2024 – One-legged woman speaks

Independent Mind, look and lauch

The man o independent mind, he looks an’ lauchs at a’ that

It seems that when in opposition every single Labour politician supported the WASPI women, courted their votes, made videos with them and girned about injustice. Now some whine at Labour’s betrayal. As if that’s a surprise. It’s what Labour does. Think Blair, Iraq, WMD, CND, Brown, pensions, crash etc.

The billions sent to Ukraine would cover compo for the WASPIs, the winter fuel payment, the two child rape clause, the bedroom tax. What price manifesto commitments ?

All that Labour have done so far in a couple of hundred days in power is shaft the workers. Expect that to continue, for they believe you won’t ever contemplate voting Tory again, will find Reform too extreme and stick with the devil you know. Some apologists are already claiming this decision was incredibly difficult because if it had gone the other way it meant millions would be paying the WASPIs and that was somehow unfair.

On the other side of the political coin you’ve John Swinney and Gillian Martin greetin’ about betrayal. Et tu, etc ? Elected to deliver independence but sat on your hands for a decade and now wring those same hands as Westminster enabled by the SNP ignores Grangemouth and the Scottish Government presides over innumerable catastrophes in health, education, housing, policing, transport – an endless list.

Life expectancy is reducing in Scotland again.

Drugs deaths remain the worst in Europe.

Cancer treatment waiting times are pitiful.

This is a country populated by smart people, well educated, fly as flip, innovative and driven. Why then are we hobbled ? Are we self-hobbled ?

We’ve a former FM whose constituents in large part depend on food banks touting herself as a celebrity on book and comedy circuits; she’s rarely seen at Holyrood and relies on office staff for cover and credibility. The other former FM is little more than half my age and he’s leaving Holyrood because it’s time for the younger generation to politick. Give me strength !

It’s plain to me and many others that for the independence movement in Scotland to gain traction and for a legal route to independence to be plainly stated this has to be done neutrally and non-partisan. Once freed from party constraints, it’s easy to say that our country requires and deserves a movement comprising all talents, the best brains, the hardest workers and the stoutest hearts and minds. Parties don’t and can’t deliver that; popular movements do and will. Let’s create that move, the tactics of Stronger Together are necessary today and with that we will regain our independence and create the Scotland we imagine and love. I4I. Scotland United. Scotland Free, not a desert. And Independence Nothing Less.

No Easy Walk

So far, a total of 65 countries have left the British Empire. Each did so united as a democratic movement persuaded of the benefits of independence. Who better to decide a country’s destiny than those who choose to live there ?

In 1952 Nelson Mandela paraphrased Nehru ‘ there is no easy walk to freedom.’ Whilst the struggles and terrors of India and South Africa have been substantially different from those of us in the modern movement for Scottish Independence, some aspects of creating the route to regaining our liberty remain the same.

Beyond unity and tub-thumping, every independence campaign has required to assess and address risks, establish and build support, motivate and mobilise with comprehensive voter registration and identification and, crucially, a date of a plebiscitary election on the horizon. When people understand the advantages of independence over colonialism, when there is hope that positive change can come through the ballot box, when there is a date to work towards, that optimism and desire to change can surge through the population as an electrifying galvanising force.

Scotland today has advantages other countries who walked the road to freedom could only dream of – untold natural wealth, oil, gas, wind and wave, fishing, forestry; our schools and universities deliver education regardless of birth and not simply gained via privilege or rank, a health service free to all at the point of need; natural and built landscapes which render us breathless and awed.

We know that support for Scotland’s independence stands now at least at 52%. We know too that Alex Salmond took our movement from 28% to over 50% prior to the 2014 vote, hence The Vow, Hands Over The Border and the Imperial Stroll. We also know that were Alex Salmond leading an Independence campaign today he’d take a start of 52% as a gift, run with it and add another 20% to the final total.

We’re not going to see Alex’s like again; he was unique. But as a collective with imagination, dedication, drive and an unbending belief in the people of our country we can together fashion a platform where all of us committed to Scotland’s cause come together, committed to independence, where we listen to each other and where we carry our country’s hopes carefully towards the end of this first leg of our journey – to Independence Day.

Nothing But The Truth.

