Independence Campaign Review (Believe in Scotland 2024)
Believe in Scotland in a nutshell - We campaign for Scottish independence.
We are a collaborative movement of 142 local and national independence campaign groups. A fully democratic campaign with 33 elected members to our National Campaign Steering Group truly representative of the grassroots Scottish independence movement.
What makes us different is that we are 100% non-party political and focussed on reaching outside of the social media Yes bubble, reaching the undecided with positive messages on independence.Â
Our Goal is to make Scotland become an independent nation. We believe that independence is the only way to make Scotland a fairer, greener, wealthier, healthier, happier and more successful country.
Our Mission is to help the grassroots movement professionalise, to educate and engage, raise funds, and access materials that will help them reach both undecided and open minded No voters.Â
Here are just a few of the highlights of Believe in Scotland’s independence campaigning and educational activities in the last twelve months.
Denmark Showings
Targeted Regional Indy Campaign DaysÂ
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The Glasgow March and RallyÂ
Always a highlight of the year, our March and Rallies for Scottish independence continue to offer a positive atmosphere which many compare to the Yes family feeling of 2014 and that is exactly what we are aiming for.Â
Having heard that the Tories were planning an early May election we decided to hold our Glasgow Rally on April 20th for maximum impact. The quarterly economic figures not being what the Tories had hoped for, they delayed the GE a couple of months but that didn’t dampen our spirits. Â
A partnership with Pensioners for Independence, the March and Rally was the best attended of the year. Believe in Scotland and Pensioners for Independence brought the Yes movement together at this event to campaign for Scotland’s independence but also to highlight the need for a Wellbeing Pension in an independent Scotland.Â
The event was highly inclusive of the movement with representatives from the four main independence parties invited to speak alongside key grassroots Indy activists and leaders, trade unionists and creatives. The speakers included: Humza Yousaf - First Minister of Scotland, Pat Kane - Musician and Campaigner, Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp - Founder of Believe in Scotland, Marlene Halliday - Pensioners for Independence, James Robertson - Writer, Jane McAllister - Filmmaker and Campaigner, Ross Greer - MSP, Iona Soper - Scottish CND & Secure Scotland. Anti Capitalist Campaigner, Gordon Martin - RMT Scotland Organiser, Richie Venton - Trade Union Organiser, Scottish Socialist Party and was hosted by Eunice Olumide - Author, Broadcaster and Model and Iona Fyfe - Folk Singer and Activist
You can see the video of the event here.Â
Register to vote campaign for GE24
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Our Edinburgh 10th Anniversary RallyÂ
Still Yes Posters
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Believe in Scotland whisky and Still Yes Gin.
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Citizens Convention Plan Published.
The National Campaign Steering Group of Believe in Scotland has proposed a new path to independence for Scotland, one that circumnavigates the unfair and completely undemocratic roadblocks set up by Westminster. A Citizens' Convention means everyone will be heard on this new road to an independent Scotland.
The plan was also reviewed and approved by 256 Believe in Scotland Stakeholder members in our monthly online members meeting on Tuesday the 9th of July 2024.Â
A key goal of the Citizens' Convention will be to form a deep understanding of how independence relates not just to hopes and dreams but also to people's daily concerns, so that we can provide relevant solutions to their everyday problems.Â
In short, it will refocus the conversation on independence from the echo-chambers of social media to a genuine and far reaching national conversation, reconnecting the independence movement with the needs of the people. Then once we have mapped the hopes and dreams of the Scottish people we will challenge the Union via a de facto referendum with the Convention creating a better Scotland plan to be used at the heart of the independence message.  Â
You can download the full Citizens' Convention Proposal discussion paper in PDF format here.Â
Scottish Independence Congress
The Scottish Independence Congress meets four times a year and is open to all independence campaigning groups across Scotland. Believe in Scotland launched its Yes group organiser meetings in 2019 (initially called the Big Yes Gathering), which was renamed the Scottish Independence Congress in Feb 2023.
The Congress is the biggest meeting of grassroots independence campaign groups with an Annual Main Congress in February and it hosts three to four mini Congresses a year to discuss topical issues.Â
The most recent meeting of the Independence Congress was on Wednesday the 21st of August, 119 local and national Indy campaign group leaders logged onto a two hour online conference to discuss Scotland's road to independence in these challenging times. Additionally, the representatives of several groups came together at the same location to be able to collectively agree how to answer the polls. We estimate around 155 campaign group organisers participated in total, demonstrating that the Scottish Independence Congress is the voice of the grassroots independence movement.Â
After a session focussed on the creation of a Scottish Citizens’ Convention the polling session generated overwhelming support for the Believe in Scotland proposal as the way to break the constitutional deadlock.
Polling Results from the Congress
The delegates were presented with six polling questions asking how closely they agreed or disagreed with the following statement. The range of options included: Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Disagree and Strongly Disagree. The questions and answers are reported below with Agree and Disagree options combined to give a single figure but then the breakdown in brackets. EG: 20% Strongly Agree and 20% Agree will be presented as: 40% agree (20%/20%) and so on. Â
Statement 1 - The proposed Citizens’ Convention will be the most effective way to drive citizen participation and civic engagement around creating a better Scotland.
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Agree 91% (50%/41%), Disagree 1% (1%/0%), Neither agree nor disagree 8%
Statement 2 -Â The three pillars approach 1) A strong and competent political arm, 2) An active and coordinated grassroots campaign and 3) A new national convention to engage the Scottish people on the task of creating a better Scotland, is the best way forward for the independence movement.
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Agree - 92% (61%/31%), Disagree 3% (3%/0%), Neither agree nor disagree 5%
You can read more here.
Creating Scotland Events Pilot
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Billboards
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Vote for our next BillboardÂ
Backing the Indy CampaignÂ
Believe in Scotland and our 142 affiliated Yes groups are the indy campaign sometimes feel like we've been fighting a rearguard action, keeping the dream alive for years as the movement struggles with a lack of political progress. Now we are pushing to get the campaign on the front foot and to take the movement with us, that includes the political parties who must stop their politicking and properly champion independence. BUT make no mistake, the grassroots need to step up and Believe in Scotland is the grassroots independence campaign and we are doing exactly that.
There are several ways you can back our campaign, one is to become a Stakeholder member. You can make a monthly donation of any amount, for as little as £5 a month you can become a Believe in Scotland Stakeholder Member.If you would like to donate a higher amount monthly you can do so by selecting a different amount on the join us page.Â
As a Stakeholder Member you will be invited along to our monthly online Stakeholder Meetings, hosted by Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp which can be attended by several hundred members and take place on the First Tuesday of every month. You can join by clicking here.
We are also running our Annual Indy Campaign Crowdfunder and despite difficult times for the political arm of our movement recently we have on the day this report has been published surpassed smashing last year's record total of £88,000.
Click here to take a look at the crowdfunder and related rewards for donations.Â