Pages tagged with "Believe in Scotland"

Planting trees to offset your carbon footprint is easier than you might think and it’s just one of the ways we can all make our own contribution to combatting climate change. You can find Believe in Scotland’s Corporate Grove here.

Back in November, Scotland, specifically Glasgow, hosted COP26. At the end of the conference some progress was announced to great fanfare. However, in our opinion the underwhelming progress announced amounted smoke and mirrors rather than the radical change we require. 

We sincerely hope that an independent Scotland will lead the way in showing the world how to address environmental wellbeing. Indeed, according to a new report on energy production in 2022 Scotland generated 98% of its energy needs from renewable energy sources. 32,031.2 GWh - approximately 24% of the UK’s renewable energy total despite possessing only 8% of the UK’s population.

As we campaign, we are very much aware of our carbon footprint. In 2021 Business for Scotland and Believe in Scotland distributed almost 2 million items of campaign materials throughout Scotland. That included 850,000 leaflets, 60,000 copies of a 24-page newspaper and 1million copies of an 8-page newspaper, as well as tens of thousands of campaign materials such as books and badges. To top it all off hundreds and sometimes thousands of mugs, postcards, and canvasses were also purchased several hundred billboards (although those were mostly electronic). 

Unable to use recycled paper across the board, all of our paper materials including our Scotland the Brief books have been registered with carbon offsetting schemes. Our 1,060,000 newspapers were also printed on 100% recycled paper, but we want to go further - further than just carbon neutral, we want our campaign to be significantly CARBON POSITIVE - so we have set up the Believe in Scotland Grove. 

Every month we will plant new trees to make our campaigning activity carbon positive. We also want to make sure that the trees planted were actually in Scotland, so we have decided to support Trees for Life to plant and pay for new trees and helping to reforest Scotland's amazing natural landscape.

We believe this will assist in helping to alleviate the impact of climate change on the planet and grow new habitats for rare insects, animals, and plant life boosting Scotland’s biodiversity. If you would like to help us, or to offset some of your own carbon footprint, go to our Corporate Grove, and click “Add to the Grove” and donate a tree for just £6.00 to Believe in Scotland's Grove as a one-off, or by setting up a regular direct debit.

You can calculate your own carbon footprint using various online calculators - WWF provide just one of them and you can offset your carbon by adding trees to our Grove. Trees for Life calculates 6 trees offset 1 tonne of CO2. So 1 Tree = 0.16 tonnes CO2.

Your tree(s) will help to rewild the Caledonian Forest, a rich habitat found only in the Scottish Highlands. It will be a sapling grown from locally collected seed and will be one of a number of species planted such as Scots Pine, Willow, Birch, Rowan, Hazel, Alder, Holly, Aspen and Bird Cherry. The Believe in Scotland grove will be planted at one of Trees for Life’s remote sites in the Scottish Highlands. Trees for Life plants in remote areas best suited to the return of the Caledonian Forest such as on their conservation estate, Dundreggan, situated near Loch Ness, and Glen Affric National Nature Reserve.  Believe in Scotland is also seeking to sponsor peat bog restoration projects which can be up-to 10 times more efficient at carbon capture than planting trees. 

Believe in Scotland is a campaign to create a better, fairer greener, healthier, and happier Scotland. We wish to replace the outdated tired old ideas of left and right tribalism in politics with an enlightened Wellbeing led socioeconomic approach to policy and we believe this requires the full powers of independence for Scotland.

You can also become a Believe in Scotland member and support our campaign - Join us.

The Scottish parliament is under attack from Westminster.

 In 2014 Scotland was promised it would become an equal partner in the Union if it rejected independence.

Instead we were dragged out of Europe against our will and are now seeing essential powers being stripped from our parliament.

Brexit was a clear message from Westminster to Scotland. It proved that Scotland could not trust Westminster politicians’ promises to respect Scotland’s wishes and that we could always be outvoted as long as we remain in the UK.

Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster and Scotland’s exporters have been hit harder than the rest of the UK. Our exports to Europe have been slashed, by more than 80% in some sectors. Scotland's economic output slumped by 5% in the third quarter of 2021, more than double the British drop of 2.1%. 

