?

Dougie Lockhart, 25 Barnhill Road, Dumbarton.

So first Gordon Brown and now Wendy Alexander are crowing about the fact that nearly 50% of Scots now have relatives in England. Others have pointed out that increasing international exchange of population is a global feature brought about by better communications and transport - but is absolutely no indication of the wish of any country's citizens to be governed from outwith their borders.

However, the reason for Scots having so many relatives in England is a dismal one. As increasing numbers of decisions about Scotland, economic or other, are taken outside Scotland, so the number of graduate-level jobs available in Scotland dwindles. Scotland has always produced more graduates per head than the rest of the UK, but has fewer graduates actually resident in the population. In other words, if they do not want to spend their lives serving burgers, a massive number of our new graduates (the proportion quoted used to be one-third but is no doubt higher now) have to take the long road south. And often never come back.

One swallow doesn't make a summer, and a temporary influx of Polish workers looking to make a bit of dosh before returning home does not counteract the fact that Scotland is the only country in Europe whose population is on the decline. Gordon Brown and Wendy Alexander are proud of this. Gordon Brown's ambitions for himself may scale Mount Olympus.

His ambitions for his country languish at the bottom of the Dead Sea.

Mary McCabe, 25 Circus Drive, Glasgow.

Gordon Brown says the 1707 takeover of Scotland has been really beneficial for Scotland because so many Scots have moved to England.If it was so good for Scotland why, then, did so many Scots leave for a better standard of life to England and so many other countries?

C Donaldson, 59 Kelvinhaugh Street, Glasgow.

SCOTLAND NEEDS A REFERENDUM ON INDEPENDENCE NOW!

The news over the last few days that independence is the most popular constitutional option for the Scottish people will come as a surprise to some. In fact this reflects a consistent trend since devolution (the poll evidence is on our website) and it was the main reason for the formation of the non-party-political referendum campaign Independence First (http://www.independence1st.com/).

Independence First recently wrote to both the UK government and the Scottish Parliament calling for a democratic referendum for the people of Scotland on independence. After 300 years, surely the people of Scotland should be allowed a vote on whether they want the union to continue or not?

The Scottish Parliament responded: “Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998 defines matters reserved to the UK Parliament. [According to this] the government of the United Kingdom is responsible for considering fundamental changes to the devolution framework.” The Scottish Office in London stated: “… the UK Parliament is sovereign and it is for Parliament to decide whether to hold a referendum on any particular issue — and what the terms should be.”

These answers are pretty much what we expected, and utterly unacceptable. The Scottish Parliament wants to pass the buck, while Westminster does not even recognise that there is a problem. In England, Parliament may be sovereign, but in Scotland it is the people. So what are we going to do about it? In Independence First’s case, we plan to do quite a lot, and we hope you, the reader of this article will help.

While Independence First has probably not yet impinged on public consciousness, we have quietly and carefully been doing something very important — uniting the entire independence movement. This, we hope, will be obvious on 30 September, the date of our first march for independence, through the heart of Edinburgh, to end outside our temporary parliament.
The Scottish Green Party officially supports the campaign and will be speaking at our rally on the 30 September, as will speakers from the SSP, Solidarity and the Scottish National Party. The Free Scotland Party, the Communist Party of Scotland, The Scottish Enterprise Party, The Celtic League, The Scottish Independence Party and the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement have also officially expressed support.

Furthermore, Tommy Sheridan MSP, the SSP’s Carolyn Leckie MSP, Colin Fox MSP and Alan McCombes, SNP MSPs Stewart Maxwell and Sandra Whyte, and independent MSP Campbell Martin (who is also speaking at our rally) have added their names to the campaign. The Scottish Independence Convention, whose meetings IF representatives attend is also officially backing our rally. In short, every Scottish independence-supporting party and pro-independence political organisation has backed our call for a democratic referendum on independence for the people of Scotland.

In the run-up to the march and rally of 30 September, Independence First will distribute 10,000 leaflets in Scotland’s major population centres and The Federation of Student Nationalists and Young Scots for Independence will also be notifying everyone on their text referendum supporters’ list.

We believe a strong turnout will provide the much-needed “boot-up-the-backside” the Scottish executive appears to require to take the independence debate seriously.

To attempt to show the enormous latent support for independence we have also launched an e-petition through the Scottish Parliament (posted by Neil Caple National Convenor, on behalf of Independence First). This calls for the Parliament to consider and debate what moves it could make to ensure the early presentation of a referendum on self-determination to the people of Scotland (http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=123).

In the expectation that none of these efforts will have any effect on the unionist-led executive, we will also attempt to influence the outcome of the next election. In the next few weeks, leading artists, writers and musicians will endorse a “one-million-pledges-for-independence” campaign.

