Building Hope & Optimism in Scotland
It’s a strange sensation to look back at the first independence referendum.
Because despite ultimately ending up on the losing side, reflecting on the Yes Scotland campaign brings to mind a deep sense of hope and optimism. The contrast with the tone set by Keir Starmer’s new government this summer – ‘things can only get worse’ – is stark.
The great attraction and the impulse which drove the Yes movement in 2014 was the possibility of a politics that wasn’t stuck in the misery of managing decline.
It was instead a politics that spoke to, and aspired to, something bigger and better. The basic belief that the future doesn’t have to be the same as the past. The simple and powerful idea of building a new Scotland together, a new state crafted by the ambitions and values of the Scottish people.
The hope and optimism in the DNA of that campaign is something we must always strive to repeat.
But it is also important that we who were on the Yes side have respect for those who disagreed then, and those who continue to disagree now. In 2014, many believed that they were arguing for their families and their country. After all, Scotland belongs to them as much as it belongs to those in favour of independence.
10 years ago, they won the day. But, if they were being truly honest, even the most hardcore element of ‘Better Together’ would surely admit that they didn’t realise how much the union they were selling at the time would change and corrode.
The last decade has been defined by a Brexit Britain that is messily managing its own decline.
For Scotland, it has meant being removed from our natural home in the European Union – the largest of all economic black holes that doesn’t even get a mention in Westminster these days. It has meant Boris and Truss – who we are all still paying the price for. And it has meant suffering Tory austerity, which the new Labour Government seems determined to repeat.
But any unionist self-reflection must be match by those of us in the Yes movement.
After all, we lost the referendum. We need to constantly understand why that happened, and we need to understand why we have not been successful in delivering independence since.
We should also be honest in admitting that it never has been, and never will be, an easy path to self-determination.
At times over the last decade, we were at fault in giving that impression. We convinced ourselves that it was always just around the next corner and all that was needed was one last push – in place of putting in the hard yards, patiently persuading those who can still be convinced.
A decade on, the Yes movement must also recognise that the failures of Brexit Britain alone can’t be our sole or primary argument. Instead of resting and relying on the failure of the British state, the real motivation of our message must be the potential and possibility that Scotland is so rich in.
Our offer to the Scottish people is that Brexit Britain is not as good as it gets. We believe that becoming a normal independent country in Europe can meet our people’s daily needs and their aspirations.
Taking decisions about Scotland in Scotland offers the opportunity to build a nation where prosperity and fairness go hand-in-hand. With independence, Scotland will have the tools to create policies that work for its people. An independent Scotland will:
Strengthen Our Economy
With full control over economic levers, Scotland could prioritise Scottish industries, create high-quality jobs, and boost trade through access to the European Single Market. We will build an economy focused on the wellbeing of all citizens—one that encourages innovation, supports small businesses, harnesses the talent of our workforce and develops economic growth.
Protect and Enhance Our Public Services
The NHS will remain free at the point of use and with independence it will be enshrined in Scotland’s constitution, and insulated from the threat of Westminster privatisation. By taking control, we can reject Labour austerity and invest in our schools, universities, and hospitals, ensuring everyone who has made Scotland their home has access to world-class public services.
Re-gain access to the European Union
Brexit was a choice Scotland did not make, yet its negative impact on trade, education, and migration has been profound. Independence will allow Scotland to rejoin the European Union, rebuilding our strong ties with Europe and ensuring Scottish businesses, students, and workers benefit from access to the world’s largest trading bloc.
Build a Fairer Society
An independent Scotland will have the power to create a fairer nation that supports our most vulnerable and promotes social justice. With independence, we can implement policies that address the root causes of poverty, improve wages, and ensure that no one in Scotland is left behind.
Ambitious on Climate Change
With Scotland’s vast renewable energy resources, independence will allow us to be world-leading in tackling climate change. By investing in green energy, creating sustainable jobs, and working to ensure a just transition, we can build a better future for generations to come.
So, 10 years on, what now and where next?
It is another strange reflection that the Yes and No campaigns are now united by an uncomfortable truth. Neither side, nationalists nor unionists, have yet been successful in convincing the public of the overwhelming case for either independence or the United Kingdom.
Until such a time, the immediate relevance of the constitutional debate will remain.
Unionism can’t wish away the desire for independence. And no matter how deeply we believe that the waves of history are washing towards independence, we can’t force that tide before its time.
The Scottish people are cannily biding their time. The choice between Brexit Britain or a new Scotland remains, and when they deem the time to be right they will decide our future.
In that context, maybe this anniversary can be used to embed two democratic principles.
The Yes movement must accept that independence will only ever happen when we make it real to people’s present – not simply a distant desire. And Westminster must accept that they can’t keep blocking all routes to a democratic decision on independence when our people decide the time to be right.
If we agree those two principles, the future will take care of itself. Because the future will lie in the only place it ever should – in the hands of the Scottish people.