Northern Ireland fared better because under its Brexit deal it retained access to the EU single market. Westminster refused to listen to the Scottish government case for similar access, just as it refused to listen to our requests for a softer Brexit and a place at the negotiating table.

The UK Conservative government is now stripping back the powers given to the Scottish parliament under devolution. It has passed the Internal Market Act to seize control of money once distributed throughout Scotland by the EU. It now spends that money on projects which should be controlled by the Scottish government but wont even consult with Holyrood on where the cash should go.

That same power grabbing Act allows Westminster set standards on crucial issues such as hormone-injected food and single-use plastics, undermining the Scottish parliament. Scotland will never have the powers it needs to protect its people from Westminster’s greed, incompetence and arrogance until it regains its independence.

Believe in Scotland is the community for people who live in Scotland and who believe that Scotland’s future should be decided by the people of Scotland. We are also Scotland’s most active, most effective, and most successful independence campaigning group.

We support independence not for the sake of a political principle but for the people, as a means to an end: to build of a better Scotland.

We believe that independence offers Scotland the opportunity to be a better nation. A nation that more closely matches the values, hopes and aspirations of the people of Scotland.

As a sovereign independent people, we can truly protect Scotland’s NHS and our nations wellbeing. Independence offers us the chance to create a society and an economy that are more resilient, fairer, equal, ambitious, internationally connected, environmentally sustainable and successful.

That’s why we believe in Scotland, in an independent Scotland

If you believe in Scotland, then pledge your support for our grassroots-led campaign for Scottish independence and we will send you key messages, exclusive content and campaign information. We've teamed up with The National newspaper to make a special offer to pledgers, so you will recive a code for a FREE 2 month subscription to The National.

And every supporter will also receive a FREE PDF copy of the mini version of our book Scotland the Brief by email. Scotland the Brief has now sold more than 41,000 hard copies and has been described as a game-changer in terms of how people view Scotland's economy and independence.

Believe in Scotland's hugely successful Autumn of Indy action comes to an end this weekend with a week of digital campaigning. Please join is as we would like as many independence supporters as possible to join in and share our campaign messages on social media.

What is the Autumn of Indy Action?

On September 18th our autumn campaign kicked off with 112 local Yes groups manning stalls in high streets across Scotland (See Crieff above). Continued with the newspaper that hit 1 million homes throughout Scotland and now we want to reach hundreds of thousands this week with a positive indy message online. Before our Autumn of action, a Panelbase poll put independence at 48% and recently a poll for STV had Yes at 55% - different polling companies but still good news - so we keep on pushing to move other polls up as well.

Having already helped the grassroots Yes movement and the SNP kickstart their indyref2 campaigns with our Day of indy action and the one million copy newspaper, Believe in Scotland’s new online campaigning push has two main goals.

The first is to reach undecided voters and soft No and Yes voters with key positive messages about the need for independence to escape the dangers to Scotland’s NHS and to devolution itself posed by the Westminster government.

The second is to kickstart a new, more positive online Yes campaigning atmosphere and help people rise above the Yes movement’s minor differences and focus on the goal of educating and informing on the benefits of independence.

‘We may be as little as 17 months away from indyref2 and we need to get the whole Yes movement on a positive footing and campaigning now - that is what the Autumn of independence campaign has been all about”. - Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp

Some of the planned activities

This week we will be unveiling two new campaigns, leaflet and billboard designs and will allow our Facebook followers to vote to choose which designs are used, a quiz on the impact of Brexit aimed at separating out the damage of Brexit from that caused by the health crises. A major poll of Yesers and a frank video discussion with Michael Russell the SNP president and head of their independence unit to be premiered on Facebook on Saturday the 18th and much more.

I #BelieveinScotland because

First, we want independence supporters to share why they support independence on Twitter and Facebook. Just take a minute to share from the heart by typing “I #BelieveinScotland because” and finish the sentence or short paragraph with your personal indy motivation. At the end of the week, we will publish a blog with some of the best ones for people to read and be inspired by. As long as you use the hashtag #BelieveinScotland our social media team will pick them up and retweet or share.

