Thanks Leah. It's enough to make you weep, sometimes I find it almost impossible to read about how Scotland is so scammed, thieved from massively by the English administration to the deitriment of Scotland and the people of Scotland. :-/
Scotland is hardly even given English region status nevermind nation status...and as for the north of England, well they have always been shafted, kept poor, and the poorer they get the more the far right wing parties like 'Reform' will gain even more ground there, it's all part of the divide and rule tactics, make sure the sheeple fight amongst themselves.
Where Scotland is concerned the English administration has every intention of taking control of the Scottish parliament in 2026, by hook or by crook. Scotland's getting ideas above her station and that poses a huge threat to the Brit/Eng state and their dodgy pals abroad. We can't let that happen, so it's crucial that groups, organisations and the independence movement do not allow any interlopers to sow seeds of doubt and use division tactics, as has been done already, and it's all by design.
The next fifteen months or so are crucial to Scotland's wobbly democracy being retained. The form of D'Hondt system forced onto Scotland by the EngGov, is very confusing for people, that needs serious consideration when the campaigning starts.
If Holyrood implements ICCPR into Scots law as allowed under The Scotland Act 1998 that lays out devolved powers, then Westminster couldn't do a thing about it. The real issue is getting enough Scots to sign the petition so that the Scottish administration sits up and pays attention to the people for once.
I agree that D'Hondt is confusing fir many people and the SNP insistence, already started for 2026 Holyrood election, on vote SNP 1 and 2 will deny us the Indy majority we need to prevent a Unionist takeover. You might think from this that the SNP are completely incompetent abd unable to work out the arithmetic that Unionist pasties have profited from for so long, or that they absolutely do not want Scotland to be Indeoendent. Take your choice, but neither judgement will help us!
I too am beginning to despair of what will happen to Scotland under a malevolent government in London.
Our situation seems to keep getting worse and no end in sight as various ideas and research suggestions do not get the publicity they need for folk to back them while the numbers supporting Independence rise, though with no mechanism for them to succeed in that aim because of a malign electoral system rigged against us.
Thank you, Leah! This is an excellent article and certainly explains well the crux of Scotland's problems. England steals everything from Scotland & leaves us with a dribble of our own revenue & resources & expects us to work as a fully independent country, which we are not. But to which we must aspire! People are dying - the elderly through hypothermia, disabled & health problematic people who depend on benefits that are being systematically cut & a quarter of our children are starving. They're not getting help so they too are going to DIE. CHILDREN IN SCOTLAND DYING! When we are such a rich country?? It's appalling! Time to call it quits & tear up the ToU. Thank you for explaining why, so clearly!
Thanks, Leah for pointing out, in this and other articles, the real baddies are our MSPs who haven’t done what the Scotland Act 1998 allows them to do - entirely implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ( ICCPR). All Scots should be signing Petition PE 2135 and thinking seriously about changing their MSP in 2026.
Incorporating ICCPR into Scots law may be a good thing in itself. But the claim that this somehow contributes to Scotland's cause is totally false. It is not a "first step" on the road to restoring Scotland's independence. It is not any kind of step on that road. Incorporating ICCPR into Scots law changes nothing with regard to the constitutional issue.
I'm struggling to discern any meaningful difference between those who use the idea of independence to promote their personal hobbyhorse and politicians who exploit the idea of independence solely for electioneering purposes.
You must understand that the objective of Respect Scottish Sovereignty (RSS) is first and foremost, Self-Determination for the Scottish People. Then, and only if the People want it, Independence.
If the Scottish People are sovereign, and both Westminster and Holyrood have said that they are, then it must be acknowledged that they don't, at present, have the tools with which to exercise that sovereignty. That's why RSS is pushing the Scottish administration to implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - to give them the tools.
ICCPR was ratified by the UK in 1976 but the UK government has sat on its hands ever since. Fortunately, the Scotland Act 1998 gives Holyrood the power to implement international human rights agreements into Scots law. So there's nothing preventing Holyrood from acting.
ICCPR's Article 25 is key, since it's the basis of internationally recognised direct Political Rights: “Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity……to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives.” (BTW, Article 1 states that all people have the right to self-determination.)
Holyrood could incorporate Art 25 in legislation on devolved issues immediately if it wanted to. However, it has excluded ICCPR from the scope of SNAP 2 (Scotland’s National Human Rights Action Plan (2023-2030). Why does this matter?
Because apart from the right to stand for election, the Scottish People have no direct Political Rights on national matters, such as the right to Referendums (to accept or refuse proposed legislation) or Initiatives (to either write a new Constitution or launch proposed constitutional changes). ICCPR would give them both rights.
