Unpublished letter

Scotland’s newest political party arrives this Saturday, St Andrew’s Day. In an event at the Salutation Hotel Perth, New Scotland Party will be officially launched having spent the last couple of months building interest in this latest attempt to progress the cause of restoring Scotland’s independence. The launch event starts at 10:00 and all are welcome. Capacity is limited, however, and seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Places reserved for the media will be offered to the public when the former don’t bother to turn up. Tea, coffee and a buffet brunch will be served.

I am delighted and not a little surprised to find that interest in New Scotland Party has been fairly intense. As one would expect, there has been a lot of uninformed comment and even a bit of abuse on social media. Entirely from people who haven’t taken the trouble to find out what New Scotland Party (NSP) is or what we propose. Those who have made that effort recognise that we are not ‘just anther indy party’.

I totally agree with those who say we don’t need another pro-independence party. We most certainly don’t need another pro-independence party like the ones that we have.

But NSP is nothing like those parties. We actually have a plan for restoring Scotland’s independence. None of the other nominally pro-independence parties is prepared to spell out exactly how they would go about ending the Union. They either don’t know, or they recognise what it would take and realise they are not up to the task.

New Scotland Party is attracting interest and support from those who recognise the hard truth about Scotland’s situation under the Union. People who realise that there is no meaningful difference between being officially named as a colony and being daily treated as the annexed territory of England-as-Britain. People who are aware that, under the Union, even the unanimous will of the people of Scotland can be overruled by the parliament of England-as-Britain. People who see how our nation’s resources are plundered even as Scotland’s people are treated with casual contempt.

New Scotland Party appeals to people who have realised that there is no route to independence through the legal and constitutional armour protecting a grossly asymmetric political Union which makes a mockery of basic democratic principles.

People find New Scotland Party attractive not least because we are prepared to say these things. We are prepared to be honest and forthright about Scotland’s subordination and exploitation. And about what is required to rectify the ancient injustice of the Union. We speak the language of a national liberation movement. People are finding this stimulating and inspiring after years of repetitious rhetoric, dull sloganeering, empty promises, and insipid ‘initiatives’ all stillborn.

New Scotland Party is not seeking the things that other parties crave - seats, salaries, and short money. We have no current plans to stand candidates in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. We will only ever stand candidates where and when we are persuaded that doing so directly serves Scotland’s cause.

Our immediate objective is to make that election a de facto referendum on the powers of the Scottish Parliament. Specifically, legislative competence in all matters relating to the constitution. This legislative competence is a strict prerequisite of the ultimate goal of ending the Union and restoring Scotland’s independence. Legislative competence as described is essential in order that the Scottish Parliament can facilitate the exercise by the people of Scotland of our right of self-determination. Despite this being defined as a fundamental human right by the UN, our access to the exercise of that right is being wilfully obstructed by both the British and Scottish Governments. Although only the latter has responsibility for ensuring that the people of Scotland have the opportunity and the facility to choose the form of government which best serves our needs, priorities, and aspirations.

In Scotland, we never get the UK government we vote for. We always get the government England votes for. Westminster has no democratic legitimacy in Scotland. All democratic legitimacy lies with Holyrood. It is the true national parliament of Scotland which has been usurped by the British state.

First, we take back our parliament! Then we take back our nation!

In order that a de facto referendum in 2026 can have the maximum validity, it will be necessary for all the nominally pro-independence parties to make precisely the same offering on the constitutional issue. They all must adopt the #ManifestoForIndependence. This is unity of purpose. No independence supporter should vote for any nominally pro-independence party which has not adopted the #ManifestoForIndependence. It must be made plain well in advance of the election that parties breaking this unity of purpose will suffer electoral consequences.

In the 2026 Holyrood election campaign, the independence movement can rediscover its unity of purpose by campaigning for the #ManifestoForIndependence regardless of which party they favour - or none.

It is the #ManifestoForIndependence which sets out the process by which Scotland’s independence will be restored. It is the only plan we have.

At 10:00 on the morning of St Andrew’s Day, we will launch the only genuine pro-independence party. The only party prepared to be totally honest with Scotland’s people. The party prepared to say the things that others are too self-interested and fearful to say. The only party with a plan to restore Scotland’s independence - New Scotland Party.

New party! New thinking! New Scotland!

Peter A Bell - Founder, New Scotland Party