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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.

Visits need to be pre-booked on www.historicenvironment.scot

The festival programme can be found at www.arbroathfestival.com.

The eyes of the world will be on Scotland when one of the most important conferences in history takes place in Glasgow at the beginning of November. COP 26 looks likely to be the biggest major international discussion on climate change before the door closes forever on reversing some of its worst effects.

The conference in Glasgow will be remembered forever as the event which saved the world or condemned it to suffer from irreversible global heating.

It takes place after the Scottish Greens became the first Green party to be in government anywhere in the UK  as they today announced a power sharing partnership with the SNP in the Scottish parliament. Two Green MSPs will be appointed as junior ministers.

Here are some of the big questions about the conference, what it will discuss and what it’s likely to achieve.

Who is attending?

There were originally 30,000 delegates expected to arrive in Glasgow for the 26^th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, described as the most significant climate event since the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg ... heading to Glasgow

That 30,000 is now expected to reduce to around 20,000. Some events have been moved online due to the pandemic.

There are 196 ‘Parties’ to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) who will be represented at Glasgow and will negotiate and make decisions at the event on action to reduce global warming and reverse some of its effects.

Key Covid travel restrictions will be relaxed for delegates, who have also been offered vaccines. World leaders expected to attend include US president Joe Biden and, if his health allows, Pope Francis. Climate change activist Greta Thunberg has also said she will attend, after initially refusing to go because the uneven roll out of global vaccinations would have left some countries unable to be represented. The offer of vaccinations to delegates prompted her change of heart.

Could COP26 really save the world?

There’s little doubt now that climate change is threatening the future of the planet. A landmark study recently warned of extreme heatwaves, droughts and floods because of global warming.

The results of that warming can be seen in western Germany, where about 200 people died in floods, the Henan province in central China, where at least 50 have died and about 400,000 have been evacuated after overwhelming downpours, western Canada and the US, where heatwaves have caused wildfires, and the  Middle East, where drought afflicts communities from Algeria to Yemen. UN Secretary General António Guterres described the report as  ‘a code red for humanity’.

The report suggests there is still time to avoid catastrophe ... but it is running out fast. Mr Guterres said: 'There is no time for delay and no room for excuses. I count on government leaders and all stakeholders to ensure COP26 is a success."

The report also confirms that the warming of the atmosphere, oceans and land has been the result of what it describes as ‘human influence’.

It remains to be seen if Scotland goes down in history as the host nation of an event which sees governments finally rise to the challenge.

Does Boris Johnson take climate change seriously?

The Prime Minister’s record on climate change is shockingly bad. His pledge to cut UK carbon emissions by 68% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels has been widely condemned as inadequate. Environmental campaigners have accused the government of failing to show a lead.

Campaigners Extinction Rebellion (XR) has said that from Monday it will stage protest events in London for two weeks, blocking roads and occupying buildings to disrupt the City and what XR calls “the root cause of the climate and ecological crisis – the political economy”.

Boris Johnson joked that 20 years ago people warned that “wind turbines couldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding”. In fact he himself wrote that phrase in the Daily Telegraph

Boris Johnson has had difficulty in taking the climate change seriously. In December 2015 he said the unusually hot weather had nothing to do with global warming. He wrote in his Telegraph column: ‘There may be all kinds of reasons why I was sweating at ping-pong [in December] – but they don’t include global warming.”

He recently joked that 20 years ago, people warned that “wind turbines couldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding”. In fact he himself wrote that phrase in the Daily Telegraph in 2001.

More recently, in April he addressed world leaders at a virtual summit and made the bizarre statement: "It's vital for all of us to show that this is not all about some expensive, politically correct, green act of bunny hugging.’ And, of course, there was his now infamous  ‘wisecrack’ about the ‘green benefits’ of Margaret Thatcher’s attack on mining communities.

The Scottish government has set itself a legal target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045. That is five years ahead of the date set for the UK as a whole

Is Scotland’s record any better?