The people of Scotland already have the right of self-determination. All nations and peoples do. It's item number one in the Charter of the United Nations. So, the claim that your petition is about "Self-Determination for the Scottish People" is as nonsensical as the claim that it serves Scotland's cause.
Our problem in Scotland is not that we lack the right of self-determination, but the imposed impediments to our exercise of this inalienable human right. Incorporating ICCPR into Scots law might eventually aid more effective exercise of our democratic rights by allowing the introduction or more direct democracy, but NOT in the short term and NEVER in relation to matters reserved to Westminster.
The constitution is a reserved matter. Incorporation of ICCPR does not alter this in any way. It does not - and cannot - repeal the Scotland Act or any part of it. To promote the ICCPR petition on the basis that it contributes significantly to the fight to restore Scotland's independence is dishonest. It remains dishonest even when you attempt to backpedal with that nonsense about "Self-Determination for the Scottish People".
I understand perfectly what the objective of the petition is. That is not the issue. Pretending that it is the issue is also dishonest. The issue is the petition being falsely associated with Scotland's cause. The issue is the petition being promoted using the word 'independence' in much the same way as the politicians who use it as an electioneering device.
Incorporating ICCPR into Scots law does not give the people of Scotland the tools to properly exercise our sovereignty. It merely enables the provision of those tools through further legislation. BUT ONLY IN RELATION TO DEVOLVED MATTERS!
The constitution is a reserved matter. Incorporation of ICCPR does not alter this in any way. It does not - and cannot - repeal the Scotland Act or any part of it. To promote the ICCPR petition on the basis that it contributes significantly to the fight to restore Scotland's independence is dishonest. It remains dishonest even when you attempt to backpedal with that nonsense about "Self-Determination for the Scottish People".
I know I'm repeating myself here. But it seems to be necessary as the point simply isn't getting through to those who are trying tp promote the petition as something that contributes to Scotland's cause.
"ICCPR was ratified by the UK in 1976 but the UK government has sat on its hands ever since. Fortunately, the Scotland Act 1998 gives Holyrood the power to implement international human rights agreements into Scots law. So there's nothing preventing Holyrood from acting."
Why are you telling me this AGAIN? I was well aware of it even before you told me the first time. And it has absolutely nothing to do with my point. It is evasion.
It is your pal Henry Ferguson who appears confused about the UKs position regarding ICCPR. In his letter to Angus Robertson regarding the petition he writes,
So, he "believes" the UK HAS "implemented the Covenant in domestic law". But we know that the UK hasn't. So, WTF is he on about!?
"ICCPR's Article 25 is key . . ."
Why are you telling me this AGAIN? I was well aware of it even before you told me the first time. And it has absolutely nothing to do with my point. It is evasion.
"Holyrood could incorporate Art 25 in legislation . . ."
Why are you telling me this AGAIN? I was well aware of it even before you told me the first time. And it has absolutely nothing to do with my point. It is evasion.
But you go on to admit that "Holyrood could incorporate Art 25 in legislation ON DEVOLVED ISSUES . . ." (emphasis added) What you omit is the word 'only'. Holyrood could incorporate Art 25 in legislation on devolved issues ONLY!
The constitution is a reserved matter. Incorporation of ICCPR does not alter this in any way. It does not - and cannot - repeal the Scotland Act or any part of it. To promote the ICCPR petition on the basis that it contributes significantly to the fight to restore Scotland's independence is dishonest.
"Because apart from the right to stand for election, the Scottish People have no direct Political Rights on national matters . . ."
Why are you telling me this AGAIN? I was well aware of it even before you told me the first time. And it has absolutely nothing to do with my point. It is evasion.
In fact, your entire comment is evasion. Just as every response I've had from Messrs Anderson and Ferguson is evasion. So muc so that I have abandoned efforts to get a pertinent response from either of them. It seems you have adopted the same tactics.
I will not be signing this petition. Not because I disagree with the objective of having ICCPR incorporated into Scots law, but because it is being sold on a false prospectus.
I share your frustration, Peter and am getting more and more depressed as a result.
I like your idea of the Manifesto for Independence but unless more sign up to it, both voters and candidates, it will not make any difference.
How do we get ideas like this out in the mainstream along with 'vote SNP on the constituency and another different Indy party on the list'. Surely these are not beyond our capabilities.
Voting for two different parties neither of which has a plan for restoring independence seems quite pointless to me. Ousting Unionist MSPs is one of those things which has enough titillating appeal to get people interested but which in reality does nothing much - if anything at all - for Scotland's cause.