This campaign will call for one million Scots to give their support, in both the first and second votes, to parties supporting independence. We believe this figure would be well within the reach of the pro-independence parties and enough to swing the election in favour of independence.

The campaign includes people from various walks of life — political activists of all shades as well as those who have no interest in traditional politics — united by the belief that without independence no substantial progress can be made in Scotland. We are determined not to be divided by the details of our political convictions but to concentrate our energies on turning up the pressure for a referendum on this issue.

Next year is the three-hundredth anniversary of the treaty of union, a perfect time to reconsider whether the British state suits our interests. We don’t think it does, and we believe that a democratic referendum will prove that the people of Scotland, as a whole, agree with us.

Joe Middleton is the Media Officer for Independence First.

New Poll shows Strong Support for Independence

The poll claims Alex Salmond would be a popular first minister

An opinion poll published on Sunday has claimed that independence is more popular in Scotland than the current devolution settlement. According to a Sunday Times YouGov survey, 44 per cent of respondents said they backed a separate Scotland compared with 42 per cent who did not.

SNP leader Alex Salmond was also voted a more popular choice for first minister than Jack McConnell. The poll took place between Tuesday and Thursday and involved 1,200 people. The SNP and Labour are currently neck and neck in terms of popular support in the polls.

"Scots seem to want a Scottish Parliament that is more powerful than it is, that
has better ability to do things differently from London.
John Curtis, Professor of politics at Strathclyde University

The poll, which was conducted at the height of the prime minister Tony Blair's difficulties this week, also showed the SNP on 29 per cent for the first-past-the-post vote and the same level of support for the second proportional representation vote.

Labour support was only one per cent ahead at 30 per cent with a 27 per cent share of the vote in the second PR vote. On this showing, the paper predicts that the Nationalists would take 38 of Holyrood's 129 seats, enough to form a coalition with the Liberal Democrats, Labour's current governing partners, and the Greens.

Labour would narrowly remain the biggest party with 42 seats, down from its current 50. The survey also revealed that a large majority, 64 per cent, of those questioned, favour more powers for the Scottish Parliament while only 19 per cent favour the status quo.

Despite first minister Mr McConnell's high profile crusade to tackle anti social behaviour, 58 per cent of Scots said they believed the problem had become worse since the last Holyrood election. Some 39 per cent say the NHS had become worse and 22 per cent believe standards in schools have also dropped.

John Curtis, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, warned that Labour should advocate more powers for the Scottish Parliament to avoid an electoral backlash. He told the paper: "Scots seem to want a Scottish Parliament that is more powerful than it is, that has better ability to do things differently from London.

"All of the other parties in Scotland are looking to go into the election wanting to change the devolution settlement and it seems to me that the Labour Party ought to be too."

Support Doubles for Scottish Independence

MORE Scots now favour living in an independent nation than remaining part of the United Kingdom, according to a poll that appears to show devolution has fuelled independence support in Scotland. A YouGov poll, commissioned by The Sunday Times, finds that 44% of Scots want independence, compared with 42% who favour continued rule from Westminster.

The poll shows support for independence has almost doubled since 2000, a year after the founding of the Scottish parliament. Devolution at that point seemed to have damped down nationalist feeling, with ICM finding only 23% of Scots favouring full independence.

Alex Salmond, the Scottish National party leader, has said he intends to hold a referendum on independence if he wins power. Next year is the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union. Tony Blair’s difficulties and voters’ discontent with policies such as the Iraq war are believed to have contributed to a drop in support for Labour in Scotland and fed through into increased backing for independence.

Some Labour MSPs want the prime minister to resign quickly because they believe his unpopularity is putting the future of the Union at risk. “A lot of us are worried, especially with what’s been going on in London, that the whole thing is going to blow apart if we become disunited and forget the bigger picture,” said one.

The YouGov findings also reflect a disenchantment among voters at the limitations of devolved government. While the parliament at Holyrood has the power to legislate in areas such as health, education and transport, it has limited financial powers and is dependent on a block transfer from the Treasury for most of its budget.

In Scottish elections, the electorate are allowed to vote twice, first for a group of MSPs elected in a Westminster-style first-past-the-post system and second for a group elected by proportional representation. Scottish voters have proved immune to the “Cameron effect” despite the Tory revival in England.

The Conservatives are backed by just 14% of voters, below the Liberal Democrats.

ANTI INDEPENDENCE CRACKS START IN SOLIDARITY

From the CWI site http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/2006/453/index.html?id=pp2.htm proving leopards don't change their spots.

"One of the fundamental reasons for the crisis and now disintegration of the SSP was the leadership's turn away from consistent socialist and working-class policies. As well as their conduct over Tommy Sheridan's resignation and subsequent court action against the NoW, this was also seen by the SSP leadership's turn to left nationalism."

