Being heard

I was delighted to see in The National yesterday a comment from my old friend William Duguid giving details of the forthcoming Independence Forum Scotland (IFS) Autumn Convention which is taking place on 8 November at Adelaide Place 209 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4HZ.

As William says, the entire afternoon session of the Autumn Convention will be dedicated to discussing the ‘how’ of restoring Scotland’s independence.

A key feature of feedback from the Edinburgh and Perth Conventions was participants’ desire to explore not only how Scotland might operate under independence, but also how we actually achieve it. To address that, we’re devoting the entire Autumn Convention afternoon session to discussing ‘Routes To Independence’.

As part of this session, I have been invited by IFS to give a presentation on the #ScottishUDI proposal and the Manifesto for Independence which is key to the strategy. I am, of course, pleased and privileged to have been afforded this opportunity to explain the thinking behind what I am firmly persuaded is the only approach to the constitutional issue which can possibly see that issue resolved to the satisfaction of all who seek the restoration of Scotland’s rightful status.

Alongside the Scottish Sovereignty Research Group (SSRG), the IFS has emerged as a highly valued contributor to the discourse around the constitutional issue. The IFS National Convention and SSRG Conference are among the most eagerly anticipated events on the independence campaign calendar. Having had the opportunity on two occasions to present the #ScottishUDI proposal to SSRG Conference, I am profoundly grateful to IFS for granting me the chance to be heard at their Autumn Convention.

When you are towards the radical end of the pro-independence spectrum, it is far from easy to get the message across. Discourse is dominated by the main political parties and big players in the ‘independence industry’ such as Believe in Scotland. This tends to limit debate and militates against thinking which departs significantly from the orthodoxy set principally by the SNP. Which is unfortunate as it is an orthodoxy which very much needs to be challenged.

As is ever the way, established doctrine erects barriers to fresh perspectives and novel ideas. See for example, the difficulties experienced by SNP branches seeking to have the party’s conference discuss alternatives and/or amendments to the resolution laying down John Swinney’s woeful ‘independence strategy’ for the 2026 Scottish general election.

In particular, I have in mind the ‘Newington Resolution’ - informed by the same thinking as lies behind #ScottishUDI - which despite the valiant efforts of Mike Wallace and others, did not make it onto the conference agenda. Not only have delegates been denied a chance to hear and discuss something genuinely new, the information will not now reach the wider audience it could have had were it part of the televised proceedings.

This underscores the importance of organisations such as IFS and events like their Autumn Convention. I anticipate the redoubtable Independence Live will have crews in attendance ensuring the presentations and debates are livestreamed to an online audience. Which prompts me to think I really should get back to preparing my own material. Such opportunities to be heard are rare. There is a lot to be said about #ScottishUDI, and I only have around ten minutes. The presentation requires a lot of polishing.