Luckily it is. Scotland was the first country to declare a climate emergency, in April 2019. The Scottish government has set itself a legal target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045. That is five years ahead of the date set for the UK as a whole.

Scotland produced enough electricity through renewables to meet 97% of its demand for electricity. That puts it into the top three European countries producing electricity from renewables, alongside Norway and Iceland.

It produces more than Sweden, Denmark and Germany and well ahead of the UK as a whole, which produces 35% of its energy from renewable sources.

Scotland stands ready do everything it can to support refugees from Afghanistan as the Taliban seizes control and the country sinks into chaos.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said Scotland is willing to accept refugees fleeing the country and has urged the UK government to step up in offering support.

Desperate scenes at Kabul airport have been broadcast showing people trying to leave the country as the Taliban swept into the capital unopposed and took control of the presidential palace. They fear a return to the brutality of the Taliban regime of the 1990s, which saw public executions and a ruthless crackdown on freedoms for women.

There have already been disturbing reports of women being told to give up their jobs in the first areas of Afghanistan to fall under the control of the Taliban in the current resurgence.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon: urged UK government to welcome refugees from Afghanistan

The First Minister posted on Twitter over the weekend: “As we did with Syrian refugees, @scotgov is willing to play our full part and do all we can to help those in peril as a result of the horrifying situation currently unfolding.”

She added: “I hope UK government does similar and offers as much refuge for vulnerable Afghans as possible.'

Scotland has a proud record of helping refugees fleeing violence to rebuild their lives in this country. Almost one fifth of the Syrian refugees who came to the UK as part of a special project have settled in Scotland.

Figures released in 2019 suggested 3,180 Syrian refugees settled in Scotland. Among the highest profile new Scots were 24 Syrian families who made their homes on the island of Bute.

The local community rallied round in support. Mohannad Helmi, who came to Bute with his wife and their two children, told the Guardian in 2017:  “We have been shown nothing but friendliness and affection since the day we arrived. It seems that everyone smiles at us when we go to the shops or go out for a walk.'

Although the UK government is responsible for granting asylum the Scottish government controls devolved matters, including access to essential services such as healthcare and education.

There is such a strong will in Scotland to support newcomers and make people feel welcome

The Scottish government website states: ‘Scotland has a long history of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers and recognises it is a human right to be able to seek asylum in another country.’ It adds: ‘Scotland’s New Scots approach is to support refugees and asylum seekers to integrate into our communities from day one of arrival.’

A report by the Scottish Refugee Council in 2013 estimated there were around 20,000 refugees, asylum seekers and ‘others of concern’ in Scotland at that time.

Scottish Refugee Council CEO Sabir Zazai said recently: “There is such a strong will in Scotland to support newcomers and make people feel welcome. Equally strong is the desire from refugee-led groups to make a contribution and use their skills and expertise to create flourishing, well integrated communities.’

Nicola Sturgeon has condemned what she describes as ‘the shameful abandoning’ of the people of Afghanistan

Nicola Sturgeon has condemned what she describes as ‘the shameful abandoning’ of the people of Afghanistan and has said the world ‘can’t just turn away’.

The response by the UK government to the crisis in Afghanistan has come under fire, with some news reports suggesting that senior military figures fear key allies there are being left behind because the Home Office is afraid of the message that offering asylum would send to refugees.

The Sunday National revealed the case of one former interpreter who sold his belongings after being told he was accepted into the UK’s 7000-place Afghan Relocation and Assistance Programme (Arap) for former support staff in May and was told to prepare to leave within four weeks.

Last week, the Home Office turned him away citing “security fears” and he now fears the Taliban will behead him.

Yesterday, the Scottish Government released new figures highlighting that the number of Scottish domiciled students that have been offered a place at a university in Scotland is at a record high. Indeed, this year, the figure has risen 10% to 31,070. Furthermore, UCAS data has suggested that the number of acceptances from the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland to universities across the UK has increased by 7% to 4,700. This is another record high statistic.