Nothing but the truth

The oath or affirmation required from witnesses in Scottish courts comprises the promise ‘ to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.’ Reasons for this are plain – courts require complete evidence, honesty, no fabrication, pretence or speculation. In other words, answer all questions honestly and if you don’t know, can’t remember, didn’t see or hear – then say so. Never mislead and never fabricate. Never.

We favour this undertaking in Scotland because we’ve centuries long traditions of respecting the rule of law, equality before the law and seek to see the delivery of justice.

Democratic states like Scotland support the telling of truth, tending also to care for and protect the vulnerable, the weak, the victims, the complainers and to provide safeguards for the accused including independent representation and access to justice for all.

It cannot be just to pretend as our Scottish Government will do this week in the highest court of the UK that a man can become a woman by the inscribing of magic words on a piece of paper. It cannot be just to refer to a rapist as female.

It cannot be just to say that a man with a special scrap of paper can then gain access to women’s wards, changing rooms, sports, toilets, social groups and prisons.

It cannot be just to require victims of rape to share counselling spaces with men, with bodies similar to those by whom they were violated.

It cannot be just to insist that men in dresses with intact male bodies who change their names and wear frocks share hospital wards with old ladies of feeble mind being treated for breast cancer, broken hips or varicose veins. In the quiet dead of night with a skeleton staff where are the safeguards for the dignity and safety of these elder women?

It cannot be just that parents of disabled daughters live in terror that those daughters will become subject to the delivery of intimate care by males posing as females and all the hurt that predators do bring into such situations. The heart rending and justified fears of those parents should not exist in a civilised society.

It is not just to speak with forked tongue, pretend to deliver 16 days of activism against gender based violence and simultaneously argue in court that a man is a woman because

he says so. Politicians claiming such are not fit for purpose.

In the light of multiple men seeking transfer into women’s prisons, at times being permitted such by the Scottish Government, by the Scottish Prison Service and by innumerable politicians, can we hope for a reinstatement of the common sense processes of safeguarding – of recognition that no man can become woman and issues of safety for trans identifying men are problems for men to resolve and that do not and never should impinge upon the rights and safety of women ?

A progressive government would have no truck with limiting women’s access to services, facilities and justice; a listening responsible government would enhance and secure women’s protections and create separate systems for trans identifying males. Failure so to do comprises short sighted misogyny which will sound the death knell for the rank stupidity which references to ‘pregnant man’ and ‘born in the wrong body’ constitute.

If you’ve a spare quid please send it to forwomen.scot/donate/. They deserve our complete support and gratitude. Best of luck this week, ladies. You have earned the respect of hundreds of thousands worldwide.

Flying so close to the sun

There was a brief time when there was Camelot – JFK RFK and MLK. I said before that Bobby Kennedy’s flatbed speech made when I was a toddler remains cherished within my heart. As does MLK having a dream; but I’m a selfish and superstitious person for I believe in Scotland and the power of our country, our hopes and our destiny. Democracy is what we cradle and desire. As a Scot, what else could I do?

And I really need to see Scotland progress from dependency and excuses to autonomy.

Ours is a wealthy country. Not a county, as our greatest ambassador said.

Scotland’s natural resources are boundless.

We are hobbled by those we elect to represent us.

There ought not now to be any single individual elected to MSP or MP status who cannot numerate the case for Scotland’s Independence.

Those who pretend to build the case but lack a plan for its delivery have no place in our movement.

At least 52% of our people believe – those of us with a voice must give all of Scotland that same voice. It will resound throughout our country.

There will be a Summit. Join us. Let our voices ring. Loudly, clearly and with courage, vision and determination. #Not for riches, honours or glory; only and alone for freedom.

The Man’s the Gowd

The man’s the gowd

Before I knew what he represented it was plain to me that JFK’s assassination profoundly affected my parents and their peers. His election, bringing opportunities, courage and optimism had been considered world changing. His death shattered those dreams. The myth remained ‘ Don’t let it be forgot; for one brief shining moment there was Camelot.’

I was 11 months old then so first heard it spoken about years later, along with his brother Bobby’s death and of course MLK. Bobby Kennedy’s flatbed truck speech is one of my favourites and if I could time travel just once perhaps I’d choose to be in that audience in Indianapolis 1968. His courage, understanding and hope remain, half a century later, as beacons pointing the way towards better days.

