I’M sorry to admit this, but I think it was right for Scotland to have voted No in 2014. I was too young to have voted myself at the time but I saw the referendum divide my family – my mother was unable to tell my sister she voted Yes until the Brexit referendum result two tears later. And so I tried to stay neutral, telling myself I didn’t care either way.

But I remember the morning of September 19 too clearly, it was a horrible grey soaked morn with sadness and disappointment in the air, and despite my “neutrality” I remember distinctly feeling disappointed, like this great moment I hadn’t had the chance to support had been taken away from me.

Brexit underlined the importance of the No vote in Scotland.

Mostly people point to the fear around the economy and pensions for why No won. But 75% of Remain voters were No voters. The EU has always been dear to Scotland, so much so that we denied ourselves independence to stay in it. And I think that was the right decision.

Had we become independent and outside of the EU while the UK was still European (the Brexit vote wouldn’t have happened when it did, because of the disruption to Camerons plans), the EU would have required a customs border between us and the UK plus Ireland, all while we were still trying to work on a trade agreement with the EU and to be able to enter the single market. Essentially we would have been out of both, who knows for how long, and who knows what damage it would have done.

You only need to look at the UK right now to see that lack of trading partners is a bad thing. Of course Scotland would have returned to the EU, but how long would it have taken? The EU wants Scotland back because of Brexit, because we as a country proved our loyalty with our 62%, we proved that our voice was not listened to and that every possible win against the UK Government should be taken.

The EU will take us back with open arms because it is the most fantastic middle finger to the UK Government. In 2014, however, had we become independent the EU may have been more cautious, fearful that the Yes vote meant we didn’t really care all too much for our European citizenship and just wanted to be independent from both. I believe wholeheartedly that independence is inevitable, that it is a good thing and will mean the best for Scotland but also we cannot meet those who voted No in 2014 and have no understanding for why they did so. Because that is how we win indyref2, not with a “righting-a-wrong” attitude but by mutual understanding, respect and proving this is a new argument, not a rehashing of 2014.

Cally Omensmith
via email

AS one of the people who took part in the AUOB march and rally on Saturday I have to ask, why did independence supporters heckle the speakers?

On Saturday, while the SNP speaker was talking, one rather loud-mouthed idiot was trying to shout him down. First of all, he was too far away to make any difference, and secondly, we are all – irrespective of political affiliations – wanting to achieve the same goal of independence for Scotland. Some of us do actually want to hear what all the speakers have to say, even if we don’t agree with them.

At the time the speaker was telling everyone why the SNP took the petition to the Supreme Court and why they want a verdict of who can call a Scottish independence referendum. After all, it is important to everyone in Scotland! Maybe the loud-mouthed person thinks that the Labour Party or the Conservative and Unionist Party will allow a Section 30, but I’m afraid to tell him that they won’t unless they are certain that they will win! However, every single one of us has to work hard to persuade the undecided to vote Yes, and moreover, try and change the attitudes of our Unionists’ workmates or friends in the pub to come over to our side.

When some of these hecklers shout out “what has the SNP done for independence?” the simple answer is there wouldn’t be a debate right now if it wasn’t for the work the SNP has put in over the last 80-odd years, so where would we be if it wasn’t for them? At the same time, what have the Labour Party, or the Conservative and Unionist Party done, or the Liberal Democrats done to achieve Scottish independence? All the Unionist parties have done is to try and stand in the way of democracy and the will of the people of Scotland! No disrespect to Alba, they are a new party on the scene and as yet have still to get anybody elected to office where they can push an agenda for independence.

As speaker after speaker from both Alba and the SNP have been telling us all summer long, we need to work together to achieve independence and that surely starts with not heckling the speakers when they are trying to update us all on what is happening and what we need to do and know if we are to win. After all, Saturday was the last scheduled event for this year, and it could be about April or May before the next event takes place. We need to start getting the people back to these marches next year to show strength and we need to learn how to persuade Unionists to come over to us, not put everyone off by trying to shout speakers down when they are fighting for what you actually want!

Alexander Potts
Kilmarnock