Independence Convention <SIConvention>
"Working towards an independent Scotland"


We exist to further the cause of restoring Scotland’s independence. Our platform draws together all the disparate groups, parties, organisations, politicians and individuals, in Scotland and beyond, who share this one basic, democratic objective.

The Scottish Independence Convention was born on St Andrew’s Day, 2005. Since then we have been busy working for the day when Scots will be invited to vote in a referendum on regaining our independence from the British state. We are an umbrella organisation working to unite and encourage all who want independence for Scotland to meet on common ground and have their say in the growing debate on Scotland’s constitutional future.

We welcome everyone, regardless of party political affiliation, who shares our vision of Scotland being a free and democratic independent state. Your support will hasten the day when Scotland is reborn as an independent member of the international family of nations.

www.scottishindependenceconvention.org

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  • Stephen Maxwell - The Calman Commission

    Beginning its work in a year which saw record world oil prices and ending it in the middle of the worst global recession for six decades the Commission on Scottish Devolution under the chairmanship of Sir Kenneth Calman measures Scotland’s future out in teaspoonfuls.

    Cynics will remind us that the Commission was a creation of the Unionist parties and that no fewer than twelve of its fifteen members were Life Peers, Knights or holders of other baubles from the British state. What did we expect?

    In fact by the dismal expectations trailing its birth the Commission did produce a few surprises. The biggest was the proposal that Scotland should be given responsibility for raising around one third of its own spending budget through enhanced taxing powers. But the initial surprise was soon doused by the content. The UK Government should cut 10p from income tax levied in Scotland, adjust Scotland’s block grant downwards, and leave the Scottish Parliament to make up the difference, more or less, through a new power to set a single rate of income tax in Scotland at whatever level it chose.

    Whether this proposal would achieve the Commission’s declared aim of bridging the accountability gap between the Parliament’s spending power and its current revenue raising power is doubtful. The Scottish Parliament already has the power to vary the standard rate of income tax in Scotland by 3p up or down. It has never used it, for understandable reasons. Of all taxes income tax is the most politically sensitive. Nor is the Scottish Parliament allowed to shift the burden from low and middle earners by altering the rate on the higher tax bands. While the new power would apply the Scottish tax to both standard and higher tax rates the same absolute increase or decrease would be applied to both. The structure of the tax regime - allowances, credits and thresholds - would remain the prerogative of Westminster.

    Given these restrictions the Parliament will probably choose to play safe by striking the same rate of income tax as in the rest of the UK while continuing to blame Westminster’s block grant, accounting for the remaining two thirds of its income, for any overall funding shortfall. The temptation will be reinforced by the Commission’s refusal, despite some press speculation, to give Scotland any preferential access to Scottish oil revenues. This refusal could become politically toxic as oil revenues rise on the back of a recovery in the global economy even as Westminster is cutting back public expenditure, Scotland’s block grant included.

    The only other substantial proposal Calman makes is for the Scottish Government to have a borrowing power for capital investment subject to Treasury approval.

    Calman’s failure even to begin to match the scale of the challenge and the opportunities facing Scotland is down to two factors. The Commission’s remit to review devolution was explicitly contained within an obligation to “secure the
    position of Scotland within the United Kingdom”. As if that was not restrictive enough, in its Interim Report last year the Commission committed itself against any change which might put the Union at risk, a fatuous commitment given that the status quo itself carries a threat to the Union.

    In that spirit the Commission treats the Union as a sacred axiom to be used to block any proposal not immediately certifiable as Union friendly. Thus proposals for devolution of control over elements of the welfare and employability budgets are rejected on the grounds of inconsistency with the ‘common social Union’ across the UK. Claims for differential corporation tax rates or for Scottish management of immigration are vetoed on the grounds of inconsistency with the ‘economic Union’. Claims for Scottish control of the Parliament’s electoral system fall on the grounds that “it is the essence of devolution that the powers of the sub-national parliament are exerc

    0 Comments 14 days

  • Isobel Lindsay - Scotland and the Crisis at Westminster.

