Local Groups

Hit the Road, Jack!

MmH

Last week Greater Glasgow Pensioners for Indy staged a demonstration in Atlantic Square outside the UKGov Glasgow Hub. This is a substantial office building housing several thousand employees and known – in Indy circles – as Governor General Alister Jack’s Glasgow HQ. He has another HQ over in Edinburgh.

Mary McCabe and the Glasgow P4Indy Stall Team, who organised the demo, were pleased with the turnout. People came up from Dumfries & Galloway, over from Edinburgh, Fife and Hamilton. We got toots from passing traffic. The Polis even showed up and chatted to us!

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The Scottish Independence Podcast team and took some photos:

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Why Have the Demo?

Before the actual demo, the Scottish Independence Podcast team helped us record a chat with Mary McCabe about how the demo came about and why they were doing it. We were amused to discover that the video was banned by TikTok. Maybe TikTok decided we were encouraging a pensioners’ insurrection YouTube must be used to insurrections as they were happy to host us. Here it is:

Glasgow Pensioners take on the UK Governor General!

MmH

Our Greater Glasgow group are out on our stalls twice a week in the city centre in Argyl St, and every fortnight out in Milngavie. But later this month they have a different sort o action planned: a demonstration outside the UK Government Glasgow Hub in Atlantic Square, Glasgow, G2 8JQ.

The Scottish Independence Podcast team met up with Mary McCabe to find out more:

Everyone is welcome to join in. Just turn up at midday or thereabouts for an hour.

Please share this blog post and the video.

UK Supreme Court Ruling – 9.30am, 23 Nov

MmH

The UK Supreme Court has announced that it will give its ruling on whether the Scottish Government has the power to run an independence referendum without Westminster’s agreement. You will be able to listen to the ruling on Supreme Court TV. It will begin at 9.30am Wednesday, 23 November.

If the ruling is yes, then we’re on for a referendum next October. If the answer is no, then it will be very clear that UK is not a voluntary Union and that Scotland is not able to pursue its own wishes as shown by its political choices. Either way, 23Nov will mark a tipping point in our Independence campaign.

At present there are eleven demonstrations set up around Scotland on 23 November. More are being added each day. So check the Time for Scotland website to see if there is one near you.

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, Borders, Dumfries, Greenock, Inverurie, Perth, Skye….. You can find out all details of where and when to meet on Time for Scotland.

Lesley Riddoch has been the flag-bearer in setting up these events. Here is what she says about the importance of these demonstrations:

Why are we organising for Supreme Court decision day? 

The Scottish Government has made a reference to the Supreme Court to establish whether the Scottish Parliament has the power to hold an independence referendum. The case was heard on the 11th and 12th of October. 

The verdict will be made public on Wednesday 23 November. That day Yessers must turn out for media who are almost bound to be in Edinburgh and will otherwise do pieces to camera outside an empty forecourt at Holyrood. Will a rally outside the Scottish Parliament get TV coverage? Well, it did on Brexit Day 31 Jan 2020 when 2-3 thousand folk gathered to demonstrate our opposition to Scotland being hauled out of Europe against the people’s will. It was a significant date and the media were in Edinburgh to tell the story of Scotland’s very different reaction to finally leaving the EU. The rally ensured they got the message that Scots actually care with colourful, visual banners, home-made placards and pipes. Filmmaker Charlie Stuart made this short video showing just some of the 15 UK and foreign broadcasters he spotted that night. 

Really positive images of indy supporters went right round the globe that night. The chances are very high that we can do it again the day the Supreme Court’s decision is announced. But we need to gather that same day – not wait till it’s more convenient.

The Case Against Global Britain

MmH

You’ve probably heard the slogan ‘Global Britain’. It emerged as a sort of call to action post-Brexit. It’s mostly heard down in Westminster and mostly emanates from Tory Party politicians, activists and apologists. Though you’d probably find some UKIP and Brexit Party members mouthing it as well. If there are any of those still paying their subscriptions.

Actually Global Britain is actually more than a post-Brexit slogan. It’s an organisation set up 20 years ago to pursue that Brexiteer vision of a UK freed from EU shackles. And yes, with it come echoes of those times when a lot of the globe appeared pink on on atlases and maps. If you want a look at their agenda, look here.

But is there any real substance in this offer of renewed economic strength and global influence? Or is it a mirage?

Robert (Andy) Anderson of Yes Perth City has pulled together a lot of information, found financial trends, made comparisons with other countries and other decades, and put them together in this video.

UK Unionist supporters continually attack Scottish Independence. This is a look at their Global Briain to show that it is actually failing us all.

Lobbying for Indy?

MmH

Might lobbying techniques be useful for Indy campaigners? And now that ScotGov has fired the starting pistol for the indy campaign, maybe a lobbyist sympathetic to Scottish independence could give us a few clues as to what might be worth considering? So in July, our Greater Glasgow group asked Grant Thoms if he’d talk to us about lobbying.

Grant Thoms

Grant is currently a part-time lecturer in public relations at the University of Stirling and runs his own communications consultancy working with social enterprises and small businesses. Previously he was the  Vice Chair for Political Engagement on the Board of the Scottish Training Federation where he led on STF’s involvement with MPs, MSPs and councillors. 

The video of the meeting will be broadcast as one of IndependenceLive Media’s Indy Jigsaw Series in September. We’ll add to that when we have it but in the meantime, here is the audio of the talk and discussion.

When Grant talked to us, he was recovering from a bout of Covid, so bear with him when his voice gets a bit croaky.

Grant had a few slides which he referred to during his talk:

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