However, the matter of concern that arises from this data is the number of applicants from EU countries. Indeed, this year’s statistics highlight a 56% decrease, on SQA results day, in the number of acceptances to universities in Scotland from people based in EU countries. These figures, once again, suggest that Brexit is the biggest threat to Scotland and our education system, not independence. Therefore, throughout this article, we will consider the potential of Scotland’s education system and recognise the importance of education and skilled individuals in helping an independent Scotland to prosper. We will then look further into the damage that Brexit is causing to the education sector.

Scotland’s successful and growing further education sector

Firstly, let’s look at some of the successes of Scotland’s education sector. As the figures above demonstrate, Scottish Universities are becoming increasingly popular among individuals who reside in Scotland. This is unsurprising with Scotland holding 4 of the world’s top 200 universities, as well as many excellent colleges. 

The success of Scotland’s education sector extends beyond university and college, however. For example, in 2019, the number of apprentices benefitting from work-based learning rose for the 8^th consecutive year with more than 28,000 people in Scotland starting apprenticeships between 2018 and 2019. While this was slightly lower in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, employers demonstrated their commitment to Modern Apprenticeships during the second half of the year when, despite the economy going back into lockdown, demand increased four-fold. This resulted in the end of year Modern Apprenticeship figure for 2020/21 being 18,655.

As a result of these fantastic opportunities, Scotland has the most educated population in Europe. Indeed, the most recent figures, demonstrate that 47% of the population, aged 25 to 64, have obtained either a university, college or vocational qualification. This is 4% above the UK average and 15% above the EU average.

How would education support an independent Scotland?

So, one may ask why these successes are so important to Scotland and why, here at Believe in Scotland, we suggest that the education sector would help an independent Scotland to thrive? Well, first of all, a prosperous nation requires a skilled population. Indeed, educated people, in turn, produce high quality research, excellent teaching, and carry out the skilled professions that are critical to the development of a nation and a thriving economy. 

This is evident in Scotland, with the higher education sector contributing massively to the Scottish economy. Previous research recognises that the higher education sector has an annual economic impact of over £11bn GVA. This means that with every £1 of public investment, the further education sector multiplies it into £11 of economic impact.

This sector also employs nearly 44,000 people and significantly, 69% of those jobs are located in the most deprived decile of local authorities in Scotland. This shows how important this sector is not only to those in training but also for individuals in employment, particularly those living in more deprived areas of the country. 

In terms of higher education research and development, Scotland is internationally recognised and respected for its quality and its innovative and collaborative nature. As a result, Scotland HEIs receive over 15% of the total UK Research Council competitive investments. This reflects the high quality of the research carried out by these institutions. This suggests that Scotland’s education sector already has a strong research base and would continue to develop as an independent country.

Overall, it is clear that Scotland’s further education system, and the country’s skilled population, would be critical in supporting Scotland’s move to independence. It is evident that with Scotland holding the most educated and skilled population in Europe and already acquiring a strong and internationally-admired research base, the education sector in an independent Scotland would continue to thrive.

The real danger to our education sector – Brexit

However, the real danger that faces Scotland’s higher education sector is Brexit. Firstly, as recognised at the beginning of this article, there has been a 56% decrease in the number of applicants from EU countries. In 2021, only 1200 EU students accepted a place at a Scottish University. This compares to 2730 in 2020. The National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland has said that this is because of the excessive fees that EU students have to pay as a result of Brexit.

Although EU students did not pay tuition fees in Scotland prior to Brexit, these students supported Scotland and the economy in many other ways. Indeed, financially, both EU and non-EU international students spend money on accommodation, travel and other living and recreational expenses. This amounts to tens of thousands of pounds for each individual student, contributing hundreds of millions of pounds to the Scottish economy. For example, a report by Oxford Economics in 2017 on the economic impact of UK universities estimated that every EU student would generate approximately £44,000 in gross output. These figures do not include tuition fees or some other forms of on-campus spending, including university accommodation.

