The SNP And The SDA

For some time I've been impressed by the work of the Scottish Democratic Alliance (SDA). Those involved seem attuned to what's being said in living rooms and pubs and they have had, for some time, comprehensive policies on the EU and defence - being just two - publicly available online. They have always been open to communications with the SNP because their aim is also independence.

The SDA, along with the more astute political watchers, realise that Scotland will never be the same from last Wednesday, when Alex Salmond launched the referendum consultation. Last Wednesday changed the future of Scotland forever.

The launch itself didn't make much change to the political atmosphere in Scotland, but David Cameron's statement, a couple of days later, did. His message spelt out, clearly and distinctly, that if the people didn't vote Yes, Scotland would be put in mothballs for the foreseeable future.

Now the stakes have changed. David Cameron's statement is more concerning because he's creating a problem, so early in the debate, which could eventually have resolved itself in the next two and a half years. The problem is that the union is finished. His remark this weekend only goes to show he knows it too, but if the referendum produces a No vote, then Scotland will suffer directly from London rule. That's the nature of the beast - the winner takes it all.

Back to the SDA.  Last week they announced that one of their members would be standing as a candidate for Leith in the May local elections. Immediately some SNP supporters accused them of 'splitting the vote'. Such narrow-mindedness is upsetting. I see the SDA as a group of knowledgeable people with a clear vision of how an independent Scotland could achieve both social and financial stability. Their vision may not be everyone's favourite breakfast, but to insult their efforts is contemptible, particularly when so many haven't made any effort to understand their aims.

A member of the SDA gave his response on Facebook to those who are unable to realise that the SNP is not the only game in town aiming for independence.  I do hope those who negatively objected to them nominating a candidate for the May council elections will take note and before they make foolish comments in future, take the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the SDA's policies. It disappoints me to think that so many believe Alex Salmond alone can deliver a Yes note in the autumn of 2014. As a supporter of independence I believe we need all the help we can get to achieve it.

The SDA have no intentions of splitting the independence vote. Like it or not there are many Scots who would support independence but for a variety of reasons will not support the SNP. A single candidate in a local authority will not detract from the support received by the SNP but it will provide a public awareness that will demonstrate that the SNP are not alone in the drive for independence. The awareness that there are other players who are developing policies for an independent Scotland will reassure voters and help swing them over to vote Yes in the referendum. Over a third of the voters are undecided and to win some of them over they need to be told what independence will mean for them. At present they don't know and the SNP do not appear to be in a position to tell them. We have made every policy and discussion paper we have researched available to the SNP and have not even received an acknowledgement. There are multiple unionist parties who will slowly get their acts together and the SNP will require help from the Greens, the SDA and others to win the referendum vote.


Robert Ingram (Facebook link)

Note: I am not a member of the SDA or any political party but I support Scotland being an independent nation.

Juke Box Gems

A wee bit fun for a Sunday morning.  Click on a year and a new juke box window opens with a choice of 20 songs from your selected year.

Music Time Machine

1940	1950	1960	1970	1980	1990
1941	1951	1961	1971	1981	1991
1942	1952	1962	1972	1982	1992
1943	1953	1963	1973	1983	1993
1944	1954	1964	1974	1984	1994
1945	1955	1965	1975	1985	1995
1946	1956	1966	1976	1986	1996
1947	1957	1967	1977	1987	1997
1948	1958	1968	1978	1988	1998
1949	1959	1969	1979	1989	1999

Take Your Pick

Carloway "eviscerated"?

Independence and Broadcasting

Ian Hudghton MEP on Scotland and Europe's future

How  the Guardian newspaper has betrayed the poor

Hootsmon Headlines

How Much Did This Cost?

Scotland and Northern Ireland

Coup d'Etat

Ah, That Frisson Of Anticipation!

Short Thoughts (Martin Durkin)

Greens to sceptics:  show us the money!

ESM Treaty pushed through on the quiet by EU Finance Ministers

Afghanistan

A member of the British army was shot in Afghanistan yesterday. He was from 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment and was fatally wounded in an insurgent patrol in the Khar Nikah area of Helmand.

His death brings the number of our military lost in this war to 397.

Four French troops were killed by an Afghan soldier last week and Sarkozy immediately halted operations in the country, but after talks with Karzia, it was decided that they will resume training Afghan soldiers today, but France will pull out most of its 3,600 troops by the end of 2013.

Sarkozy's main opponent in this year's French presidential elections has pledged to bring troops home this year if elected. A survey, published on Thursday, stated 84% of French people supported the full withdrawal of troops by the end of this year.

Anyone with an interest in military matters will know that the majority of the medics present in war zones these days are reservists because we no longer have military hospitals and therefore few full-time medical staff.  Lt. Col. Sharon Stewart is one of them and she is to be presented with one of nursing's top honours. 

Congratulations to her and her colleagues. Without them the suffering of our wounded would be even more horrific.

Proof (If Needed) That An MP's Job Is Only Part-time

Phillip Lee (pictured) is the Conservative MP for Bracknell where his electorate are very content. Why?

As well as being their political representative Mr Lee is also a GP. That may not be an unusual qualification for MPs to hold, but Mr Lee is a practicing GP.  He manages his medical commitments alongside his political ones and also finds time to criticise his Westminster friends.

Truly radical policies and, hence, genuine change are avoided. The goal was to secure votes and attain office, rather than govern boldly with a coherent plan. Instead of fostering a better Britain, a ‘public-opinion’ industry was created, the essential component of the risk-reduction process. 
Detached, professional politicians had cleverly outsourced the gathering of knowledge. The problem was, though, that polls and surveys rarely raised new issues or introduced new information. 


His remarks aren't surprising because most people, with the slightest interest in politics, know that these days MPs have little to do, as so many of our laws are now made in Brussels.

Mr Lee is certainly not naive, yet when he states: 'It is ironic that having had this article published, it feels as if I've taken a risk', he's missed the real irony. Accepting his full MP's salary for a job which is so obviously part time is the real irony.