Here are a few examples already posted to Facebook:

I #BelieveinScotland because I want to see a fairer, more equitable, and greener Scotland, free of the corruption and nepotism of Westminster. I lived and worked in Norway for many years, and have seen first-hand the benefits of a progressive, social government. Scotland could easily be that prosperous, embracing country. - Liam Anton

“I believe in Scotland as having lived and worked all over the UK, I find the way of life we have in Scotland is more acceptable to me.

P1 -P3 schoolchildren free meals, free prescriptions, free bus travel for pensioners. Baby box for every newborn, extra child payment for qualifying families. Free childcare for qualifying families. Free tuition fees. These are just some of the benefits of a caring society from a government working within a budget handed out from Westminster despite Scotlands contribution to the UK being massively higher. We have the means and the talents to decide our destiny and build a strong socially just nation with opportunity for all not just the selected few. — thinking about my future. - Anne Smith

I #BelieveinScotland because I came to Edinburgh in 1986, I am a first-generation brown immigrant who came to England in 1966/7. When I moved here, It, started my own business, took up golf and whisky. I basically love it here. My paternal grandfather spent 4.5 years in jail in India. He was a follower of Gandhi and the @Quit India movement. He would have been very amused to see the Scots so unsure of themselves that they actually voted against their own self determination, I was bought up to believe that self determination was a basic right.. I believe we have a generation of people here in Scotland, who can find the way forward to adulthood for this nation. I believe that Scottish nationalism is inclusive.

I believe our place is with Europe not the Old Etonian cabal that sits in Westminster. Independence is just adulthood. Scotland ticks all the boxes for me. I believe in a kind of radical humanism that is based on the idea that with the right education, communication and perspective human beings can sort most of their problems. - Sanjoy Das

Twitter ones will have to be shorter but you get the idea.

Socialism and Capitalism are dead, they are last centuries outdated ideas. Each has failed because of growing political tribalism, left and right grew so far apart in the 80s that the political elites realised they could rule from the centre-ground. Empty slogans took over, New Labour, Caring Capitalism - they failed because populism is an empty promise. Populism couldn't deliver results because all they were selling in elections was what the people wanted to hear and not what they needed to hear. All their solutions were soundbite sticking plasters and the problems became insurmountable.

It started in the 90s and ended with the financial crash, it's just that people haven't realised it yet but our political system is broken, it's salesmen becoming more and more desperate caricatures of leaders, our economic approach is not just fit for the challenges of this century, it's creating the challenges of this century. We need to press the reset button, to build environmental sustainability into our political model, to make our economy and our society more resilient in the face of financial, health and environmental crises.

Such a task cannot be attempted with the pitiful and reducing powers of devolution. Independence gives us the opportunity to rethink Scotland, to redesign our politics and our socioeconomic approach. If we do that then we create a compelling independence vision that all generations and political allegiances can rally to. How do we begin that task? By identifying the values we share, the problems we face and solutions rooted in our values rather than in political short term-ism, a path to a greener, fairer, wealthier, healthier and happier thriving independent Scotland begins to appear.

We don't yet have all the answers this is just the first step.

"We have the chance to press reset, to choose a fresh, better and more ambitious approach to how we manage Scotland’s economy and society"

BELIEVE in Scotland studied several nations around the world that are adopting a wellbeing socioeconomic approach: Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, New Zealand and even Wales.

None has yet fully developed its thinking into a holistic approach but all had ideas worthy of adopting and adapting to Scotland’s needs. From those international examples we created a wellbeing policy framework, polled 1000 voters living in Scotland and found there was majority support – mostly more than 75 per cent – for each of the value positions of a wellbeing approach. You can download the full report on the poll here Public Attitudes Toward Wellbeing Economics in Scotland.

You might expect Labour, Green and SNP voters to agree with the values of wellbeing. However, there was majority support with Lib-Dem and Conservative voters, albeit to a lesser degree. Surprisingly, Conservative voters even came out top on one of the key values.

Are socialism and capitalism last century’s ideas?

Is a wellbeing economic approach the only way to build a resilient, fairer and more successful society and save the planet? A significant majority of Scots want to live in a country with a social/economic/environmental policy framework based on these shared values and ambitions of the Scottish people.