So much is familiar and rings true

Even in our sleep pain which cannot beget falls drop by drop upon the heart.

We don’t need hatred or division, violence or lawlessness.

We need justice and compassion

We can do well in this country

We want to improve the quality of our lives

We should dedicate ourselves to tame the savageness of Man and make

gentle the lives of this world

It’s time to ask what kind of nation we are and the direction we want to move in

Every single line, every phrase, each notion resonates with Scotland’s history, ambitions and destiny.

Our parents recall where they stood when JFK died; our generation remembers the death of Elvis; Scotland will recall forever and a day the loss of our greatest politician and champion of modern times.

Alex, the Gaffer, the Boss, Oor Eck – he was and will always be one of us, oor ain, a football mad laddie from a council house, a Black Bitch, alwaysalert to his Dad’s advice, made his mark in a Uni populated by the rich and entitled, but he bested them all.

Alex’s efforts enabled Scotland to stand tall, with self-belief, an opinion that we were not better but certainly no worse than, not inferior to any other nation. We gathered with his power the understanding that our saltire can justifiably claim a place between Saudi Arabia and Senegal. That’s what being a normal independent country brings.

And we learned, with Alex’ leadership, that we can build the country we seek; we can build bridges and roads, schools and hospitals, and we can also build and rebuild lives – with free Uni tuition, prescriptions, care, school meals, nursery places and an eye to the good with a common fund.

Ask not what your country can do for you; instead think like Charlie Abel, #ThankAlex, #Justice4Alex and together deliver the Independence our country desires and needs.

Sgt MacKenzie.

Sgt MacKenzie – by Joseph Kilna MacKenzie
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid

Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

Ains a year say a prayer faur me
Close yir een an remember me

Nair mair shall a see the sun
For a fell tae a Germans gun

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Most poignant of words written in honour of a hero of WW1, remembering that following that ‘Great War’ humanity resolved never to repeat those deathly errors. Tragically, the world has not been at peace since; millions perished unnecessarily. Tonight WW3 feels very close if not already unfolding, its genesis lying in part in the folly of imperial attitudes of 1945 and beyond.

In at least the past year innumerable opportunities for peace squandered; instead countless ‘soldiers’ massacred, innocent civilians blasted, mothers, grannies, children, babes ripped apart, beyond recognition. Many who lived would prefer not to have survived, as displacement, pain and debilitation bring daily toll of despair and hopelessness. Women particularly suffer brutality beyond measure, from repeated assault to stoning, burning alive and for thousands confinement at home or in silence, the darkness of the imposition of laws denying education, socialisation or fresh breeze upon innocent face and hair.

We could have a world led by peacemakers, diplomats, singers – lovers, not fighters; a world where all are fed, nourished, safe and respected. I hope the world can make it through this night.

And Justice For All

A quote from the Herald at the weekend :-

‘Towns including Banff, Fort William, Lanark, Lerwick, Lochgilphead, Portree and Wick have just one private solicitor, respectively, on a court duty plan.

There are also no private firms or solicitors on police duty in Aberdeen, Banff, Falkirk, Jedburgh, Kirkwall, Livingston, Lochmaddy and Selkirk.’

400+ lawyers quit the legal aid scheme in the last couple of years; untold numbers of others registered to provide a service actually don’t. They can’t because it often comprises working at a loss. Legal aid deserts exist in criminal and civil provision; an oasis of assistance is becoming increasingly rare. My office in Alva, Clackmannanshire takes calls most days now from desperate Scots as far afield as Skye, Inverness and Galashiels. The system is melting down. Issues from over a decade ago on the austerity slashing of fees paid for travel, promised to be revisited, but remaining unaddressed, only prolong difficulties unnecessarily.

The reason for this is that legal aid fees are mainly far too low; block fees in civil cases mean that much work family and child lawyers like me do is unpaid. In criminal defence work fees are mainly also fixed and the longer a case takes the lower your hourly rate becomes. To add insult to injury salaries, holidays, pensions and prospects are far better working in a government job than in private practice.

If you want to make a decent living in the law in Scotland, you’ll head for employment with the Scottish Government and start on a salary over £40,000 straight out of university; or you’ll be a Reporter in the Children’s hearing system on similar money. You wouldn’t be a defence lawyer working in a legal aid practice when you can get hired by COPFS, be paid twice as much and enjoy the perks of pensions, holidays and the ability to work 9-5.

