The Yes movement cannot afford to go into winter hibernation

Many of us were involved this summer in a number of vibrant, energising events across the country, allowing a great opportunity to get out there having productive conversations (especially with the undecided). We now need to to think how we carry the momentum through in the cold weather to come. Talking to ourselves is not going to cut it any more.

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I’m sure we can all remember the impact that certain well-targeted bill boards had in the past. For me, one of my first memories was a big billboard at the top of George Street in Aberdeen. A Persil ad – they knew what they were doing even back then. I was only seven years old!

A well-funded Unionist campaign of smears, half-truths and lies is already hotting up and the steady drip-drip effect it could have on everybody’s spirits should not be underestimated. We cannot afford to hibernate or even have a wee nap in the next few months or we will pay the price!

What we need to do is get across a buoyant, positive message, a reminder of what has already been achieved through devolution (a message that gets scant acknowledgment in the mainstream media) and, more important, what could be achieved through independence. Above all a message of HOPE.

Selma’s idea of an uplifting billboard campaign could do just the trick.

Joan Skinner
Edinburgh

SELMA Rahman mentions distribution of one million copies of a paper agreed by the SNP, The National, and groups close to the SNP. Unfortunately, having looked at what is proposed, it might be too party-political for non-party-political Yes activists like the folks in our group.

Selma asks “should it be left to the two main political parties, SNP and Green, to organise, to lead?”

I don’t put my faith in politicians. But it’s a statement of fact that the parties of GOVERNMENT are in a position to do something us firmly non-aligned activists can’t do. They can set out their government’s intentions.

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So, what should they do? To quote our leaflet: “We say the Scottish Parliament should push ahead with organising a referendum now.” As for the parties of government: “A specific target date for the referendum could be set NOW. And as soon as we’ve got a target date, we’ll be campaigning for Yes to independence.” But only the politicians of the SNP and Greens can set a date. And don’t waste time asking Boris: he can shove his “permission” up his erse.

What is a target date? It’s a date you’re aiming at. To take just one possible example out of a great many, Thursday June 16 2022. Is it possible a target date could slip? Yes, of course it could. But if it should, then it will be the enemies of democracy who are to blame for any slippage. We should proclaim their guilt loud and clear.

Selma asks “how can we remain active activists in the coming months? That’s easy. Set a target date. Once there’s a target date, there will be a massive eruption of activity.

Dave Coull
Radical Independence (Angus & Mearns)

THE SNP and Believe in Scotland are presently engaged in the distribution, to a million Scottish households, of an eight-page flyer outlining the advantages of an independent Scotland. It is a promising and welcome move from a government that has shown limited moves in that direction.

In her contribution and referring to the present situation, Kate Forbes, the Scottish Finance Secretary, states that: “What we can’t do is borrow sufficiently to invest”. Later in her article, and this time referring to the bypassing by the Westminster government of the carbon capture plan in the north-east of Scotland, she writes: “Again, it comes back to our inability to properly borrow to invest in all our futures”.

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This seems like a strange comment to make, because it is a fact that any country that has its own, state-issued currency has no need to borrow money for public investment. The state can simply create the necessary money and spend it into the infrastructure of the country, free of debt. I suspect that the idea that an independent Scotland must borrow from the private banking industry is a result of employing advisors from that same private banking industry.

This is outdated, neoliberal thinking, something I’d hoped would be consigned to the dustbin of history by a newly independent Scotland.

Tony Perridge
Inverness

I GAVE one of the eight-age “specials “ to a possible switcher to Yes, and I have to agree with her that there needs to be some “meat on the bones.” Question: if Scotland had full tax powers, how much would that bring into the coffers? Question: if we are rich in renewables, how much will this bring into the coffers? These are still the questions “fencers” need to know. How about it?

Ken McCartney
Hawick

AS the faded glory of Great Britain continues to sink into the mire of Westminster, questions remain about global warming, the pandemic and the ongoing disaster of Brexit. These are all wrapped up in the lies and deceit of a self-seeking Prime Minister and his corrupt and incompetent government, as the United Kingdom disintegrates.

Sadly the Glasgow Climate Agreement was altered, at the last moment, to “phase down” rather than “phase out” fossil fuels. However, let us hope that all the fine words and pledges made at COP26 are honoured and that the world comes together to protect and nurture our beautiful planet. If not, planet Earth will survive but mankind will not.

Grant Frazer
Newtonmore