Other benefits of welcoming EU students to Scotland include improving the range and quality of education provision. A multicultural, multinational learning environment is hugely beneficial for all students and helps to raise cultural awareness and a global perspective among domestic students. Furthermore, EU students often stay in Scotland longer-term and are therefore, a valuable asset to Scotland’s workforce.

Lastly, before Brexit, Scotland was a valued partner in many EU research collaborations and often secured significant funding from EU research programmes as a result. For example, between 2015 and 2016, Scottish Universities received £97m from various EU sources, equating to 10.1% of their total research income. With Scotland being unwillingly dragged out of the EU with the rest of the UK, the loss of such funding will be a huge blow to the education sector.

Conclusions

Overall, it is clear that Scotland’s education sector is thriving and would support the economy in a move towards independence. However, what is also evident is that Brexit poses the greatest threat to Scotland’s education sector and is already causing huge damage, with a dramatic decline in EU students and a loss in funding for research and development.

SCOTLAND is serving as a leading example of how to switch power generation to renewable energy as the world’s largest ever report into climate change this morning delivered what has been described as a code red warning.

The climate change report was released this morning by an intergovernmental UN Panel. It has been called a ‘massive wake-up’ call to governments to cut emissions.

It comes as the latest data reveals Scotland is one of the top three European countries producing electricity from renewable sources. Figures for last year from the Scottish government show that 97% of Scotland’s electricity was produced from renewable sources

Our success at producing electricity from renewables is ahead of that of Sweden, Denmark and Germany. It’s also considerably better than the UK as a whole

That was a rise of 8% on the year before and has been calculated as the equivalent of powering all households in the country for almost three and a half years, charging almost 7 billion phones for a year, or running all Scottish fridges for more than eight years.

Our success at producing electricity from renewables is ahead of that of Sweden, Denmark and Germany. It’s also considerably better than the UK as a whole. Data published in March this year showed renewables generated  43% of the UK’s electricity in 2020.

A report by Greenmatch in March showed that offshore and onshore wind is the biggest source of renewable energy in the UK. It generates 13.8% more electricity than other renewable sources and beats the combined generation of coal, oil and others by 6.5%.

And Scotland is particularly rich in wind power resources. It has 25% of Europe’s entire offshore wind power resources.

The most powerful tidal-powered turbine in the world recently started to generate electricity via the grid in Orkney. The Orbital O2 has the capacity to meet the annual electricity demand of 2,000 homes for the next 15 years. It was sailed out of Dundee, where it was assembled over 18 months, in May and is now anchored in the Fall of Warness.

The most recent data cements Scotland’s position as a leading force in the development of green energy in the lead up to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference

Scotland also boasts 25% of Europe’s tidal energy resources and 10% of its wave energy potential. In 2018 it accounted for 24% of the UK’s renewable energy generation.

The most recent data cements Scotland’s position as a leading force in the development of green energy in the lead up to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference - known as COP26 - in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12.

That will be held in the shadow of a report published this morning which has been described as ‘a code red for humanity’. After the report was published UN secretary general Antonio Guterress said: ‘If we combine forces now, we can avert climate catastrophe. But as today’s report makes clear, there is no time for delay and no room for excuses.

‘I count  on government leaders and all stakeholders to ensure COP26 is a success’.

Although the report says some effects of climate change - such as sea level rises – are irreversible there is new hope that deep cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases could stabilise rising temperatures.

According to the European Environment Agency the growth in renewable energy is one of the most successful measures driving down greenhouse gas emissions in Europe.

At the end of a week which saw the Prime Minister and the UK Labour leader stage disastrous visits to Scotland it’s safe to say the prospect of independence has never shone brighter.

Just imagine how much more Scotland could achieve without being held back by politicians who simply dismiss our ambitions for the country's future.