Equality, quality of life, fairness, happiness and health are all economic outcomes that should be given equal weight to economic growth.

The focus of the economy should be to serve the needs of the people and society more than the needs of big business and finance.

To be able to live with dignity while experiencing wellbeing and security should be a basic human right and not something that comes only with wealth.

>You cannot have a thriving economy without a thriving society and you cannot have a thriving society without a thriving economy.

Austerity has failed, slowed economic growth, harmed people and society, and made the country more susceptible to economic and health crises.

Post coronavirus, our economic policies need to be re-engineered to generate higher levels of equality in health, wealth, wellbeing and access to opportunity.

If we build society and our economy more successfully after coronavirus, we can create a new economic approach that will allow both our economy and our society to thrive and be more resilient in economic crises.

The nature of work is changing and we need to invest more heavily in innovation, encouraging better business practices and preparing for the future of work.

Education is an investment in our children and young people and should be free and open to everyone.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy.
Greater government investment in creativity and innovation is needed to help them grow and create better quality jobs.

Government expenditure on welfare and health is higher due to the inequalities in the current economic system and a wellbeing approach would reduce those costs.

Economic success being among society would result in better growth.

Greater access to personal development opportunities for all will increase social mobility and benefit the economy.

Ending poverty, inequality and unfairness, while increasing minimum wage and job security, will boost the economy.

People need to feel more secure in their livelihoods.
A universal basic income for every adult citizen may provide that security and end in-work and pensioner poverty.

Decision-making should be less centralised to give people a greater democratic voice in local issues.

We need to reduce our economy’s carbon outputs and waste, make transport more sustainable and make recycling and repairing far more prominent.

"Is a wellbeing economic approach the only way to build a more resilient, fairer and more successful society and save the planet?"

Independence is a normal and the many benefits of independence are within Scotland’s grasp and they would work to make life better for all who live within our borders and to forge closer links with friends and allies elsewhere in the world. Scotland’s civic nationalism defines us as a people. It’s inclusive, internationally focused and welcoming.

We simply want the chance to create a nation that reflects our political, economic, environmental and social values and thus enhances our nation’s wellbeing in ways that cannot be achieved if we remain governed by an uncaring and unfit Westminster parliament.

Wellbeing offers an inspirational vision of a future Scotland and if you decide to support independence you become one of the people helping to shape the ideas which guide it.

Let’s take advantage of this incredible opportunity, the chance to shape an emerging independent nation for the benefit of generations to come. All you have to do to change our future is believe in Scotland.

For the last month Believe in Scotland have been working in partnership with the SNP and The National to produce an 8-page newspaper that will be distributed to more than 1 million homes across Scotland in November

This is a co-branded initiative with the three main partners coming together to rethink and reposition independence in the minds of the undecided. This week the Scottish Greens also joined the project demonstrating a collaborative approach between the lead Yes campaigning organisations that has never been seen before. The project was championed within the SNP by their new President Michael Russell, who has also taken on the task of heading up their independence unit. Michael is sending a message and his actions clearly demonstrate that the SNP are now reaching out to collaborate with the leaders of the Yes movement and build bridges.

Make no mistake this publication fires the starting gun on indyref2 but it also starts to redefine the purpose of independence in response to the chaos of Westminster, Brexit and Covid lockdowns. The paper also marks a step-change in the key message of the independence movement and starts a conversation with undecided voters about the type of nation we want to build with the full powers of independence. The only way we protect Scotland’s economic, social and environmental wellbeing is through independence.

The 2023 referendum will not be a re-run of indyref1. Firstly, as the UK of 2014 is broken beyond repair and secondly, Scotland will vote Yes this time and our nation will be able to realise its untapped potential.