So long as anti-independence MSPs are in the minority they cannot stop action to restore independence. Making that minority smaller doesn't change anything. A minority is a minority just as a majority is a majority.
Appealing as the idea of kicking the British parties out of Holyrood might be, they are not the obstacle. They are not the ones blocking the process of restoring Scotland's independence. Blame for that lies entirely on the shoulders of the SNP leadership and Scottish Government.
The change we need is not reducing the number of anti-independence MSPs. The task we face is increasing the number of genuine pro-independence MSPs, as opposed to those who just use the word 'independence' as an electioneering device.
We will identify genuine pro-independence parties and their candidates by whther they have subscribed to the Manifesto for Independence. If they have not, then it is counter-productive for pro-independence electors to give them their vote(s).
Our only chance of a 'win' for Scotland's cause out of the 2026 election is if the independence movement combines to support the Manifest for Independence Petition on the New Scotland Party website.
If every (nominally) pro-independence party has exactly the same manifesto commitment to exactly the same process, every vote for any one of those parties counts as a vote for that Manifesto for Independence. This is how we make the 2026 Holyrood election a de facto referendum on the power of the Scottish Parliament to facilitate the exercise by the people of Scotland of our right of self-determination.
Only by combining in our tens of thousands can we hope to utilise the leverage the election gives us.
It sounds like a good plan but how do you get enough people to join as either voters or potential candidates. It is very hard to get this udea across as all the media are against it.
I know how hard it is, Ann. If I didn't know before, I certainly do now. There's not a day passes that I don't seriously consider throwing in the towel. It feels like I've been doing this forever and making no progress. So much energy is being poured into pointless projects. So many causes are trying to hitch a ride on the constitutional issue. It's all very disheartening.
All that keeps me going is the knowledge that this is my last roll of the dice. I'll keep plugging away at the Manifesto for Independence petition for the next few months. If I fail and we end up with nothing out of the 2026 election, I'm done.
Thanks Leah. It's enough to make you weep, sometimes I find it almost impossible to read about how Scotland is so scammed, thieved from massively by the English administration to the deitriment of Scotland and the people of Scotland. :-/
Scotland is hardly even given English region status nevermind nation status...and as for the north of England, well they have always been shafted, kept poor, and the poorer they get the more the far right wing parties like 'Reform' will gain even more ground there, it's all part of the divide and rule tactics, make sure the sheeple fight amongst themselves.
Where Scotland is concerned the English administration has every intention of taking control of the Scottish parliament in 2026, by hook or by crook. Scotland's getting ideas above her station and that poses a huge threat to the Brit/Eng state and their dodgy pals abroad. We can't let that happen, so it's crucial that groups, organisations and the independence movement do not allow any interlopers to sow seeds of doubt and use division tactics, as has been done already, and it's all by design.
The next fifteen months or so are crucial to Scotland's wobbly democracy being retained. The form of D'Hondt system forced onto Scotland by the EngGov, is very confusing for people, that needs serious consideration when the campaigning starts.
All hands on deck! :-)
All the more reason for people to sign the petition re ICCPR.
Signed but I cannot see how it will help us as Westminster will just ignore it.
If Holyrood implements ICCPR into Scots law as allowed under The Scotland Act 1998 that lays out devolved powers, then Westminster couldn't do a thing about it. The real issue is getting enough Scots to sign the petition so that the Scottish administration sits up and pays attention to the people for once.
I agree that D'Hondt is confusing fir many people and the SNP insistence, already started for 2026 Holyrood election, on vote SNP 1 and 2 will deny us the Indy majority we need to prevent a Unionist takeover. You might think from this that the SNP are completely incompetent abd unable to work out the arithmetic that Unionist pasties have profited from for so long, or that they absolutely do not want Scotland to be Indeoendent. Take your choice, but neither judgement will help us!
I too am beginning to despair of what will happen to Scotland under a malevolent government in London.
Our situation seems to keep getting worse and no end in sight as various ideas and research suggestions do not get the publicity they need for folk to back them while the numbers supporting Independence rise, though with no mechanism for them to succeed in that aim because of a malign electoral system rigged against us.
Thank you, Leah! This is an excellent article and certainly explains well the crux of Scotland's problems. England steals everything from Scotland & leaves us with a dribble of our own revenue & resources & expects us to work as a fully independent country, which we are not. But to which we must aspire! People are dying - the elderly through hypothermia, disabled & health problematic people who depend on benefits that are being systematically cut & a quarter of our children are starving. They're not getting help so they too are going to DIE. CHILDREN IN SCOTLAND DYING! When we are such a rich country?? It's appalling! Time to call it quits & tear up the ToU. Thank you for explaining why, so clearly!