In a democracy there is no better way to judge the will of the people than to look at the way they vote. Given that the Scottish elections were held just three months ago it’s safe to assume they provide an accurate representation of what voters are thinking.

In a democracy there is no better way to judge the will of the people than to look at the way they vote. On that basis there is no denying the substantial support for a second independence referendum

On that basis there is no denying the substantial support for a second independence referendum and for independence itself.

It’s worth remembering how the vote broke down at the first Scottish elections after devolution in 1999.

Then Labour was the leading party, winning 56 seats. It won 38.8% (908,346 votes) of the constituency vote and 33.6% (786,818) of the regional vote.

The SNP won 35 seats, 28.7% (672,768) of the constituency vote and 27.3% (638,644) of the regional vote.

And the Conservatives won 18 seats, 15.6% (364,425) of the constituency vote and 15.4% (359,109) of the regional vote.

Compare that with the result on May 6 this year. The SNP won 64 seats, 47.7% (1,291,204) of the constituency seats and 40.3% (1,094,374) of the regional vote.

Labour won 22 seats, 21.6% (584,392) of the constituency vote and 17.9% (485,819) of the regional vote.

And the Tories won 31 seats with 21.9% (592,526) of the constituency vote and 23.5% (637,131) of the regional vote.

That’s a truly remarkable rise for the pro-independence vote, which was bolstered by the Scottish Greens winning a record eight seats in May. Both the SNP and the Greens made a commitment in their manifestos to holding a second independence referendum during the lifetime of the current parliament.

Yet another affront to Scotland from a Prime Minister who thinks it acceptable to make jokes about Margaret Thatcher’s decimation of Scotland’s mining communities

It’s impossible to interpret those results as anything other than backing  for indyref2. Yet this week we have seen Boris Johnson say the independence question is the furthest thing from his mind.

It was yet another affront to Scotland from a Prime Minister who thinks it acceptable to make jokes about Margaret Thatcher’s decimation of Scotland’s mining communities.

It wasn’t just Boris Johnson. The UK Labour leader Keir Starmer also visited Scotland this week to tell us his party would not back a referendum until at least the next Scottish parliamentary term.

Such an arrogant dismissal of democracy cannot and will not be accepted by Scots. It is simply inconceivable that it will withstand opposition.

It may be true that the campaign for independence has been overshadowed recently by the fight against the pandemic but the easing of restrictions is now being accompanied by a renewed focus on the benefits independence will bring.

For evidence look no further than a significant interview this week with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on a major American current affairs programme. Talking on NPR's flagship programme All Things Considered she reaffirmed her commitment to holding indyref2 in the first half of the current parliamentary term. She said: "When we're in the recovery, in order to equip ourselves best to recover economically and socially, Scotland should have that choice of becoming an independent country.

"And I would like to offer that choice in the first half of this term of our parliament, which is, you know, by the end of 2023.’

But it’s not just the SNP which will pick up the campaign for independence as the pandemic recedes.

The Yes family has been eager to show that the case has never been stronger. Believe in Scotland has already announced that we will hold a day of action involving pro-indy organisations all over the country when it is considered safe to do so.

Now that we are emerging from most of the Covid restrictions we plan to announce more details of the day of action soon.

Establishing its own foreign policy will be one of the most important tasks facing an independent Scotland after a Yes vote. Discussions are already taking place on what that foreign policy would look like.

Now Scotland’s foreign policy footprint will be debated later this month at the Beyond Borders International Festival of Literature and Thought, a socially distanced event at Traquair House, Innerleithen.

Here are four ways Scotland can influence the world:

 1: We can break away from Westminster’s determination to isolate itself from Europe and its restrictive immigration approach

That’s the view of Stephen Gethins,  author of Nation to Nation: Scotland’s Place in the World, who is taking part in the Beyond Borders event. Mr Gethins is a former MP and a professor of practice at the School of International Relations at St Andrews University.

He said this week: “Over the past few years we have seen an increasing divergence between politics at Holyrood and Westminster on a range of issues such as social justice,  and immigration.