So now its time to back Believe in Scotland

• At the beginning of 2021 were named 2020 independence campaign of the year then we got bigger and better.
• Our national billboard campaigns hit hundreds of billboards across Scotland with 4 key messages on the UK having 'the worst pensions in the developed world' and just pointing out that Independence is Normal. Those were seen over 2 million times by commuters.
• Our major social media push resulted in more than 200,000 unique followers of our pages on Facebook and our messages regularly reach 250-300,000 people a month.
• Our new Facebook group reached 24,000 members in its first year
• We hit 41,000 sales of our breakthrough publication Scotland the Brief.
• On top of this our online gallery of fact-checked images and banners has been a massive success generating millions of views on social media.
• Autumn of Indy Action kicked off with our Day of Action on September 18th when 112 local Yes groups started to deliver 700,000 items of campaigning materials for our Autumn of Action.
• We distributed 60,000 copies of a 24 page newsprint publication 'Open Minds' through doors and from street stalls.
• We have now teamed up with The SNP, The Scottish Greens, The National, The National Yes Network, the Scottish Independence Foundation and almost every active local Yes group to campaign and keep the independence fire burning.
• We were just getting started though and after a major crowdfunding success in June, we announced our three-stage Autumn of Indy Action. That kicked off with our Day of Action on September 18th, moves into top gear with this 1 million paper initiative and will continue with our Digital Day of Action in early December.

So back us! No other organisation is doing a tenth of Believe in Scotland’s campaigning. Every penny we raise from members of our campaign goes directly on promoting independence. All salaries and admin costs are covered by Business for Scotland.

If you can afford to then please make a monthly donation (most people give £5.00 per month) you can do that here.

Believe in Scotland surveyed 3,226 Yes supporters in order to take the temperature of the movement on a few key issues and this is what they told us.

In a nutshell the 3,226 independence supporters who responded believe that:

• There will be a referendum before the end of 2023
• Spring 2023 is the most popular date for indyref2
• The SNP/Green alliance in Holyrood makes independence more likely
• Scotland will vote Yes to independence in 2023

We also collected comments from arround 200 No to Yes switchers telling us why they now support independence, and we have published our analysis of those here.

1) Does the SNP/Green deal help the independence cause?

We made the statement “The SNP and the Scottish Green Party have now formed a majority Government at Holyrood and both parties had the promise of a new referendum on Scottish independence in their manifestos”.

Then we asked: Do you think this makes Scottish independence more likely?

Excluding the 10% that didn't know a massive 91% said that it would make independence more likely.

Comment: The deal to form a majority Government that involves ministerial positions for the co-leaders of the Scottish Green Party has been hugely popular. In terms of political tactics, it is clearly designed partly to be a slap in the face for the Alba party. However, it also reaches out to a lot of undecided voters and even the Yes movement to demonstrate that the SNP is willing to seek partnerships. One of the reasons the deal has shown in other polling to be so popular amongst SNP supporters is that the Greens, Lorna Slater in particular, have been vocal and very enthusiastic about holding and winning a new independence referendum by the end of 2023.

2) How long should the campaign be?

We asked: What is the ideal length of a campaign to deliver a winning campaign for independence?

• 48% thought that a campaign of between 6-12 months would be best.
• 28% preferred a shorter campaign of around 6 months
• 19% thought a longer campaign of 12-18 months would be best
• 5% wanted 18-24 months.

Comment: Believe in Scotland polling from earlier this year conducted by Panelbase and even the SNP’s own polling suggests that calling a referendum before the undecided and soft No voters feel that the economy is heading back to ‘normal’ after the lock-down issues would be damaging to the Yes vote. That being the case, autumn 2022 looks unlikely and so we are probably looking at May 2023 at the earliest. As I write this May 23 is 19 months away and a 12-month campaign announced in May 2022 would be a good bet unless we have more lock downs. We don't need to worry about the UK Government calling an early referendum to take advantage of that fact as whoever calls the referendum early will be punished by the voters at the polling booth.

We also must look at the political tactical situation. The SNP have a vested interest in keeping the door shut to the Alba Party who must do well in the 2022 Council Elections to even survive. If the SNP use the promised spring statement by The FM to name a date or even narrow it down to spring or autumn 2023 then that would motivate the SNP vote.

3) When will indyref2 be?

We asked: When do you think the next referendum will be?

