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Indy X

IndyX in retrospect: Robin McAlpine

Since Indy X in Dunfermline, what progress do you think has been made in advancing the Independence movement?

It seems to me we’ve quite patently gone backwards. I don’t think the most panglossian viewpoint possible would be able to sustain the view that things WERE NOT a mess…

What has your group or organisation added in the last six months that should be featured?

Probably mainly Sorted and work around the care issue, though that might be considered a little more tangential

What next steps do you think we need to take as a movement?

Wait until there is different leadership. I don’t believe any new initiative is possible (certainly not one that will work) unless there is a leadership mentality which will allow it to work

If there was one key message you wanted to share and focus on, what would it be?

We need to sort our house first before we head off on any new wheezes. Until we are in something that, if you squinted, might look a bit like a fit shape for getting things done, we should focus on why we’re not in a fit state. There is no working mechanism via which to do this though.

Any other message or point you would like to make?

My biggest current worry is that there isn’t any remaining source of credibility which is recognised by all. I.e. there is no-one who could say ‘I’ve booked a hall and not only will everyone come, everyone would be willing to at least consider committing collectively to what emerges’. So we don’t currently have any honest broker who could do anything about all of this.

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Indy X

IndyX in retrospect: Douglas Chapman

Since Indy X in Dunfermline, what progress do you think has been made in advancing the Independence movement?

We are days away from getting a Supreme Court judgement (a Win-Win either way) and we have a date for Indy Ref 2. There’s a lot of talk. 

What has your group or organisation added in the last six months that should be featured?

We have initiated and funded a YES Hub in the City of Dunfermline (Yes in the City) and begun a South Fife Coast YES Group. Taken part in a lot of Business for Scotland discussion / activity.

What next steps do you think we need to take as a movement?

Encourage Campaigning towards next October. Work out ways we can work cooperatively towards that one final achievement. 

If there was one key message you wanted to share and focus on, what would it be?

This is not about you! It’s about creating a new nation – one that’s successful, confident, fairer and happier. Leave your ego at the door and think about your kids / next generation. Our legacy. 

Any other message or point you would like to make?

Let’s get on with it and WIN! There has NEVER been a better time for Independence.

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Indy X

IndyX in retrospect: Colette Walker

Since Indy X in Dunfermline, what progress do you think has been made in advancing the Independence movement?

Since Dunfermline the Scottish government has submitted to Supreme Court which until we hear their official verdict, we are in no man’s land, we have seen the creation of Salvo, trying to educate on claim of rights.

What has your group or organisation added in the last six months that should be featured?

ISP has been busy since the local council elections, speaking at several Indy rallies in Glasgow, speaking at events put on by Alba, SSRG, and doing podcast such as Barrhead boy’s ‘ a Scottish Prism’. 

Attending Salvo conference and another couple of their smaller events. It is vital fir the Indy movement for solidarity and cooperation from the wide spectrum of parties & groups supporting a Scottish independence. 

What next steps do you think we need to take as a movement?

We feel strongly that once we hear from the Supreme Court, start of new year, a group such as IndyX, organising a round table event, inviting reps from all Indy parties/groups to work together on a campaign strategy, it’s vital we work as a cross party/group, not one party or person speaks for scotland on such an important matter. We are a democracy after all.  

If there was one key message you wanted to share and focus on, what would it be?

The most important thing is securing Scottish independence, making life a fairer, more humane society to life for all. All Indy supporting parties must work together, we life on a democratic country, we should work in a democratic way to secure independence and beyond. 

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Indy X

IndyX in retrospect: Anne Morton

Over the last few months our SNP Branch has had some young members join and take up posts in our executive.

This has brought new life to our drive for Independence as they have new ideas about connecting with the local community.

This was not directly because of your event but because of the focus from the Scottish Government that October 2023 is a focus.

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Indy X

IndyX in retrospect: Ian Grant

Since Indy X in Dunfermline, what progress do you think has been made in advancing the Independence movement?

