Tag: Scottish Independence

Security & Defence in an Independent Scotland

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Isobel Lindsay

….. is a well-known peace activist. She was a founding member of the cross-party Campaign for a Scottish Assembly in the early ’80s paving the way for the Constitutional Convention and, ultimately, the Scottish Parliament itself.

These days she is a member of the Scottish Independence Convention and has written a paper on Security for their set of Transition Papers. Isobel met (online) with Glasgow Pensioners4Indy to speak about that paper. She laid out the main Security issues which will need clarified before independence. And with that clarification in place, we’ll be able to achieve a smooth transition and over a shorter time-scale after independence.

You can listen to Isobel here:

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Lesley Riddoch: The Nation Videos

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There are now four videos in the “Nation” series where Lesley Riddoch contrasts and compares Scotland with our northern neighbours. They are of course all small(-ish) Independent nations. Sadly, we though small(-ish) are not Independent. We are highly educated, with a diverse and highly developed economy, so we should compare well with these neighbours, eh? Watch Lesley as she meets and talks to politicians, educators, business people, artists, musicians and innovators in Iceland, the Faroes, Norway and – most recently – Estonia.

Dr Kirsty Hughes: Scotland & the Brexit Deal

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Julia Laurie of Edinburgh & Lothians P4Indy writes:

Dr Kirsty Hughes is Director and founder of the Scottish Centre on European Relations. A researcher, writer and commentator on European politics and policy, she has worked at a number of leading European think tanks. She has published extensively, as well as contributing to a wide range of national and international media outlets. Her recent research focus includes: the UK, Scotland and Brexit. This is link to an article Kirsty published on Monday the 25th of January – England’s Scotland Panic – What is to be Done?

Kirsty talked to us on three different topics, firstly “the previous view of the EU towards the UK  and their views now”, secondly, “the EU view of Scotland”, and thirdly “border issues”. I was going to write a little of what she said, but decided it will be so much more interesting for you to listen to the recording.

Our members had some very interesting questions :

  • Can you explain what article 16 is?
  • Travel and trade issues between Scotland and England when we are Independent.
  • Can Scotland work directly with the EU at the moment?
  • Do you think joining EFTA is a good idea, and would the current members agree to us joining?
  • Will Ireland reunite before Scotland becomes Independent?
  • Also, many questions about the requirement for policy papers, and a firm vision of an Independent Scotland from our SNP government. 

There were many more questions, but I hope the above has given you a reasonable sample of how interesting the Q&A session was.

Our next Edinburgh & Lothians Group meeting:

At our next meeting on March the 9th, our speaker is George Gunn. George  has been a deep-sea fisherman, a driller for oil in the North Sea, a journalist, playwright and poet. 

I  have one of his books, The Great Edge, a story that brings together lives -ancient and modern – on the northern plateau where Scotland stops and starts, where history and myth fuel everyday reality, and where nothing is as it seems It sounds like a fascinating read,  and I  hope to read it before George’s talk.  I think it will be a very interesting and fascinating meeting.

Scottish Constitution Project – Have Your Say

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Have Your Say in the Future Governance of Scotland 

Some 11 years ago a small group of Scots decided to draft a ‘model’ written constitution for Scotland rather than just talk about the need for one.  The Constitution for Scotland Project (CfS) has grown from that modest beginning. It advocates Scottish independence as a matter of community democracy. And it exists to encourage consultation on a draft constitution.

The project has moved on to its next stage. The consultation provides an opportunity for anyone who wishes to contribute to the future governance of Scotland. Scots are invited to contribute suggestions for amendments and additions to the basic draft. In this way, it will become a real People’s Constitution. So we will create it from the grassroots up.

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