• 31% Thought spring 2023
• 27% Plumped for autumn 2022
• 24% Said autumn 2023
• 10% Went for spring 2022
• 5% Though it would be after 2024
• 3% Thought there would not be a referendum

Comment: A lot would have to change for it to be autumn 22, but it remains on the table if the consequences of Brexit reach a tipping point, significantly damaging support for the Union, but it looks unlikely. As well as the reasons above spring 22 is off the table, tactically because early 22 will be the Platinum Jubilee and legally the referendum can be held at the same time as the council elections. So, the 31% going for spring 23 are most likely right.

4) Who will win 

We asked: Assuming there is a referendum before the end of 2023 (as confirmed by the Scottish Government) how do you think Scotland will vote?

Excluding the 15% who didn’t know 91% believe that Yes will win if the SNP honour their commitment to holding a referendum before the end of 2023 and just 9% think Yes would lose.

Comment: Around 3% of respondents were No to Yes switchers and they were far more likely to either believe that NO would win again or to be unsure. That is worth considering as given their own experiences, which mean they have a better understanding of the reasons why people voted No last time and what it will take to change them, they may just have a more realistic outlook than the most committed Yesers.

Overall

It’s also fun to look at the answers of the trolls that completed the survey (those responses were removed from the data above). They hate the SNP/Green deal, none mentioned Brexit, they think there won’t be a second referendum or if there is that will be after 2024 so their campaign will start from a place of severe disappointment. Half of the trolls wanted an 18-24-month campaign (kicking the can down the road) and half a 6 month or less campaign and an early referendum. So clearly, they were trying to offer the answers least helpful to the Yes cause in their opinion. However, 40% of them think Yes will win indyref2.

Conclusions

Despite a fair amount of frustration, political infighting and some people feeling depressed by how long it is taking to hold the referendum - the Yes movement is fairly upbeat, believes there will be a referendum and that we will win.

Believe in Scotland thinks that spring 2023 with a 6 to 12-month campaign looks most likely and Autumn 22 and 23 are plan C and B respectively. So, the Yes movement is realistic about that situation.

Get Brexit Done … three words which won the Conservative Party the 2019 UK general election south of the Border and the driving force which pushed Boris Johnson to desperately pull together a dangerous and disastrous trade 'deal' as the January 1, 2021 deadline approached.

Yet less than a year later Johnson’s government has moved from cheerleaders for the 'deal' - which decimated UK exports, particularly Scottish exports, and sparked chaos in supply chains leading to food and petrol shortages all over the country -  to standing on the verge of a trade war with Europe.

We’ll soon find out just how serious that trade war threat is. Europe is due to respond to UK government demands that it agree to significant changes to the Northern Ireland protocol, ironically negotiated by UK ministers to avoid a hard land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

But this rather begs the question: does Boris Johnson really want a deal at all?

Reports suggest it is unlikely the EU will move far enough on protocol changes to satisfy Johnson and his cronies, although European politicians are experts on compromise and may yet make more concessions.

But that rather begs the question: does Boris Johnson really want a deal at all? Certainly Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney recently tweeted his doubts on that, accusing the UK of setting out a new “red line” just days before the EU was set to offer “serious” concessions. He said: “Are we surprised? Real Q: does UKG actually want an agreed way forward or a further breakdown in relations?”

It’s certainly true that the Prime Minister has previously revealed a preference for chaos, which is certainly what his trade ‘deal’ has brought to the UK.

If the Northern Ireland protocol disagreement can’t be resolved a trade war between the EU and the UK looks likely and the consensus is that this would hurt Britain more than Europe. There has even been one suggestion that the EU response could include tariffs on Scottish salmon.

Whether or not that happens it is certainly true that Scotland is suffering from the Brexit catastrophe more than the rest of the UK. The latest figures released by HM Revenue and Customs reveal that in the quarter ended in June 2021 Scottish exports decreased by 14% compared to the same period the previous year. That compared with export declines in England, Wales and Northern Ireland of 2.2%, 13% and 6.1% respectively in the same period.

Independence offers the only realistic chance of escape from a government seemingly hell bent on damaging our economy

All this surely adds power to the case for Scottish independence. It would, after all, offer the only realistic chance of escape from a government seemingly hell bent on damaging our economy and stripping powers from our parliament.