Being prepared to play a full part in the EU and wider international community stands in contrast to an increasingly unilateral and isolationist approach that is being pursued at Westminster

“However, nowhere is that divergence more apparent than in our approach to foreign policy and relationships with other nations. It is important that we open up a discussion about Scotland’s fast developing foreign policy footprint as part of that debate.”

“It means embracing a more multilateralist approach and being prepared to play a full part in the EU and wider international community that stands in contrast to an increasingly unilateral and isolationist approach that is being pursued at Westminster'.

2: We can develop a strong international strategy which would show the world how Scotland would behave as an independent country

Anthony Salamone, managing director of European Merchants, a Scottish political analysis firm in Edinburgh, made this argument in a recent article for the strategist, an Australian strategic policy institute website.

He wrote: ‘Developing cogent European and international strategies, based on Scotland’s values and interests, would allow the Scottish government to demonstrate nous in international relations and to showcase how Scotland might conduct itself as an independent state.

‘At the same time, Scotland can make contributions to European and global affairs from its current constitutional position. The Scottish independence debate is evolving and a new referendum feels inevitable. How Scotland relates to the rest of Europe and the wider world will be a central aspect of the conversation to come.’

3: Scotland could develop a successful and distinctive role in international affairs

In a paper produced for the Centre on Constitutional Change, Daniel Kenealy, a lecturer in politics and international relations at Edinburgh University, looked at how the Scottish government has taken measures to work more closely with the various agencies that promote Scotland internationally and at its Innovation and Investment Hubs in Dublin (set up in 2015), London (2017), Berlin (2018), and Paris (2019).

Scotland would begin its life as an independent state with a strong reputation and image, which is only growing more distinctive in the aftermath of Brexit

He says an independent Scotland  ‘would have to invest considerable time and energy’ to join the organisations, treaties, and agreements that it is currently part of within the UK. But adds:  ‘Few experts in international law or international politics doubt that this could be done, but it would take time and resources.

‘Scotland would begin its life as an independent state with a strong reputation and image, which is only growing more distinctive in the aftermath of Brexit. It would take many years for Scotland to have international impact equivalent to the Nordic states or New Zealand. But, with a willingness to prioritise – alongside some patience and a lot of hard work – an independent Scotland could develop a successful and distinctive role in international affairs.’

4: Scotland could play a strong role in protecting human rights

The Centre on Constitutional Change published a report on Scotland’s approach to human rights and foreign policy just after the Scottish elections in May. It also held a series of workshops on the subject which brought together politicians, practitioners, NGOs, and members of academia.

The report points out that the Scottish parliament recently gave unanimous support to legislation incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic law, although that is being challenged at the Supreme Court by the UK government.

Together with a commitment to incorporate four more UN human rights treaties the report states the parliament ‘ sends a signal that Scotland will continue to support and expand human rights protections even as the government in Westminster has signalled an intent to weaken such protections’.

The report says policy in Scotland ‘adds up to a strong, positive vision of an active, progressive Scotland playing an outsized role on the international stage, particularly in the areas of peacemaking, development, and human rights. ‘

Almost 90% of those who responded to a recent Believe in Scotland survey have noticed more empty shelves in shops and supermarkets.

A total of 89.3% had noticed shortages, compared to 6% who had noticed no difference and 4.7% who were unsure.

When asked about the shortage of lorry drivers, 93.3% thought that Brexit was most to blame for the situation. Just 4.4% blamed the pandemic, 0.1% blamed the weather and 2.3% thought there was some other factor.

Just under 72% had experienced recent food quality issues such as mouldy or expired food or packages with a short shelf life, while 19.7% had not and 8.6% weren’t sure.

Even more common were issues around availability. A total of 85.9% had found it difficult to find products which were normally easily available, as opposed to 9.4% who had experienced no problems and 4.7% who weren’t sure.