    Unchartered territory is one of the most frequent descriptions of the current Westminster expenses crisis. Coming on top of the banking crisis, it has undermined the legitimacy of central pillars of ‘Great Britishness’ and this has some advantages in promoting the case for independence. In the UK context the public response has been politically unfocussed because there has not been a reforming ideology sufficiently strongly in place to channel public anger in a coherent direction. This is not just about lack of media coverage of alternatives. Of course that is a problem but media need parties and movements with a strong enough base to be viable protagonists. The key question is whether in a Scottish context public anger can be given a more constructive focus.

    Will the outcome in Scotland be the same scattergun cynicism about politics and all political change? The expenses scandal has crossed the party spectrum although among Scottish MPs, the SNP and Liberal Democrats have so far not had substantial problems. Also none of the main parties have promoted serious action on top banking and other corporate salaries and there is a feeling that the outrageous remuneration packages will just drift back to where they were. This cynicism is a real danger. One of the reasons why there was not a larger ‘yes’ vote in the 1979 referendum was that it came after a winter of economic crisis when voters in Scotland were pessimistic about change. But under these circumstances people can also be more open to alternatives and inspirational leadership. Will Scots look for alternatives in a Scottish context or will some see the debate about radical reform of the Westminster system as an attractive option?

    The problem for Labour is that any proposals that come at this point in the political cycle lack any credibility. Brown’s proposal for a National Council for Democratic Reform and his statements of support for proportional representation, Lords reform and increased backbench powers – are all too much, too late for a fag-end government with less than a year to go after twelve years in power. This is obviously a panic reaction. In David Cameron’s case, his proposals are largely light-weight sound-bites because he is likely to have the power to deliver.

    This does not mean that we should not support the ideas for reform and, in particular, support groups like Unlock Democracy which incorporates Charter 88. Promoting democratic reform is something with which we can identify as worthwhile in itself. The values promoted can be used to strengthen the legitimacy of Scotland’s right to decide its own constitutional future. It helps us to build cross-border goodwill. Most of the reforms proposed are ones that Scotland already has within the context of devolved powers and those reforms were the product of work that was done in Scotland. We should try to get the independence case for Scotland and the proposals for a stronger Welsh legislature discussed as part of the reform agenda. Our argument is that, just as devolution has enabled substantial democratic reform to take place, so independence would extend the opportunity for different models of social, economic and international relations and this could have spin-off benefits in offering examples for others in the British Isles.

    The second strand of this current crisis of confidence is the crossover to aspects of the banking debacle. The image of ‘top’ people lining their pockets without any ethical standards just because they have the power to do so has been fixed in public perception. Even although there is a vast gap between the reward packages of MPs and top corporate executives, we should not forget that both are in the top 5% of earners. There have been serious debates in Germany and France on restricting top earnings but there has not been a serious debate here – only hot air. Obviously the Scottish Parliament does not have power to act on this outwith th

    0 Comments 27 days

  • Stephen Maxwell - Perfect Storm for Independence?.

    In politic stuff happens…….

    For the last two decades conventional Nationalist wisdom has held that independence will be achieved by a gradual transfer of powers from London to Edinburgh. But the global recession offers a glimpse of a more dramatic possibility. Could the new conditions be brewing a perfect economic and political storm capable of blowing Scotland clear of the Union in a much shorter time scale?.

    The Centre for Public Policy for the Regions at Glasgow University this week published an update of the impact of the previous week’s UK on the Scottish Budget. It estimates that after peaking this year the Scottish Budget will decline in real terms to 2013-14 by between 2.1 – 3.8% annually. In 2013-14 Scottish public expenditure will be up to £3bn less than in the current year and over the period the total expenditure will be down £6bn. As the Centre comments: “Since devolution the Scottish Government has been principally faced with the question where to spend the extra money rather than where to cut back, such was the largesse available. Now the tables have turned and it is a question of who faces the largest cuts.”

    The week before the UK budget Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney offered his perspective on Scotland’s financial future. In a speech which was otherwise professionally optimistic – of course he did not know the details of the budgetary horrors soon to be unveiled by the Chancellor – one passage sent a frisson of alarm around the lecture hall. He pointed out that when the SNP Government came to office in 2007 it found that it would have to spend £501m in its first year servicing its inheritance of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) commitments: by the end of the Parliament the annual cost to the Scottish budget of PFI will have risen to £867m., to be met from a declining budget.

