Flirting with the radical

As things stand, there is no way for any of us to vote for independence in the 2026 election. There is no way to vote to progress Scotland's cause because none of the nominally pro-independence parties is offering a proposal to progress Scotland's cause.

Day after day, I see people insisting we must vote for this party or that party, as if all that matters is the name and the logo. Nobody is explaining what it is their chosen party intends to do on the constitutional issue. Nobody tells us about their party's plan for restoring Scotland's independence, for the simple reason that none of these parties has such a plan.

Toni Giugliano doesn't have a plan either. In his column, he is desperately trying to look radical on the constitutional issue - which shouldn't be difficult given the insipidness of the nominally pro-independence parties. He flirts with a radical proposal. Repeatedly, he appears to be leading up to suggesting something bold and imaginative. But every time, he backs off. He is quite explicit about the SNP's approach to the constitutional issue being inadequate. He says we can't go on just trying to make the best of devolution. But when it comes to practical suggestions all Toni Giugliano has to offer is policy proposals intended to make the best of devolution and more of the worn-out 'vision' stuff.

I started reading Toni Giugliano's piece thinking he might surprise me by being the first 'leading figure' in the independence movement to be honest about Scotland's constitutional predicament and what will be required if we are to extricate ourselves from a political union which is quite literally destroying our nation.

There is only #ScottishUDI. The rest is deceit and delusion. There is no route to the exercise of our right of self-determination - and therefore no route to independence - through a legal and constitutional framework which has developed over centuries under England-as-Britain's imperative to preserve the Union. There is no courteous and 'gentlemanly' way to go about restoring Scotland's independence. Power is not given. Power is only taken.

I don't imagine Toni Giugliano will trouble to read these comments. That is a large part of the problem. Professional politicians have grown accustomed to telling us what is and will be. They have little or nothing in the way of listening skills. If Toni Giugliano were to read the comments, I would suggest that he set aside his former 'policy convener' and open his mind to input from the grassroots independence movement. Something the SNP ceased doing some years ago.

I would suggest to Mr Giugliano that if he wants to set himself apart from the herd of career politicians using independence as an electioneering device, he must be prepared to say things that will offend John Swinney and the rest of the party leadership. He will have to change his 'voice' from that of the politician trying to elicit applause and cheers from his audience to that of a political agitator passionate about the restoration of Scotland's independence.

That is the voice the independence movement is aching to hear. The voice of a bold leader unafraid to grasp the thistle of Scotland's liberation struggle.