WE hear a lot about the need for more activity on the independence campaign, but very little about what the SNP government strategy should be.
Now, history tells us that most politicians get blown off course by events, often by events they could not foresee. It would seem wise therefore in developing a strategy that Nicola Sturgeon should be looking ahead and trying to anticipate what political events are likely to be prominent and how her government should be preparing for them.
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There are two big political issues which lie directly ahead of us and which can’t be avoided. The first of these has already started, which is the way we accept politically and economically the end game of the pandemic and build recovery. We now know what Johnson the Clown is going to do here, because he has started to do it. He will make exaggerated claims about England achieving freedom and try to win popularity by providing this at face value, while he is planning new austerity economic measures which will devastate the incomes of ordinary people, without attempting to redevelop the economy.
This policy will fail dramatically, because even his huge media army will not be able to hide from the UK public that the pandemic policy is shambolic and that people’s economic future is bleak.
By contrast Nicola Sturgeon should be coming out of the pandemic cautiously and pressing for new economic public investment in renewable energy in sustainable infrastructure and in combating climate change.
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Not only will this challenge Johnson’s austerity plans, it will fall in line with the developing world view on climate change which will centre round the Glasgow conference in the September.
If Sturgeon is seen to be pressing hard for major public investment in renewables while using Scotland’s limited resources to do this in Scotland, then world leaders, and the world’s press will support her position and this will leave Bojo the clown out on a limb.
That will build the case for independence in Scotland and in the wider world, and under-mine any attempt by Johnson to stop Scotland from holding a democratic referendum.
Andy Anderson
Saltcoats
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