    The third element of the storm is the increase in the demand for public services driven by the combined impact of the recession and the ageing of Scotland’s population. Many of the costs of the recession, for example the increased expenditure on income support and employment services, are already factored into the UK budget, albeit on the back of estimates of the UK’s short term growth prospects which most analysts consider wildly optimistic. But the wider social costs of higher levels of unemployment – for example on social support, education, health and justice – will fall on a shrinking Scottish budget. And there they will have to compete with the rising claims of an ageing population for health and other social and community services which were widely regarded before the recession as presenting the major challenge to public budgets.

    Even Perfect Storms quickly blow themselves out. The financial storm facing the United Kingdom will be less amenable. In the CPPR’s scenario UK and Scottish public spending after 1213-14 can be expected to resume its growth but at only about 1% annually, well behind the rate needed to meet increasing demand let alone to catch up with the £6bn backlog of need from the four years of real decline. And even that will depend on what priority is given by UK Governments to reducing the UK’s public debt as a proportion of GDP from the 80% or more to which it is now heading to a more manageable 40 or 50%.

    A fifth element of the storm is that while the UK Government will be inflicting massive cuts in Scottish expenditure the world economy will be coming out of recession ahead of the UK. A probable consequence is that oil prices will have started rising again, significantly strengthening an ‘independent’ Scottish budget relative to the actual UK and Scottish budgets.

    The two final elements are directly political. All the indicators point to a Conservative victory in next year’s UK general Election on the back of a large English swing away from Labour with the SNP making further inroads against Labour in Scotland. The politi

    0 Comments 61 days

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  • Independence 4 Scots
    Independence 4 Scots

    Join this group if you like to debate about Scotlands politics or/and passionate about the fight for Scottish independence!

    We are an official organisastion with an upcoming website and forum!

    1 week ago
  • Independence Convention
    Independence Convention

    New Blog from Stephen Maxwell - Perfect Storm for Independence? Visit http://www.scottishindependenceconve...

    8 weeks ago
  • Independence Convention
    Independence Convention

    New Blog from David McCann... Conspiracy theories and BBC Alba's Diomhair programme... visit www.scottishindependenceconvention.org

    12 weeks ago
  • David Mündt
    David Mündt

    SNP win Maryfield by-election in Dundee!

    SNP 1550 48%

    Labour 1013 31%

    LibDem 354 11%

    Tory 224 7%

    SSP 52 2%

    Independent (Simmons) 35 1%

    Independent (Young) 28 1%

    SNP 14 Councillors
    Labour 9 Councillors
    Lib Dem 2 Councillors
    Tories 3 Councillors

    16 weeks ago
  • David Mündt
    David Mündt

    When you say experience...... If you ask if the SNP are experienced enough then I will give you an answer. No party has enough experience untill they get the job. The SNP has done more for Scotland than Labour. They have nearly three years experience under their wing and in such a financial climate as just now. Now is that not a stupid question?

    16 weeks ago
  • Shearon
    Shearon

    but would any other party have a better chance? are the snp experianced enough to deal with this? really? i mean its very easy to say it now. but when it actually comes to it?

    16 weeks ago
  • David Mündt
    David Mündt

    This is were independance comes into play. With Scotland independant its industry would be able to flourish. The 'Brittish' government squander our precious money. Maybe, just maybe, they might concentrate in a UNION bail out plan resulting in the backing of small businesses and the investment into adult further education. The unemployed need to get back into work so we can start to stabilize the economy. The only reason that these buisinesses and industry and mass unemployment is because of a failing Labour government in Westminster!

    17 weeks ago
  • Shearon
    Shearon

    well i suppose the primary function is simply to travel from A to B. but then im guessing thats what im meant to say huh? but with unemployment levels rising and industries shutting down where will jobs come from?

    17 weeks ago
  • David Mündt
    David Mündt

    Those so-called jobs that have been created by industry have quickly been lost because of the half-wits in Westminster. The whole world has now suffered in the world of industry. You call that successful? Im not to sure what planet you've been living on these past few months. Funny things have happened to peoples jobs!
    They vanished! Back to the bio fuel industry.First of all it isnt planned its being taken a step at a time. Second I would like to ask you a question which I will answer in my reply to your next query: Lets look at industry, look at cars for example; Why do people want cars?

