Latest News & Articles
Ten reasons to be confident of independent Scotland's economic future
Scotland is at a crossroads - should it remain as a region of a stagnant, Brexit-bound UK economy - or step out confidently into an independent future? Last week the Scottish government published a report on how an independent Scotland can build a strong economy, one that is fairer, greener, stronger and considers the wellbeing of the nation as well...
Snap General Election would make SNP official Westminster opposition
Polling by YouGov has indicated that if a snap general election were called, the SNP would be the official party of opposition in Westminster following a crushing defeat for the Tories. This is based on opinion polling for the UK and Scotland which shows Labour would win 529 seats with a majority of 408, the SNP would become the second...
Independence lessons for Scotland from Jamaica
Clearly, there are no direct comparisons between the way Jamaica became part of the British Empire and Scotland. Many British businesses and individuals participated in the slave trade and huge profits were brought back. Scotland's participation in that trade has only recently begun to be acknowledged . Nevertheless, Scotland has strong links to Jamaica - both positive and negative....
Lessons From the Edinburgh Agreement that Westminster Forgot
NEXT WEEK the Supreme Court will adjudicate on the Scottish Parliament’s right to hold an independence referendum. The case comes almost exactly ten years after the signing of the Edinburgh Agreement, setting out the basis for a referendum on Scottish independence. Prime Minister David Cameron and the then Scottish Secretary Michael Moore met First Minister Alex Salmond and his deputy...
Five Reasons Why Scotland Has the Legal Right to Self-Determination
The UK Supreme Court in London is considering whether Scotland can have a referendum on its constitutional future. The case will be heard in the Supreme Court on 11-12 October 2022. This week, lawyers acting on behalf of the Scottish National Party submitted a written case as to why the Scottish Government has the legal right to call a vote....
Labour will collapse in polls (again) if party won't support Scotland's right to self-determination
As the UK Labour conference gets underway the party is again hopeful that it will, for the first time in a generation, be able to lead the next UK Government - probably with no overall majority. The next general election is scheduled for 2024; it is possible it will come sooner than that. But whenever it is, it will be...
The arc of history bends towards independence for Scotland
Ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky famously said “I skate to where the puck is going, not to where it has been.” This is much-quoted by business people - because it says in a line what they spend much of their time trying to do. They aim to get ahead of underlying trends, and focus on the opportunities that those throw up....
New Zealand's century-long journey to independence
New Zealand gradually became independent of the UK in a slow and gradual manner - one tiny step after another until one day they basically realised they were an independent nation. So much so that they do not have an independence day, because no one really knows when it was. This century-long journey to independence might seem rather rapid in...
Lessons from the 1997 referendum - independence is about more than party politics
This Sunday will mark 25 years since the historic devolution referendum on September 11, 1997, which delivered a huge ‘Yes’ ‘Yes’ for a Scottish Parliament with tax-raising powers. It's instructive to look back on that moment of inspiration when Scotland stood together (minus the Conservatives) to do what was best for Scotland. Many in the Scottish independence movement today regard...
Scottish Water - a victory for the Scottish people v the UK Government
Why is Scottish Water still - largely - in public ownership while water companies in the rest of the UK are privatised? The answer is solidarity. The degree of opposition to privatisation was so widespread and so strong right across Scottish society that the UK Conservative government didn’t dare to do it. Recently, Financial Times commentator Camilla Cavendish, in a...
We salute the Yes campaign's local heroes
Let's take a minute to salute the real heroes of the independence movement:The local activists, leaflet deliverers, stall staffers, marchers, flag wavers, banner holders, micro donors, cake bakers, meeting organisers, ambassadors and persuaders. Whilst others complain, you campaign; whilst others shout at the social media Yes bubble, you talk to the undecided. Whilst others ego-blog to get Yessers whooping and...
Boost for Scottish independence from contest for next PM
Well-known Unionist commentator Alex Massie amusingly told Radio 4 yesterday: “If you were to say to me that there will be a referendum in say 15 years' time, I would probably, if pushed, expect Scotland to vote for independence,”. Some might have been surprised to hear Massie concede that Scottish independence is likely, although they might query the...
Media Watch - Scotland's poorest students 50% more likely to get to University than in England
Scotland’s Unionist media used this week’s Higher results as an opportunity to attack Scotland’s education system. They largely did not report that Scotland’s other widening access strategies mean that the percentage of students from the most deprived areas who attend university in Scotland is a whopping 50% higher than England’s. These numbers are rising to record-breaking highs for those from the...
Can the UK still claim to be a democracy?
Q In which country can the leader be elected by party members, without a chance for the population to vote? A The UK Q Which governing body is packed with party donors, personal friends and even relatives appointed by the leader? A The House of Lords Q In which country can a disgraced leader, forced from office for lying, still...
Profile picture frames
Show the world you Believe in Scotland by adding one our frames to your profile picture. 1. Simply click the version of the logo you prefer below and follow the instructions on Twibbonize by uploading your profile picture. 2. Twibbonize will then let you download your profile picture complete with the Believe in Scotland frame.(We recommend the inverted logo...