(ie supporting a broadf movement towards independence something completely supported by Sheridan during his time as party leader.)

"The SSP leadership promoted support for Scottish independence on a capitalist basis."

(This is bizarre! But possibly typical, the fringe Brits have never hidden their hatred for the SNP despite the fact that it is a social democratic party and far to the left of Labour.)

"If the Scottish people were in favour of independence socialists would support that as a democratic right, but we would also consistently explain the need to fight to end capitalism, which is the only way out of poverty, low pay and inequality in Scotland. "

(Note, 'if the Scottish people were' the CWI obviously sees no interest in convincing the public of independence.)

"It was the International Socialists who opposed this move away from the SSP's founding policy which was for an independent socialist Scotland." (what move away?)

"This false idea, that independence on its own would offer a route out of continued attacks on working-class people's rights and living standards"

(it's not a false idea, it's a recognition that the people of Scotland should decide their own government and are more likely to vote for socialism than the rest of the UK)

"- which is the norm under capitalism - led the SSP to propose the launch of the cross-party Independence Convention with the pro-capitalist SNP. "

(a positive step forward and an important one towards a mass movement for independence)

It may also lead to the SSP advocating a vote for the SNP at next year's Scottish elections in the seats the SSP does not contest

(an important step in actually winning an election for independence)

It is vital that while fighting for the democratic rights of the Scottish people this new movement for socialism maintains its complete political independence from the pro-market establishment and fights to build a mass working-class party on clear socialist principles.

(ie don't support the SNP or any initiatives towards independence)

They then go on to an irrelevant rant about the SWP. The truth is both the SWP and CWI undermined the SSP from the start. They are died in the wool Brits. It's possible Sheridan's new party will get enough members to swamp these groups but it is obvious that they are still opposing any united Scottish moves towards independence.

INDEPENDENCE FIRST LAUNCHES E-PETITION THROUGH SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

Independence First, the Referendum campaign have launched a petition for a referendum on independence through the Scottish Parliament's E-petitioning system.

The petition reads as follows:

Petition by Neil Caple (National Convenor), on behalf of Independence First,
calling for the Scottish Parliament to consider and debate what moves it could
make to ensure the early presentation of a referendum on self determination to
the people of Scotland.

Mr Caple commented: "Recent opinion polls have indicated that there is a growing wish amongst the people who live in Scotland for Scotland to take control of her destiny and become Independent."

"Independence First, which is a non-party political organisation, would like to hear your views and we would like you to sign our petition in support of holding a referendum on independence as soon as possible."

The petition is available at the Scottish Parliament web site here
http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=123

Mr Caple added: "Please sign this petition and pass this address on."

The will of the people should prevail

Your letters
August 31 2006 (Herald)

Ian Bell is the best columnist currently working in the Scottish press. Yet I want to register my disagreement with the main thrust of his polemic on August 29. If the Scots in next year's Scottish parliamentary elections return a majority of MSPs committed to the concept of a self-governing Scotland then the will of the people should prevail.

The new Scottish government could use the poll results as empowering it to proceed to secede from the United Kingdom and the complex negotiations that would entail. Or it could give the electorate another bite at the cherry with an independence referendum. If a majority voted for independence in the Scottish parliamentary election why should they vote against it in a referendum some months later?

I can't see how, given the nature of the electoral system that now applies in Scotland, any one party could have an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament. A majority vote for a referendum would then require the supportive votes of MSPs from other parties. The Greens are committed to an independent Scotland. The Scottish Socialist Party is similarly committed, though God knows where it will be next year due to its schismatic tendencies. And the Labour Party MSPs could be anywhere.

If it loses power some of its MSPs might vote in line with the people's will as expressed through the election and/or in a referendum. As for the LibDems? Who the hell knows? Given even a sniff of power they can perform the most extravagant somersaults.

Will this happen? I don't know. Nobody knows. But from my earliest teens and as a young socialist I have always fought for the right of self-determination for all nations. The United Nations is predicated on this principle. The rights of small nations are always particularly vulnerable lest they be swamped, in various ways, by the sheer numbers and political cultures of a much bigger neighbour. The Polish people know this to their great sorrow. The Labour left has always supported this principle except, it seems, when it came to the small nations within these isles. The Scottish people never had a say about joining the UK. They have never had a say about whether they want to leave the UK. That can't be right.

Jimmy Reid, 5 Bishop Terrace, Rothesay, Isle of Bute.