Twenty years ago lawyers like me could employ at least three staff per partner so school leavers could start as a junior and work up to becoming typist, secretary, PA; fees paid now militate against this and I know many colleagues who’ve had to make loyal staff redundant, close branch offices and generally do more with and for less.

The dearth of legal aid lawyers of course by definition comprises a reincarnation of Andy Wightman’s infamous phrase – ‘the poor had no lawyers’ – this is where we are in Scotland today. What that means is criminal cases are delayed especially sexual assault cases where accused are not permitted to cross examine a complainer; court time can be wasted as party litigants don’t understand rules of procedure and run motions which the court has, in fairness, to hear but which have no chance of success. Failure to remunerate reasonably likely increases overall spend as a result. That’s plain when residents of, say, Inverness need to engage a lawyer from Glasgow whose travel time and mileage have to be paid by the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB).

But if you need a lawyer and you survive on Universal Credit, your children are removed from your care and you want to fight to get them home – where do you begin ?

You’re skint and accused of a benefit fraud which could lead to a prison sentence if convicted – to whom can you turn ?

Domestic abuse has almost broken you and you need advice while you reside in refuge – there’s two local lawyers who can provide this but one acts for your ex and the other is too busy ?

Addiction has struck you; not only have you mental health difficulties, but you’re not allowed to see your children and there’s a forthcoming trial for theft? Representation might make the difference between guilt and acquittal, life and death.

When you’re a legal aid lawyer dealing with cases of separation, arrangements for children, violence, abuse and trauma, your job isn’t what you anticipated whilst at Uni; it’s not LA Law – you’re expected to be a support worker, psychologist, friend, mentor, adviser, confidante; and clients don’t react positively to being told you’re there only to provide legal advice.

I recall two Sheriffs who used to preside well at Alloa; one described lawyers as social engineers; the other kept note of all addicts who’d appeared before him and died on his watch. Good men, the best of our profession whose views on legal aid, equality and justice would curl your hair. It’s plain to me that their values are not the values of Scotland’s current government and that’s a matter of deep regret.

The Scottish Government have been warned for decades that legal aid lawyers are leaving; they’ve signally failed to address this. It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that they just don’t care. I hope they prove me wrong. But tomorrow I’ll have a few dozen vulnerable clients to consult with, reassure and try to support – they’ll try my patience at times, some will cry, others shout, they all need and deserve help, for their sake, the sake of their families and because ours is at least nominally a modern civilised democracy. We have got to do better.

“Facts are stubborn, statistics more pliable” – Mark Twain.

‘Facts are stubborn, statistics more pliable’ – Mark Twain.

In 2023 1277 Scots died an alcohol – specific death.

1172 died from drug misuse.

792 died from suicide.

In 2022 244 Scots died while homeless.

Death rates are twice as high in the most deprived areas of Scotland than in the least deprived; the gap is far wider for some causes especially drugs at 16 times higher.

Minimum unit pricing has not worked.

Harm reduction has not worked.

Poor mental health services leave gaping holes in provision which charities and social enterprise seek valiantly to plug.

Declaring housing emergencies will remain pointless for as long as we lack a national house building corporation and demand that councils do more on less.

All of our efforts under devolution are doomed to fail while our country lacks complete economic autonomy and where UK governmental priorities, which Scotland funds handsomely, favour warmongering over social justice.

Those who voted Labour to get the Tories out will be beelin today to learn that those champions of egalitarianism haven’t only abandoned CND, abolition of the House of Lords, redistribution of wealth by taxing the super rich, but they’re led and we’re governed by a multi millionaire lawyer, a pretend working-class sidekick and the first female Chancellor who think it’s OK to accept thousands of pounds worth of designer clothes, holidays, football and concert tickets as they plunder the welfare budget, consign pensioners to hypothermia, raped mothers to penury and single workers remain hobbled by zero hours contracts without access to benefits and dependent on foodbanks.

The new Emperor has clothes – we see them, recognise them and need rid. The people of the UK deserve better. Scotland deserves better and that is precisely why the Independence movement must unite and campaign like there’s no tomorrow – because for many Scots this Labour government has simply confirmed that this will come to pass.

A quarter of a million Scots depend on food banks.

