IN years to come students of politics, pundits and us oldies (still around) and new oldies will look back at the years 2013-2019 with horror at what we could have had, but what we lost. Since I’m no soothsayer, I’ve no idea what it will be like on Friday morning. But I still remember the feeling that morning, in 2014, being driven back from Ingliston and that result. I never want to feel that way, ever again.

Friday, come what may, is just another day for me, no matter the result. Following on from one of the most bitter election campaigns, I will wait for Tory spin, Labour and LibDems throwing accusations out about tactical voting, but most of all, I will need even just an inkling as to how pro-indy parties, led by the SNP, see the next months panning out: the outline of a strategy.

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The broader picture is so much more clear than previously: Westminster, and all its parties, other than the SNP, put the priorities of England and its voters, its economics and social well being before Scotland. England will be out of the EU, as will Wales (they voted for it, so it could be argued as a “good outcome” in a political context). Northern Ireland gets special treatment but not its desired outcome to Remain, and to quote Humza Yousaf MSP, “Scotland is shafted”!

Wrap all of that up (in eco-friendly brown paper, no Christmassy glitter) – the EU referendum, the Brexit process of so-called “negotiations” to date and the cynical, contemptuous way Scotland was treated during that process. Top it off with the current campaign complete with statements from Tories, Labour and LibDems aiming to crush our democratic right to a second indyref, and our right to self determination, and this election is symptomatic of broken Westminster.

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So why should we stay when we have an alternative? Westminster is prepared to gamble its future when the Tories are in power or believe it possible: and they throw away our future more often than not. Tory voters are in held in awe, spellbound almost, with glib words from grandees and daily spin from Tory-friendly media. This time around, the Tories have made a breakthrough and you don’t need to have second sight to see that. They’ve made it acceptable for Labour voters to openly espouse Tory one-nation Conservatism and be able to proudly broadcast that change in the run-up to voting.

It can’t all be because of Corbyn and his personality, or his previous politics of the 70s. Align that changed political action to the tone of the EU referendum, the inward-looking small-nation nationalism that has emerged, and the Tories have provided a veneer of respectability around “control”, “being in charge” that ensures the distrust, dislike of anyone who can be termed “the other”, the outsider is hidden away.

I don’t think the same is here, I hope not. To be different from our neighbours in England is not to be better, just different. England may vote Tory in some belief of a better future, but former Labour voters will be rudely awakened at how they will suffer in the years to come, with austerity worsened come trade deals.

To quote Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Fein) who spoke Friday last on Radio 4’s Today programme: “Westminster is not the forum in which Irish interests have ever been served”. It is obvious that Westminster in not the forum in which Scotland has been best served, even with a majority of pro-indy MPs. I look forward to post-election time, a strategy and the continued role of the volunteers and Yes movement.

It is not for a PM we do not elect, and a Westminster that does not serve our people, to allow, far worse deny, us our right to self-determine our future. Westminster better listen, cos you truly haven’t heard us roar, not yet.

Selma Rahman
Edinburgh