Thanks, Leah for pointing out, in this and other articles, the real baddies are our MSPs who haven’t done what the Scotland Act 1998 allows them to do - entirely implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ( ICCPR). All Scots should be signing Petition PE 2135 and thinking seriously about changing their MSP in 2026.
Incorporating ICCPR into Scots law may be a good thing in itself. But the claim that this somehow contributes to Scotland's cause is totally false. It is not a "first step" on the road to restoring Scotland's independence. It is not any kind of step on that road. Incorporating ICCPR into Scots law changes nothing with regard to the constitutional issue.
I'm struggling to discern any meaningful difference between those who use the idea of independence to promote their personal hobbyhorse and politicians who exploit the idea of independence solely for electioneering purposes.
Peter,
You must understand that the objective of Respect Scottish Sovereignty (RSS) is first and foremost, Self-Determination for the Scottish People. Then, and only if the People want it, Independence.
If the Scottish People are sovereign, and both Westminster and Holyrood have said that they are, then it must be acknowledged that they don't, at present, have the tools with which to exercise that sovereignty. That's why RSS is pushing the Scottish administration to implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - to give them the tools.
ICCPR was ratified by the UK in 1976 but the UK government has sat on its hands ever since. Fortunately, the Scotland Act 1998 gives Holyrood the power to implement international human rights agreements into Scots law. So there's nothing preventing Holyrood from acting.
ICCPR's Article 25 is key, since it's the basis of internationally recognised direct Political Rights: “Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity……to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives.” (BTW, Article 1 states that all people have the right to self-determination.)
Holyrood could incorporate Art 25 in legislation on devolved issues immediately if it wanted to. However, it has excluded ICCPR from the scope of SNAP 2 (Scotland’s National Human Rights Action Plan (2023-2030). Why does this matter?
Because apart from the right to stand for election, the Scottish People have no direct Political Rights on national matters, such as the right to Referendums (to accept or refuse proposed legislation) or Initiatives (to either write a new Constitution or launch proposed constitutional changes). ICCPR would give them both rights.
There is a detailed explanation of Political Rights (referendums and popular initiatives), on our website: https://respectscottishsovereignty.scot/political-rights/
and also the one on Popular Initiatives - https://respectscottishsovereignty.scot/shared-files/29291/?Political%20Rights%20-%20Draft%20Scottish%20Constitution.pdf.
The people of Scotland already have the right of self-determination. All nations and peoples do. It's item number one in the Charter of the United Nations. So, the claim that your petition is about "Self-Determination for the Scottish People" is as nonsensical as the claim that it serves Scotland's cause.
Our problem in Scotland is not that we lack the right of self-determination, but the imposed impediments to our exercise of this inalienable human right. Incorporating ICCPR into Scots law might eventually aid more effective exercise of our democratic rights by allowing the introduction or more direct democracy, but NOT in the short term and NEVER in relation to matters reserved to Westminster.
The constitution is a reserved matter. Incorporation of ICCPR does not alter this in any way. It does not - and cannot - repeal the Scotland Act or any part of it. To promote the ICCPR petition on the basis that it contributes significantly to the fight to restore Scotland's independence is dishonest. It remains dishonest even when you attempt to backpedal with that nonsense about "Self-Determination for the Scottish People".
I understand perfectly what the objective of the petition is. That is not the issue. Pretending that it is the issue is also dishonest. The issue is the petition being falsely associated with Scotland's cause. The issue is the petition being promoted using the word 'independence' in much the same way as the politicians who use it as an electioneering device.
Incorporating ICCPR into Scots law does not give the people of Scotland the tools to properly exercise our sovereignty. It merely enables the provision of those tools through further legislation. BUT ONLY IN RELATION TO DEVOLVED MATTERS!
The constitution is a reserved matter. Incorporation of ICCPR does not alter this in any way. It does not - and cannot - repeal the Scotland Act or any part of it. To promote the ICCPR petition on the basis that it contributes significantly to the fight to restore Scotland's independence is dishonest. It remains dishonest even when you attempt to backpedal with that nonsense about "Self-Determination for the Scottish People".
I know I'm repeating myself here. But it seems to be necessary as the point simply isn't getting through to those who are trying tp promote the petition as something that contributes to Scotland's cause.
"ICCPR was ratified by the UK in 1976 but the UK government has sat on its hands ever since. Fortunately, the Scotland Act 1998 gives Holyrood the power to implement international human rights agreements into Scots law. So there's nothing preventing Holyrood from acting."