    17 weeks ago
  • Shearon
    Shearon

    i suppose i hadnt thought of that. though the improvements in quality of life and the jobs it created as well as the long term positive effects it has had on the world was more what i was going for there haha.


    going back to previously made points, i was curious to know about the bio industry that is planned for scotland. what would be the actual source of the profits you predicted and what jobs would be supplied for the unemployed here? i have never heard of this potential option before

    17 weeks ago
  • David Mündt
    David Mündt

    Just a thought.......

    17 weeks ago
  • David Mündt
    David Mündt

    i'm not trying to cancell out pride. Im just out there to get the message across that OUR country comes first! I am proud that industry moved forward in that time period. However....think of all that polllution?

    17 weeks ago
  • Shearon
    Shearon

    what a very dismissive way to speak to someone simply because they do not share the same strength of pride in a country as you do. son. do tell me how the industrial revolution is an invalid point? there are many sources of being proud of being a scottish citizen, but this does not mean that a pride in being british has to be cancelled out.

    17 weeks ago
  • David Mündt
    David Mündt

    Stop there. First of all, these people would call them selves English before Brittish. You are creating false dreams for yourself son. Your reasons are invlaid. Are you Scottish? Name all the things that makes you proud to be a Scot. Then compare that to what you said about being a proud Brit. Massive difference in the comparison of pride you will find!

    17 weeks ago
  • Shearon
    Shearon

    britian has also produced some of the worlds most famous authors ie shakespeare, dickens, austen. Isaac Newton was also british. we were the fore front of the industrial revolution which has had the obvious effects world wide.

    these again are valid reasons to be proud to be british

    17 weeks ago
  • Shearon
    Shearon

    your point about the first world war is true. it did break men. but some of the feats of bravery that were shown during the war shouldnt be ignored or forgotten either.
    The spirit by those back home, especially women, in doing their part is also impressive.


    what i actually said there was "however the seond world war stopped nazi germany from wiping out the jewish race ". i didnt say we knew about the holocaust plans being made in germany. or have an extensive knowledge of things such as the specialised units of nazi soldiers who would shoot jews and pile their bodies in massive holes. this happening until it proved to expensive. i am not totally unaware of this subject. but british actions did prevent the total destruction of that race. a source of pride no?

    17 weeks ago
  • David Mündt
    David Mündt

    Cont:

    Those lines tell you that these men are broken souls. They are described to be beggars and hags. A hag is the highest insult. a woman that is practically the scruffiest horrible type of woman on earth. Wilfred gives us atotal different imagery of how we see the army today.
    Now does this small, effortless piece of analysis not tell you a huge story. This isnt bravery, or in fact keeping their dignity intact, it is saying that these men have giving up hope and are waiting for a revival, death.

    17 weeks ago
  • David Mündt
    David Mündt

    Cont:

    I dont know in what way or why you read Dulce et decorum est but as I said earlier, the amazing use of similies blatently screams at you that these men were feminized: cowards, This isnt a sexist remark its from the point of view of a man from this time period. From the very first line of the poem it tells you these men were broken:

    Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
    Knock - kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,

    Now tell me, do these men seem brave after only two lines of a poem?

    17 weeks ago
  • David Mündt
    David Mündt

    cont:

    I myself have a good knowledge and understanding of this sensitive era. Maybe to give you an insight into this I should show you my 24 page report on the build up to and the Holocaust. Lots of men who fought in these wars didn't sign up for it. They were forced to go. And when they were fighting, it wasnt bravery keeping them going, it was the fear of loos of human life. A natural human reaction.

    17 weeks ago
  • David Mündt
    David Mündt

    Cont:

    As for world war two; like I said I obviously stated it was a more valid war, and I personally, if had the chance, would have fought in that war if called up. However you said the war was to stop nazi Germany wiping out the Jewish race. Your history is slightly inacurate as the war started because of the invasion of Poland which Britain had no choice but to declare war as they promised to protect Poland against enemy attack. Along the lines you have seemed to have forgot that any country outside nazi Germany occupation was totaly oblivious to the fact that the nazis were murdering and discriminating jews and other races. I suggest you work on that sensitive area of recent history before you comment on it.

    17 weeks ago