Ian Bell is mistaken if he thinks an early referendum on independence will be lost. What evidence does he base this assumption on? Independence First, the non-party political campaign for a referendum on independence for Scotland, has collected every opinion poll we can find on an independence referendum. The results are published at www.independence1st.com/polls.shtml and they show that in almost every poll since the devolution referendum where a simple unambiguous question has been asked the majority has supported independence. Almost 80% of the population favour holding a referendum on independence. Why do the unionist establishment not hold a referendum if they're so sure they would win? The fact they never have held a referendum speaks volumes.

I invite anyone who would like the Scottish Parliament to hold a referendum on independence to support Independence First's petition which has been presented to the Public Petitions Committee and can be seen at http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?petitionID=123

Neil Caple, Honorary Convener, Independence First, 14 Mill Place, Tarland, Aboyne.

THE hostile, negative tone of Ian Bell's discussion of the SNP's prospects of success next year was not surprising. But it did contain one accurate forecast. In the event of an independence referendum in Scotland the British state will certainly "use every means to influence the choice". Lies will be told, fears exacerbated, pro-Union propaganda will flood the broadcast media and the newspapers, all of which without exception are unionist, and Gordon Brown will come up with some blatant bribery to convince us all of our pathetic dependence on the English taxpayer. There will be many dirty tricks played and this respect the British establishment will be aided and abetted by the CIA. It will not be in the interests of the US for their most servile ally to be weakened by the secession of Scotland from the UK.It would be astonishing in the face of this onslaught if the people of Scotland had the courage and intelligence to vote for independence. I look forward to being astonished.

Iain Hall, 1 Georgina Place, Scone.

SSP MUST RE-FOCUS THEIR ENERGIES ONTO INDEPENDENCE

I have followed the Tommy Sheridan trial with interest and I warmly congratulate him on his victory against the lowest and sleaziest 'newspaper' in Britain.

It is instructive that Douglas Wight has recently been promoted to a features desk in London after his 'useful' stories about Sheridan. I understand he has also been given time off his work recently to write a book. A substantial series of bonuses, but then again Mr Sheridan is a substantial target.

Tommy Sheridan was one of the first people to help organise the Scottish Independence Convention. He was one of the first supporters of Independence First, the referendum campaign. There is no doubt whatsoever that he is a strong and passionate advocate for the Scottish independence cause.

The News of the World offered no proof for it's story, it merely tried to throw so much muck that they hoped that maybe some of it would stick. A jury has provided this rag with it's answer and hopefully it won't be as cavalier with the facts next time someone approaches them with an 'exclusive story' and their hand out for £20,000.

Some of Sheridan's accusers are also strong advocates for independence, and some of his backers, specifically the CWI and SWP are not. Nonetheless I understand that Mr Sheridan has had to take support where he can find it during a very difficult time.

Independence is the lynch pin around which Scottish politics currently revolves. The SSP is a pro-independence party but since Sheridan's term as leader has ended, they have been less active on this question than they should be.

It's important that whoever the SSP elect as their leader in October that they make sure independence remains firmly at the top of their political priorities.

Sheridan and McCombes excellent book 'Imagine' showed that the SSP had a genuine vision which set it apart from the rest, a realistic democratic vision of socialism which is a world removed from the revolutionary hogwash perpretated by some of the more deluded groups on the traditional 'Brit' left.

As a republican socialist I call on Alan McCombes and Tommy Sheridan in particular and the rest of the SSP to put aside their differences and work together to push independence at the next elections.

The SNP can't win independence on it's own, however with the help of the Greens and a resurgent SSP the Scottish parties might yet get a combined one million votes for independence, enough to defeat Labour and the Tories and enough to push through a democratic vote for freedom for Scotland.

Scotland needs a win for independence next year.

Tommy and Alan and the rest, please don't let the people down by squabbling amongst yourselves over irrelevant rubbish about 'he said, she said'. It's all nonsense based on a right wing paper's lies.

The Scottish Socialist Party needs to move on and grow up before it's too late.

English voters 'oppose Scots PM'

A majority of English voters think Scottish MPs should be barred from becoming the UK's prime minister, according to a BBC survey. ICM research spoke to 1,000 people for the poll for the BBC's Politics Show.

They were asked whether it was right for a Scottish MP to be prime minister now Scotland has its own parliament. While 45% of those questioned across the UK thought it was okay to have a Scottish PM, 52% were opposed. That figure rose to 55% in England alone.

However, just 20% of those polled in Scotland were opposed to an MP from north of the border becoming prime minister.

Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond said the findings were "bad news" for Labour.
"It means the current prime minister is deeply unpopular in Scotland while the future prime minister is unacceptable in England," he said. "It shows Gordon Brown's new-found Britishness cuts no ice north or south of the border."

However, a Labour spokesman insisted: "The people of Britain will pick the next prime minister based on his ability to deliver a strong and stable economy and a secure future."