Tag: Scottish Independence

End Pensioner Poverty. Glagow March for Independence

Let’s End Pensioner Poverty

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End Pensioner Poverty was the theme of Saturday’s march and rally in Glasgow.

End Pensioner Poverty. Glagow March for Independence

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Pensioners for Indy partnered with Believe in Scotland to put on this event. it was a big jog and we have been involved with the planning of it over the past six months. Members from our Fife, Glasgow, Selkirk and Ayr groups were in the steering group, along with some of the Believe in Scotland team.

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Marlene Halliday, who is Treasurer of our National Coordinating Group as well as a member of the Glasgow Group,was one of the speakers at the rally.

There are two suggestions for action in Marlene’s talk. One is about addressing pensioner poverty by creating a Scottish Pensioners Payment similar to the Scottish Child Payment. The second is about addressing the two thirds of older voters who are still not convinced about independence. She intends writing her speech up for the National and if possible talking to Young Scots for Independence at their conference next month.

Here is her speech:

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Mary McCabe, Co-Convenor of our National Group as well as a member our Greater Glasgow group, has written some more about the day:

Saturday was a glorious day in all senses. Even the sun turned out for the first pro-indy march of 2024. 

This was the first time Pensioners for Indy has been involved at the organisational level of a major demonstration (in partnership with Believe in Scotland) and members from our branches in Edinburgh & Lothians, Selkirk, Dumfries & Galloway, Fife and of course Greater Glasgow all brought their banners to march behind the big horizontal banner we’d commissioned for the occasion. Alan Logue, our National CoConvener, brought his Indy-Trailer to park beside our stall. Thanks also to Sheena Stephen and Neil Querns-Anderson who stayed in George Square looking after the stall while the rest of us were away on the march. 

Speakers included First Minister Humza Yousaf, Iona Soper, James Robertson, Jane McAllister, Pat Kane. Other celebrities who turned out included Martin Compston. Marlene Halliday, our esteemed National Treasurer, made a rousing and informative speech on behalf of Pensioners for Indy. She also got to walk along next to Martin Compston at the head of the March!

End Pensioner Poverty. Pensioners for Indy

We were joined by pro-Gaza marchers who chanted “Freedom for Palestine; Freedom for Scotland; Freedom for Everyone.” 

Our flags and T-shirts and Morag Simpson’s delicious fruit cakes flew off the Glasgow Pensioners for Indy stall. I sold a copy of my novel “Two Closes and a Referendum” and with donations we made £188.60.

Onward and Upward. There are at least a dozen more pro-indy marches planned for 2024 with the first (under the auspices of All Under One Banner) being again in Glasgow in a fortnight’s time, on May 4th.

Unfortunately the recording didn’t pick up Mary’s vote of thanks but it did get her very final words of the day. Let’s not forget them.

If you’d like to know more about how the thinking behind putting on this rally and what its aims are, have a look at our blog post Pensioners on the March!

Glasgow Pensioners take on the UK Governor General!

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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

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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

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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.