Progress in advancing the independence movement. Sadly, I think there has been very little progress in the last 6 months. The SNP Government has come up with a date for a referendum in October 2023, which should have focussed Yessers’ attention on our target, but unfortunately few people believe this is achievable in the timescale.

The alternative of a plebiscite election ( if the Supreme Court rejects a Scottish parliament referendum bill) has not been worked out in any detail. The Scottish Government has produced 3 papers on independence: a comparison with independent European countries, democratic deficit, and the economy, including currency, but lots of questions surrounding independence remain unanswered. This makes on the ground campaigning difficult.

Non party expert groups within the movement have done much good work on currency, the constitution, taxation, defence and other areas, but there has been little or no dialogue with the Scottish Government/SNP. This lack of dialogue reflects disinterest from the Government.

Various books have been produced by the movement, making the case for independence, discussing how it may be achieved, and what a future Scotland will look like. Getting across a positive vision for an independent Scotland is vital.

Actual on the ground campaigning is still fairly sparse and very variable, despite the best efforts of groups such as Believe in Scotland and local Yes groups.

What has your group or organisation added in the last six months that should be featured?

What has your group added in last 6 months? My own local Yes group is largely inactive, but the regional Yes network, Yes Edinburgh and Lothians, is active in a coordinating role. Some local groups in Lothian are very active: Yes Musselburgh is an exemplar of the ideal Yes group, covering its own area and spreading out into neighbouring areas, while Yes for EU has been actively pushing the ‘ independent Scotland in EU’ message all across Edinburgh, including an excellent rally at the Mound recently, which was well attended.

The Scottish Independence Foundation (SIF) of which I am Treasurer remains active with the object of raising money and distributing it to local Yes groups across Scotland. SIF has awarded grants to the tune of £40k in the last 6 months (> £250k over 4 years) but most money recently has gone to larger groups (Believe in Scotland, Common Weal, AUOB, Constitution for Scotland, Europe for Scotland) for large projects. Very little has been requested by or awarded to local Yes groups. However, SIF has supported some local events, including Manniefest in Golspie, which could be a prototype for other local events.

What next steps do you think we need to take as a movement?

Next steps. In the absence of political leadership on independence, there is a need for cohesive leadership within the movement. The movement has fragmented in the last few years, with new groups forming, and some disappearing.

There is a need for the various campaign groups to cooperate and work together. To that end the Independence Forum was formed to promote dialogue and cooperation between groups, with some limited success.

I think the movement has to discuss and agree plans and policies for independence rather than await edicts from on high from the SNP , Scottish Government or indeed other political parties. To achieve that, I think an Assembly of the Movement is required next year to firm up the case for independence, setting up a new independent state, and initial policies on key issues (currency, borders, Europe etc), given that there is no clear lead from Government.

If there was one key message you wanted to share and focus on, what would it be?

Key message. Scotland has huge potential to be a successful, self-governing country. We have a long history of being an independent state, and even post-union we have developed distinctive Scottish institutions which have stood the test of time despite the pressures on them from the union.

These institutions encompass religion, the law, medicine, finance, and education. We have had a parliament again since 1999, but unlike the pre 1707 parliament, it is subservient to the UK Parliament, and is under constant attack. Indeed the whole country is being denigrated on a daily basis by the media and politicians from outwith and also from within Scotland.

To be successful, there has to be a unifying force, a sense of coming together and working together to make our country the best it can be. This is not just in relation to independence, it includes community projects, addressing global issues such as climate change, cultural and sporting events and national celebrations. However, without independence and a national media, it is unlikely to happen. I believe this ambitious future cannot happen as long as Scotland remains in the UK.

Success also requires a Scottish Government which listens, takes advice and speaks to the nation as equals, promoting open discussion and decision making. We, the people, need to take ownership of our country.

Any other message or point you would like to make?

It is essential that we consider the implications of not achieving a valid referendum (eg due to Unionist and media boycott, or an inappropriate franchise) and issues surrounding a plebiscite election ( what does the result mean), and look at other approaches, for example to the United Nations or International Court of Justice if referendum or plebiscite election routes are blocked. Work on these issues must continue in the background.