When asked which government they trusted most to resolve the situation, 97.2% voted for the Scottish government and 2.8 % voted for Westminster.

The survey also asked respondents if they thought Brexit had been good or bad for the Scottish economy. There was an overwhelming vote – 98.5% - for bad, with just 1.5% giving the thumbs up to the economic effects of leaving the EU.

Survey comments

I got a supermarket delivery yesterday. Almost half didn't arrive that I ordered

Joe: The length of sell by/use by has decreased significantly since Brexit. Nothing to do with Covid. We were warned this was going to happen and it has.

Rhona: I got a supermarket delivery yesterday. Almost half didn't arrive that I ordered. Delivery driver said it was an issue with European lorries and their drivers not being able to drive in this country on their driving licences.

Flora: Tesco online hasn't got half the choice it used to have. Prices gone up and less special offers. Bought strawberries in Home Bargains yesterday and only six were edible. The rest were a mouldy mush!

Sheena: Tesco last week we had poorer than usual choice of fresh veg and the carrots we did buy were tasteless and deteriorated quickly. Co-op on Monday has signs apologising for some items not being available. I think it is a combination, Brexit causing the loss of so many continental lorry drivers, and fruit and veg pickers, meant the system was strained anyway and the growing number of people self-isolating just put the lid on it.

SCOTLAND’S reputation as a pioneer in the development of marine power was given a boost today as a tidal-powered turbine hailed as the most powerful in the world started to generate electricity.

It's yet another example of how Scotland’s abundant green energy resources give it the potential to prosper as an independent country.

Here are five things you need to know about the latest development and about marine power in Scotland.

1: The Orbital 02 turbine is generating electricity via the grid in Orkney. It has the capacity to meet the annual electricity demand of 2,000 homes for the next 15 years. It is Orbital Marine Power’s first commercial turbine and the company has hailed it as a "major milestone". It is also providing power to an onshore electrolyser to generate green hydrogen, created using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. Its only by-product is water.

Scotland is ideally placed to harness the enormous global market for marine energy whilst helping deliver a net-zero economy

Scottish energy secretary Michael Matheson today highlighted the country’s  "abundant natural resources, expertise and ambition,’ which he said ideally-placed it to ‘harness the enormous global market for marine energy whilst helping deliver a net-zero economy’. He added: "The deployment of Orbital Marine Power's O2 is a proud moment for Scotland and a significant milestone in our journey to net zero."

2: The 02 turbine was assembled in Dundee over 18 months and was sailed out of the city in May. The turbine was lowered on to a barge on the River Tay before it began its journey to Orkney. The O2 turbine attracted support through the ethical investment platform, Abundance Investment and also received £3.4m from the Scottish government's Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund.

3: The tidal turbine is 74m long and weighs 680 tonnes. It is now anchored in the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Fall of Warness tidal test site. Orkney-based EMEC has become a major hub for the development of wave and tidal power. The turbine's superstructure floats on the surface of the water, with rotors attached to its legs which extract energy from the passing tidal flow.

4: Four turbines off the north coast of Scotland generated enough energy to power nearly 4,000 homes in 2019. MeyGen, the world’s largest tidal array, has completed the longest ever run of uninterrupted generation by a multi-megawatt tidal turbine.

The four giant turbines have exported more than 24.7 gigawatt hours (GWh) of predictable renewable power to the national grid. It was the first phase of a project that could eventually power 175,000 homes with more than 250 submerged turbines.

The array is off the mainland of Scotland, near the uninhabited island of Stroma.

Scotland has a huge offshore renewables potential, with an estimated 25% of Europe’s tidal resource

A 2016 estimate from the European Commission said wave and tidal power could account for 10% of the EU’s energy needs by 2050.

5: The Scottish government funds the Wave Energy Scotland (WES) technology programme, which has so far invested more than £30 million in more than 80 projects. Scotland has a huge offshore renewables potential, with an estimated 25% of Europe’s tidal resource, 25% of its offshore wind resource and 10% of its wave potential.