But we need to beware an argument increasingly put forward by Unionist supporters: that Brexit has caused so much trouble that we cannot risk adding independence to an already chaotic situation.

The truth, of course is that the chaos is entirely the creation of a criminally reckless UK government. Independence is entirely normal in most countries in the world, where it works perfectly well.

It is even more essential in Scotland as we emerge from the pandemic and can seize the opportunity to rebuild our economy based on the principles of wellbeing and equality rather than the greed and naked self-interest guiding the actions of the Westminster government.

An economy which works for the benefit of the people of Scotland and reflects their values and priorities.

Over the months ahead Believe in Scotland will show exactly how we can create that economy and offer hope for the future rather than the despair which is the inevitable result of being part of the Union.

The date of the Believe in Scotland mass Day of Action for Independence has been revealed as Saturday, September 18. More than 80 Yes groups from all over Scotland have already signed up to take part and ‘fire the starting gun on a major coordinated grassroots independence campaign ‘ that will run until indyref 2 takes place.

The day will see a host of events being staged throughout the country, from socially distanced street stalls and coffee mornings to foodbank drives, beach and park clean ups and Yes hub open days to more ambitious musical events. The Yes groups have also committed to deliver more than 150,000 leaflets through doors right across Scotland in the day - especially in key areas.

All will share the same aim - to convince voters that a Yes result will give us the chance to emerge from the pandemic as a stronger, more equal country with justice, fairness and diversity at the heart of a resurgent economy.

Believe in Scotland is organising the Day of Indy Action in collaboration with the National Yes Network and The Scottish Independence Foundation. Believe in Scotland is discussing with the National Yes Network the establishment of a support network and distribution network to make sure as many people as possible receive Day of Action and Believe in Scotland information.

It would be great if everyone could join in and help their local Yes group. The indie movement needs a shot in the arm

Believe in Scotland founder Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp revealed that 86 Yes groups had so far committed to taking part and he expected that number to grow to more than 100 before the big day. He urged the movement to get behind the initiative and said: “It would be great if everyone could join in and help their local Yes group.

‘Even hanging a saltire from a window, digging out an old Yes sign or just sharing the key messages we post on social media during the day allows everyone to take part.

“This won't just be a one-off day of action, rather it will fire the starting gun on a major coordinated grassroots independence campaign that will run until we win independence in indyref2 (probably in early 2023).

‘The Indy movement needs a shot in the arm; it needs a major boost. Too much internal wrangling among the supporters of pro-independence political parties online in combination with lockdowns has demotivated many Yes supporters and this will get the movement going again”.

He added: “There is obviously a risk that a circuit breaker lockdown will be required but if that's the case we have contingency plans to move everything online and then hit the streets again as soon as we can”.

The National newspaper is the media sponsor of the Day of Indy Action, which is being held on the seventh anniversary of the first independence referendum in 2014 and we will be partnering to create some very special content on the day.

Every Yes group that registers as a Believe in Scotland campaign partner to participate in the Day of Indy Action will receive a free campaign and fundraising pack worth between £125 and £250, depending on the size of the group. Organisers hope that the local groups will be able to sell items such as the free copies of the Scotland the Brief book included in the packs and raise as much as £20,000 for themselves.

Mr MacIntyre-Kemp hoped the event will galvanise supporters to recapture the energy of the movement, saying: “It’s time to stop complaining and start campaigning.”

The best message you can send is that the grassroots are up and running, firing on all cylinders and ready to win this time

He added: “Even if you are one of those in the movement who voice suspicions that the SNP don't really want to hold a referendum, you must realise that the best message you can send is that the grassroots are up and running, firing on all cylinders and ready to win this time.

Believe in Scotland was launched in January 2020. Since then we have grown to include more than 15,000 subscribers, pledgers and Stakeholder members. It was The National’s independence campaign of the year in 2020 and now has around 200,000 followers across  various Facebook pages and groups.

Local Yes groups can still join in by emailing Believe in Scotland or getting in touch via their representative to the  National Yes Network and individual can pledge their support for believe in Scotland here www.believeinscotland.org/pledge

A new exhibition opens today to commemorate the most iconic document in Scotland’s history and one which played a key role in the country's struggle to remain independent in the 14th century. The exhibition is part of the Declaration of Arbroath 700th anniversary celebrations which were delayed by a year because of the Covid pandemic.