Why are you telling me this AGAIN? I was well aware of it even before you told me the first time. And it has absolutely nothing to do with my point. It is evasion.
It is your pal Henry Ferguson who appears confused about the UKs position regarding ICCPR. In his letter to Angus Robertson regarding the petition he writes,
"As you know, the UK ratified the ICCPR in 1976 and until now it was believed that the UK hadn’t implemented the Covenant in domestic law. I now believe that’s not the case." (https://dearscotland.substack.com/p/respect-scottish-sovereignty-delivers)
So, he "believes" the UK HAS "implemented the Covenant in domestic law". But we know that the UK hasn't. So, WTF is he on about!?
"ICCPR's Article 25 is key . . ."
Why are you telling me this AGAIN? I was well aware of it even before you told me the first time. And it has absolutely nothing to do with my point. It is evasion.
"Holyrood could incorporate Art 25 in legislation . . ."
Why are you telling me this AGAIN? I was well aware of it even before you told me the first time. And it has absolutely nothing to do with my point. It is evasion.
But you go on to admit that "Holyrood could incorporate Art 25 in legislation ON DEVOLVED ISSUES . . ." (emphasis added) What you omit is the word 'only'. Holyrood could incorporate Art 25 in legislation on devolved issues ONLY!
The constitution is a reserved matter. Incorporation of ICCPR does not alter this in any way. It does not - and cannot - repeal the Scotland Act or any part of it. To promote the ICCPR petition on the basis that it contributes significantly to the fight to restore Scotland's independence is dishonest.
"Because apart from the right to stand for election, the Scottish People have no direct Political Rights on national matters . . ."
Why are you telling me this AGAIN? I was well aware of it even before you told me the first time. And it has absolutely nothing to do with my point. It is evasion.
In fact, your entire comment is evasion. Just as every response I've had from Messrs Anderson and Ferguson is evasion. So muc so that I have abandoned efforts to get a pertinent response from either of them. It seems you have adopted the same tactics.
I will not be signing this petition. Not because I disagree with the objective of having ICCPR incorporated into Scots law, but because it is being sold on a false prospectus.
I share your frustration, Peter and am getting more and more depressed as a result.
I like your idea of the Manifesto for Independence but unless more sign up to it, both voters and candidates, it will not make any difference.
How do we get ideas like this out in the mainstream along with 'vote SNP on the constituency and another different Indy party on the list'. Surely these are not beyond our capabilities.
Voting for two different parties neither of which has a plan for restoring independence seems quite pointless to me. Ousting Unionist MSPs is one of those things which has enough titillating appeal to get people interested but which in reality does nothing much - if anything at all - for Scotland's cause.
So long as anti-independence MSPs are in the minority they cannot stop action to restore independence. Making that minority smaller doesn't change anything. A minority is a minority just as a majority is a majority.
Appealing as the idea of kicking the British parties out of Holyrood might be, they are not the obstacle. They are not the ones blocking the process of restoring Scotland's independence. Blame for that lies entirely on the shoulders of the SNP leadership and Scottish Government.
The change we need is not reducing the number of anti-independence MSPs. The task we face is increasing the number of genuine pro-independence MSPs, as opposed to those who just use the word 'independence' as an electioneering device.
We will identify genuine pro-independence parties and their candidates by whther they have subscribed to the Manifesto for Independence. If they have not, then it is counter-productive for pro-independence electors to give them their vote(s).
Our only chance of a 'win' for Scotland's cause out of the 2026 election is if the independence movement combines to support the Manifest for Independence Petition on the New Scotland Party website.
If every (nominally) pro-independence party has exactly the same manifesto commitment to exactly the same process, every vote for any one of those parties counts as a vote for that Manifesto for Independence. This is how we make the 2026 Holyrood election a de facto referendum on the power of the Scottish Parliament to facilitate the exercise by the people of Scotland of our right of self-determination.
Only by combining in our tens of thousands can we hope to utilise the leverage the election gives us.
https://newscotlandparty.scot/petition/
#NewScotlandParty #ManifestoForIndependence
It sounds like a good plan but how do you get enough people to join as either voters or potential candidates. It is very hard to get this udea across as all the media are against it.
I know how hard it is, Ann. If I didn't know before, I certainly do now. There's not a day passes that I don't seriously consider throwing in the towel. It feels like I've been doing this forever and making no progress. So much energy is being poured into pointless projects. So many causes are trying to hitch a ride on the constitutional issue. It's all very disheartening.
All that keeps me going is the knowledge that this is my last roll of the dice. I'll keep plugging away at the Manifesto for Independence petition for the next few months. If I fail and we end up with nothing out of the 2026 election, I'm done.