THE UK Government’s argument against another independence referendum asserts: “People across Scotland want both their governments to be working together on the issues that matter to them and their families, not talking about another independence referendum.” I’m sorry to have to tell them that this is not quite true.

Yes, I want to see our Scottish Government working to protect our education system, and our legal system, and our NHS, all of which are outside the domain of Westminster. I also want to see much less interference by Westminster in matters that have been devolved to Scotland – like giving money directly to local councils without any input from Holyrood. Funding of local councils is a matter for Holyrood, not Westminster.

But, alas, I can’t trust Westminster to deal properly with the other matters that presently lie within their control, like the high cost of utilities and oil. All of these have been taken out of government control and placed into the hands of private enterprise by Westminster.

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The request, many years ago, for a state oil company to drill for the oil in the North Sea was refused, and instead vast reaches of our waters were sold into private hands, and even sold to Norway, who now make around 10 times as much from Scotland’s oil as Scotland makes. Not only that but Scotland’s only crude oil refinery is now owned by an American billionaire – sold to him by Westminster. All the profits Scotland could make from that go instead into his pocket.

But there’s another side to it. Westminster has already sold much of the English NHS into private hands. I recall a recent instance where a certain billionaire sued the English NHS for several million pounds of damages because they did not grant his application for a piece of it. Using their Withdrawal Bill and the English Bill of Rights, it’s possible that they will also sell our NHS into private hands. Maybe to the American drug companies who are champing at the bit to get their hands on it.

So, as well as “getting on with the day job”, I want to see the Scottish Government making strides towards independence. Unfortunately, like Glenda Burns, in her letter on Friday, I don’t see them making any positive effort. Indeed, the article on Wednesday by Alyn Smith (Yes movement must be as dedicated as our athletes) only serves to underline this. Although he states that we need to keep working every day, he doesn’t really give us any lead as to how we should achieve this. He then ends up by stating we should “keep the heid, keep disciplined and keep focused on the finish line.” Sorry, but the SNP have done nothing about providing a finish line – other than a provisional date – and they don’t even seem to be participating in the race.

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Where are their officials? How many of them are visiting local areas to talk to the people? When was the last time any one of them actually spoke to their constituents in a town hall, with a view to explaining how they will get independence for us, and what it will look like when we get it?

On the other hand, Alba is out there telling people about independence; handing out the “Wee Alba Book” that outlines their vision of it; and discussing the various possible routes that might be available to us beyond the denial of a referendum and the and the high-risk strategy of using a general election as a plebiscite, when people will vote for the party they support and not for independence.

There has been a meeting in Dunfermline and another in St Andrews in the past couple of months, with others planned over the coming weeks. I would encourage anyone who is fed up with the SNP’s lack of action to visit Alba’s website, find a meeting near you and go along.

Charlie Kerr
Glenrothes