Excellent proposal by Andy Anderson, giving Scots another wey oot o the colonial corset.
Unfortunately, we can expect the SNP colonial leadership to do nothing with it, much as they do not look for any innovation to liberate the people they are supposed to represent.
The SNP are now between a rock and a hard place. On Tuesday afternoon 23/4 at 14h00, during the debate about the Victim’s, Witnesses & Justice Reform Bill, there’s an open goal for the SNP to go along with a popular request for a referendum. MSPs have been inundated with e-mails over the last week and the SNP can go along with the popular will and shoot the goal. Or, instead, shoot themselves in the feet by refusing it. They could declare the referendum to be a virtual referendum for Independence. No messing about with a « Virtual Referendum » at the General Election. IMHO it’s a no-brainer - go ahead SNP ! The goal is open. SHOOT for God’s sake.
Well done Andy for drafting that. I've no doubt the underlying concept will come as an idea too exotic to get their heads round, but we need to press this home to them as hard and as frequently as we can. And remind them here , when they're in deep trouble, that there IS a way to reconnect with the the Indepenence movement. Done. Here is a link to my own text, And's amended since his is replying to an MSP, mine a new approach. If anyone wants to use. Link: https://tinyurl.com/264ofvuq
Another benefit of putting the VWJR Bill to a referendum would be that, as a consequence of the the referendum process itself, the Scottish people would become more accustomed to seeing themselves as the custodians of Scottish sovereignty.
I completely agree. You might be interested to follow what’s currently happening with the petition request to enact the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights. Dear Scotland is working with RSS (Respect Scottish Sovereignty) to get this off the ground. You could even sign the open letter to the First Minister as suggested in Leah’s post last week.
Andy says: the SC "set out its view on this in 2016, where it acknowledged the Scottish position that the People are sovereign under the Bill of Rights."
What did that concern, can you say Leah, and does he mean the Bill of Rights?
Alan, I don’t know about the SC but in it’s (non-binding) resolution of 4th July 2018 the House of Commons acknowledged the “sovereign right of the Scottish People to choose the form of Government best suited to its needs”. In other words Popular, instead of Parliamentary, sovereignty. That’s why what Andy is suggesting is so important. The right of the People to demand Referendums is the first step towards Popular Sovereignty / Direct Democracy and, next Tuesday 23/4 at 14h00 at Holyrood, the SNP must decide how it wants to figure in the history books - with or against the People. Write to your MSP asap. Be at Holyrood if you can…
Excellent proposal by Andy Anderson, giving Scots another wey oot o the colonial corset.
Unfortunately, we can expect the SNP colonial leadership to do nothing with it, much as they do not look for any innovation to liberate the people they are supposed to represent.
The SNP are now between a rock and a hard place. On Tuesday afternoon 23/4 at 14h00, during the debate about the Victim’s, Witnesses & Justice Reform Bill, there’s an open goal for the SNP to go along with a popular request for a referendum. MSPs have been inundated with e-mails over the last week and the SNP can go along with the popular will and shoot the goal. Or, instead, shoot themselves in the feet by refusing it. They could declare the referendum to be a virtual referendum for Independence. No messing about with a « Virtual Referendum » at the General Election. IMHO it’s a no-brainer - go ahead SNP ! The goal is open. SHOOT for God’s sake.
Excellent letter by Andy, and he explains so clearly why the Scottish Government should follow this route. I very much hope they do, thanks Andy.
Yes, anyone with an SNP MSP should write to them as Andy has done and argue the same. We need to pile on the pressure.
Have done.
Will do.
Well done Andy for drafting that. I've no doubt the underlying concept will come as an idea too exotic to get their heads round, but we need to press this home to them as hard and as frequently as we can. And remind them here , when they're in deep trouble, that there IS a way to reconnect with the the Indepenence movement. Done. Here is a link to my own text, And's amended since his is replying to an MSP, mine a new approach. If anyone wants to use. Link: https://tinyurl.com/264ofvuq
Thanks, Alan
Brilliant!
Another benefit of putting the VWJR Bill to a referendum would be that, as a consequence of the the referendum process itself, the Scottish people would become more accustomed to seeing themselves as the custodians of Scottish sovereignty.
I completely agree. You might be interested to follow what’s currently happening with the petition request to enact the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights. Dear Scotland is working with RSS (Respect Scottish Sovereignty) to get this off the ground. You could even sign the open letter to the First Minister as suggested in Leah’s post last week.
Andy says: the SC "set out its view on this in 2016, where it acknowledged the Scottish position that the People are sovereign under the Bill of Rights."
What did that concern, can you say Leah, and does he mean the Bill of Rights?
Hi Alan,
I checked with Andy Anderson about this reference to UKSC comments about sovereignty in 2016. Here's what he said:
"The case was the case raised by Miller and others against the
Secretary of State in the Exiting the EU issue UKSC 5 (2017).
The case was in 2016 but the UKSC judgment came out in January 2017. It
is a long report but beginning on page 14 under the heading "The
Constitutional Background" the judgment refers to the the Scottish
Claim of Right Act 1689 and goes on to cover it including in the Act
of Union and the independence of the Scottish Courts.
My point is that the UKSC is not unaware of Scottish constitutional
history in the field of sovereignty."
Thanks Leah. I'll have a look. I imagined it must be referring to the CoR.
Alan, I don’t know about the SC but in it’s (non-binding) resolution of 4th July 2018 the House of Commons acknowledged the “sovereign right of the Scottish People to choose the form of Government best suited to its needs”. In other words Popular, instead of Parliamentary, sovereignty. That’s why what Andy is suggesting is so important. The right of the People to demand Referendums is the first step towards Popular Sovereignty / Direct Democracy and, next Tuesday 23/4 at 14h00 at Holyrood, the SNP must decide how it wants to figure in the history books - with or against the People. Write to your MSP asap. Be at Holyrood if you can…
Thanks Henry. I'm still wondering why he's referring to the Bill of Rights. Anyhow, will get letter off to MSP.
Sorry, don’t know. I’m aware of Claim of Right but not Bill of Rights.