It is being staged at the newly refurbished visitor centre in the grounds of Arbroath Abbey and uses 50 historic artefacts and a mix of technology and traditional crafts to tell the story of the abbey and its key role in Scottish history.

To mark the opening of the exhibition here are five things you need to know about the Declaration of Arbroath.

1: What was it supposed to achieve?

The declaration was sent by Scotland’s barons from Arbroath Abbey to Pope John XXII on April 6, 1320, asking him to recognise Robert the Bruce as the lawful king of Scots. The Scottish victory over the English king Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn in June 1314 had failed to convince Edward to drop the long-standing English claim to overlordship of Scotland. Neither Edward nor the Pope recognised Robert I as king of Scots. In November 1319 the Pope had summoned Robert and four Scottish bishops to attend the papal court after Robert had recaptured the border town of Berwick in 1318.  They were excommunicated when they refused to attend. The declaration was part of their response and asked the Pope to recognise Scotland's independence and Robert as its king.

2: Who wrote it?

The declaration’s content was probably planned at a meeting of the Robert and his council of advisers at Newbattle Abbey, just south of Edinburgh, in March 1320. It was written in Latin on sheepskin and is dated at the monastery of Arbroath in Angus, where the king’s chancery or writing-office was located. It was drawn up by Bernard, Abbot of Arbroath and written by one of the chancery scribes. It is about 1000 words long and includes short quotations from the Bible and from the 1st century BC Roman author and politician Sallust, re-phrased to emphasise the argument.

3: Is the document held by National Records of Scotland the real thing?

That document is actually what is regarded as the Scottish “file copy”, but it was undoubtedly written at the same time as the original letter.

This copy of the declaration was held amongst the Scottish national archives in Edinburgh Castle. It fell into private custody during building work there in the 17th century. In 1829, the declaration was restored to the national archives in the then new H M General Register House, Edinburgh. The first English translation of the declaration appeared in 1689 and it was brought to a wider audience by subsequent publications in either Latin or English.

Many of those who signed the US Declaration of Independence had Scottish ancestry. April 6 has been designated Tartan Day in the USA

The  name “Declaration of Arbroath” is relatively modern, inspired by a perceived connection with the United States Declaration of Independence of 1776. The US Senate passed a resolution in 1998 stating that April 6 “has a special significance for all Americans, and especially those of Scottish descent”. The resolution said the Declaration of Independence had been modelled on the Declaration of Arbroath. Many of those who signed the US declaration had Scottish ancestry. April 6 has been designated Tartan Day in the USA.

4: What does the Declaration of Arbroath say?

The document emphasises Scotland’s long history as an independent Christian kingdom. It contains a brief account of the mythical origins of the Scots, overcoming many difficulties in their journey from Greater Scythia (to the north of the Black Sea) via Spain to Scotland. It explains that they had lived in freedom and peace until King Edward I (father of the then present King Edward II) invaded Scotland.

The declaration asserts that the Scots were saved by their then King, Robert Bruce. It pledges to defend him as king …  unless he seeks to make their kingdom subject to the English king. It offers Scotland’s support for a crusade if the Pope persuades Edward II to leave the Scots in peace but adds that he would be answerable to God should war continue. Key quote: "As long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours, that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself".

The treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in March 1328 was supposed to affect a “final and perpetual peace”. It included the recognition of Robert I as king, and of Scottish independence

5: What happened after the declaration was delivered?

In his reply to the letter, the Pope urged a reconciliation between England and Scotland. Indeed, an opportunity arose to negotiate a settlement after the deposition of Edward II in 1327 and consequent discord in England. The treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in March 1328 was supposed to affect a “final and perpetual peace”. It included the recognition of Robert I as king, and of Scottish independence. In 1329 the Pope issued a bull permitting the anointing and crowning of the king of Scots by the bishop of St Andrews as the Pope’s representative, hailed as a very important concession. Peace did not last and the Second War of Scottish Independence, also known as the Anglo-Scottish War of Succession, began in 1332.

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