YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US.

YOU ARE INVITED TO SUMMER 2014

Can you remember that time?. The spirit and ambition. The unity and determination. How those qualities drove the Independence cause forward and the polls reported steady progress and the panic amongst the Unionists rose to epidemic levels.

All this caused by a United campaign as all strands of the Yes Movement, official and unofficial came together and the people of Scotland, or to use the phrase of the moment “the sma folk” raised their hopes, abandoned years of frustration and apathy and genuinely believed things could change. There could be a better, fairer Scotland. For themselves Yes,  but overwhelmingly for their children, they wanted that better Scotland.

We came close, but in those last few days, the UK Government broke the rules, broke Purdah and created new promises and pledges. Working with the Daily Record they once again lied to many Scots with the infamous Vow that promised Scotland all sorts of new powers and benefits. There was no need to vote for Independence as the most powerful devolved Parliament was Scotland’s for the asking. We were also reminded if we wanted to stay in the EU and Single Market then that could also only be secured by voting No. What a lie that turned out to be. 2021 and we are out the Single Market and Scotland’s powers are being reduced, removed.

After the vote, the very next day the UK GOVERNMENT acted, not to implement the vow, no they introduced English Votes for English laws, debarring Scots MP’s voting on a wide range of English issues while leaving English MP’s free to vote on Scottish issues. Even when the SNP held 56 of 59 Scottish seats, they could be outvoted anytime by the required number of English MP’s sitting on the committee dealing with Scottish affairs.

Now almost seven full years later, Independence has been stalled pretty much where it was in the autumn of 2014. The SNP have secured further mandates but have no idea or plan how to use them. Ian Blackford in particular made strong statement, after strong statement promising Scotland would not be dragged out the Single Market. Until Scotland was dragged out the Single Market against Scotland’s wishes. Then the SNP finally acted. They stopped making any speeches promising any action. It was a humiliation.

The cycle continues as it will for years more if nothing is done. Give us a mandate, put it in the cupboard for use at the “right time”. Assure everyone there is a secret plan. Years pass, it is never the right time. When folk demand to know the plan, add a few more points on and make more promises about action, but take none. Before you know it’s time for another mandate and the useless cycle continues.

Not this time it doesn’t. The position has changed. A sizeable part of the YES movement has had enough of the pointless and ineffective posturing. ALBA has been formed and is intent on bringing Independence campaigning alive again in Scotland.

Despite being less than three weeks old it has already turned this into an Independence election with the exciting idea of creating a Supermajority at Holyrood that transforms the debate. That proposes starting Independence negotiations on the 7th May. 

The most exciting thing though is the spirit of Summer 2014 is being recreated. Here is a Party, a movement totally focussed on Independence, prepared to put in huge efforts across the country, hoping to deliver not for ourselves but for the community of Scotland recreating the hope, the inspiration, the determination to be successful. Restoring to the poor and disenfranchised a belief that we can change Scotland  for the better. We are eliminating apathy and replacing it with energy and hope.

Here is an interesting statistic, the normal ratio of activist/ members of a political party is between 10-15%. Alba organisers are telling me with Alba it is around 80% and we will need every one of them. That is the spirit of 2014 I am writing about.

Make no mistake, we know what a gigantic task we face, the incredibly short timescale available to deliver, but you know something, I think we will do it. Why, because we must, if not us who? If not now, when?

Scotland is at the crossroads, the Independence cause currently moves forward, if at all, at a snails pace. All around we witness Westminster moving steadily and at increasing pace, removing powers and erecting obstacles that our current leadership seem unable or unwilling to contest or defeat. The outlook is exceedingly bleak if our only hopes are in the hands of those who lack ambition and the courage to open up a whole range of different opportunities that are available to us but that require real determination and yes, risk, but which can be spectacularly successful. Calculated risk is an essential ingredient in winning a nation’s freedom. Much more effective than timidity and fear. There are huge, much bigger risks in doing nothing, more building up every day! Your position just weakens. That is what is happening at the moment.

ALBA HAS A PLAN. A REAL ONE THAT EXISTS. THAT CAN BE DELIVERED QUICKLY AFTER THE 6th May by a Parliament that has a Supermajority. A United Parliament seeking Independence.

Who can make it happen? Well that is you, the “sma folk” of Scotland. You need to come together quickly, this week, you need to contact Alba at http://www.albaparty.org and volunteer to join our campaign. Relive the spirit of 2014 or if you were too young then join in now and experience the joy and pleasure of being part of something bigger and better than any of us and which can deliver so much for your family and fellow citizens and friends.

Be part of it

I am, as always

Yours for Scotland.

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