MSPs have backed Scotland’s right to choose the timing of indyref2. Grand – but hardly a surprise or game-changer. Last night’s vote adds to the tidy pile of Holyrood motions that assert the sovereignty of the Scottish people, yet have failed to provoke a single constructive response from 10 Downing Street. That’s no criticism. What could?
The public knows all the arguments. Scotland’s being dragged from the EU against its will and Boris is hypocritically ignoring the SNP’s (many) mandates whilst claiming the public totally support his own “run-for-the-line” Brexit. What else can our politicians do but restate the obvious – Scots object to being walled up alive for the foreseeable with a right-wing Tory Government we didn’t vote for.
What else can the foot-soldiers do? We’ve marched, delivered leaflets, tweeted and chanted till we’re blue in the face. Still, nothing seems to have changed.
Tomorrow Nicola Sturgeon looks unlikely to pull a rabbit from the constitutional hat that will let Scotland hold a legal referendum in 2020 without Westminster’s permission. Fingers are still crossed that the First Minister surprises everyone and adopts one of the workable proposals volunteered by Joanna Cherry, Mhairi Black and Alex Neil. More likely though, all that will be left to “celebrate” by tomorrow night is the end of EU membership at 11pm.
Gloomy stuff.
No-one could blame Yessers for feeling a little dispirited as they prepare to hear the same brave words trotted out again. We’ve seen and heard it all before.
But there’s one vital difference we may have overlooked. The rest of the world hasn’t.
READ MORE: Alyn Smith: This is not the end of our European story
And that’s who’s coming to town team-handed tomorrow to relay our side of the story. Whether Boris pays any attention or not, the world – via TV companies from more than forty countries – will be watching and listening. And that’s why it’s so important that independence supporters don’t despair. Out there in the court of international opinion, it’s all still to play for.
As Britain makes history, pulling the plug on EU membership, Scotland will be in the limelight too – a focus for foreign governments, academics, bureaucrats, journalists and broadcasters and, through them, members of the public across Europe and the world. People who didn’t even register the case for independence in 2014, now know that Scotland and England are at loggerheads over EU membership (and much besides) and expect to witness a defiant, dignified stand tomorrow. So, let’s deliver it.
Scots must leave the EU with a bang, not a whimper, because our campaign for re-entry as an independent state starts (unofficially) the second Brexit disnae bong.
Our credentials as an EU-compliant, new member state will be under close examination over the next 48 hours. We’ll be judged on what Nicola Sturgeon says – of course.
But the media will also tell a larger story – how Yes groups and ordinary citizens have organised more than a dozen leaving ceremonies across Scotland, without SNP leadership or direct assistance. Our European neighbours will be watching to see how we carry ourselves, how we care, how peacefully we demonstrate, how sincerely we pledge protection for EU citizens living here. Scotland will be on display tomorrow night – jings, even the BBC are coming. So, let’s not let them down.
Why the sudden interest after all these long, coverage-free Brexit years?
Cynics might say the press and media need new narratives to keep the turmoil of Brexit alive, because that pulls in viewers and sells papers. Happily, the possibility that Brexit will break-up the UK needs neither embellishment nor fluffing up. It’s real and even the British media knows that.
Witness the “Tale of Two Mandates” headline in almost every London title bar the Daily Mail after the General Election and the astonishing inclusion of the National in the newspaper review on Radio 4’s flagship Today programme.
Witness the fact that “how to move to Scotland” spiked as a search term, reflecting hopes that an independent Scotland will soon become a safe haven for the hundreds of thousands of progressive English folk, who can’t stand the idea of a decade ruled by Boris Johnson.
READ MORE: Scottish Parliaments votes in favour of holding indyref2
Of course, it helped that Nicola Sturgeon articulated the case for social democracy better than any other leader during the election campaign. But the biggest thing boosting international understanding of Scotland’s democratic deficit is now Brexit.
Ironically, Scots didn’t actually rate EU membership as an important issue, compared to austerity, independence, the climate crisis and services like the NHS and education before 2016. So maybe we still under-estimate the impact of our strong Remain vote in London, Europe and the rest of the world. But English voters have certainly registered that Scotland votes differently, and there’s been an upsurge of sympathy amongst Remain-voting Londoners. Sympathy and a bit of envy.
I’d imagine both emotions will soar tomorrow, if even a fraction of the promised TV coverage in Edinburgh and Glasgow actually materialises. Not to mention the dozen smaller celebrations, candlelit vigils and protests taking place around the country.
Because Scots will be doing it for everyone in Britain who cannae – we’ll voice the feelings and aspirations they have, but cannae express, organise the poignant, bitter-sweet ceremonies they would like to hold but cannae for fear of antagonising Brexiteers.
And above all, Scots can place our desire to remain connected with European neighbours in a fitting political context – the drive for independence.
Tomorrow night, Scots will be forced to leave the EU – sure. But we’ll leave as optimistic Europeans, not the powerless victims of Westminster intransigence. Why? Because we know we’ll be back.
READ MORE: Brexit day: Events for pro-indy Remainers across Scotland
And so does the rest of Europe.
So, let’s get out there tomorrow.
Yes, the EU has shortcomings, serious ones. Yes, the bureaucratic nature of its proceedings makes the EU a difficult institution to get worked up about. As Alyn Smith put it years ago, the European Union is more like a giant weights and measures department, with ambitions that may yet prove beyond its station. But it’s also the most useful international platform, independence campaigners can inhabit.
A bit of our identity is being removed – that hurts. EU citizens will face a dodgier situation than before – so solidarity drives us too. And that’s why there’ll be the most extraordinary demonstration of people power across Scotland tomorrow – with full details compiled at thehub.Scot.
Ye cannae choose which issue finally ignites smouldering discontent and creates a breakthrough. For the Norwegians, the last straw in 1905 was consular representation at fishing ports – hardly the weightiest objection to rule by the Swedish king and more like catching Al Capone out with fluffed paperwork.
But it worked.
Yessers didn’t expect EU membership would become the issue that prompted a great rush to the barricades; we know Boris will unquestionably ignore us (again) and maybe even fear that our arguments are well-worn and even repetitive -- but remember, what’s familiar to us is brand new to others.
Chins up.
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