Those at the leading edge

My old friend, Mike Fenwick, and I agree on many things. One of them, I suspect, and something at least hinted at in his letter, is the route to independence via a proper constitutional referendum must run through the space between the strictures of local (UK) law and the fundamental principles of international law.

Our nominally pro-independence politicians have been lying to us for at least twelve years. It became obvious to some of us even before the 2014 referendum had played out that there is no such thing as a ‘legal and constitutional’ route to independence. That is why people such as Mike have spent the years since 2014 seeking effective ways of progressing Scotland’s cause, while those nominally pro-independence politicians have been content to sit in their very comfortable bubble, promising much, delivering nothing, and blaming Westminster for what is actually their own failure.

It is people like Mike Fenwick and a host of others who have been doing all the heavy lifting in finding a way to resolve the constitutional issue that ends happily for Scotland. The nominally pro-independence parties have done precisely nothing in this regard. I emphasise, nothing! While Mike and many others whose names will surely be known by those reading this have dedicated themselves wholly to developing our understanding of Scotland’s constitutional circumstances, the better to find a way of changing those circumstances, the politicians have done absolutely nothing. Don’t believe me? Ask to see their research! Let them pile their research on a table next to the pile of work done by Sara Salyers alone. The political parties will be justly shamed.

The SNP, in particular, hasn’t had a fresh thought on the constitutional issue since Alex Salmond’s time. They remain wedded to the now totally discredited Section 30 process while the thinking part of the independence movement left that behind a long time ago.

I know I am repeating myself here. It’s because I am so desperately aware of the need to acknowledge the abysmal failure of these nominally pro-independence politicians and parties and agree to a way to create a new party-political and parliamentary arm for the independence movement. What we have is not fit for purpose.

Right now, however, let’s take a moment to salute all bonnie fechters who have striven at the leading edge of Scotland’s cause for all these years without help or recognition from the political elite.