Hundreds of thousands of Scots rely on clothing banks, school clothing banks and baby banks.

Untold numbers will use warm banks (ffs!) this winter.

In the course of the coming year thousands of Scots will die unnecessary premature deaths because of poverty and inequality, because the odds are stacked against them in this unequal Union.

It can’t be allowed to continue. Poverty amidst plenty. The cost of the Union. Better Together. No better than the Tories and the Panama Papers. Let’s Scoot. Independence will save lives, enhance lives and enable Scotland to become the peace loving fair minded decent country we know she can be. Independence. It’s normal.

A DECADE OF DECAY

I first delivered the Scots Independent and SNP leaflets in the late 1960s as a primary school pupil in Crieff, living in a caravan, chapping doors in the biggest poshest houses of the town, running up and down long drives marvelling at the size of those houses and wondering at the wealth of their occupants and where that wealth had been earned; two wee brothers in a pram and a pushchair kept me on my toes and on Hogmanay 1969 I was enthralled hiding behind the couch in our living room listening to my parents and their friends sing ‘Flower of Scotland’ and debate the extent of the bonanza Scotland’s Oil would deliver to them.

Fast forward four decades – when my left leg went its own way in 2013 rendering me unable to chap doors and deliver the good news, I’d been a lawyer for almost 40 years, a home owner with a mortgage nearly paid off, a son in school, stepchildren, a grandchild, a niece and nephew whose futures were precious and mine to protect. I made it because of my parents’ efforts and views and the Scottish education system. My head teacher John Murray deserves a mention for he was a firm believer in encouraging those he spied with ability to drive themselves forwards and he did all he could to spur us on. My class alone leaving school in 1979 and 1980 included scientists, engineers, linguists, managers, and business leaders. That’s one class from one school – replicated nationwide those achievements and potential were capable of transferring our country overnight. We didn’t achieve a damn thing as the result of the Union, that Union which stole our Oil Fund and used it to rebuild London, pay for illegal wars and English infrastructure.

I was elated to be able to walk part of the route to Calton Hill for the 2013 independence rally; I knew by then that on a personal level life remained worth living and hope, belief in the chance and likelihood of better days for our country though, can be immensely galvanising, liberating and powerful; it overcomes handicaps and losses primarily perhaps because of all emotions hope offers everything we believe we need. And Yes Scotland comprised that hope, the belief in the potential of the people of Scotland to build a country egalitarian and peaceful in nature founded on principles of equality, prosperity and liberty.

A while ago I wrote that Tommy Sheridan said on the eve of our referendum that Scotland had but 40 years of oil left whilst Westminster had just 40 hours – by Jove how I wish that had been true. Today though we observe that oil is yet again a curse. Scotland’s sole refinery is about to expire as England’s refineries plot their expansion to take up the slack from the north. Pensioners in Scotland, where the weather is colder than elsewhere in UK, are losing winter fuel payments because the rest of the UK elected a Labour government and 35 out of 37 Labour MPs representing Scottish constituencies have no backbone; the two child rape clause stays put and we see a multi millionaire PM considers it’s OK for a Lord to clothe his wife spending thousands on her rigouts. In Scotland mothers observe their children suffer from rickets, and children’s heights are the smallest for years as the result of poverty, hunger and deprivation.

We used to talk about the Emperor’s clothes; these days though we’ve seen the ignominy of the science deniers dictating to us that we will agree that humans can change sex and men shall invade women’s spaces; we’ve been ordered to accept that predators don’t lie and cheat to enable their predation; we’re watching men who pretended they’d become women being rumbled yet failing upwards with new jobs and funding sources. This is the misdirected disingenuous ideology that has fractured our independence movement; it has caused and prolonged the schisms within an otherwise respectful and driven body.

Just three things have to happen for Scotland to achieve the independent status from which she will prosper; that springboard requires competent government, unity within the movement and an electoral event.

The first needs John Swinney simply to lift the phone to Alex Neil, and to follow his robust advice on housing, a programme employing thousands and kickstarting the economy at the same time as alleviating one of Scotland’s most long standing unnecessary privations;

Second is the series of calls to fellow independence supporters – Alex Salmond of course and also Colette Walker; her party may be small but it is also mighty; his achievements and future plans for Scotland remain awesome and unrivalled.

Finally, the FM requires Angus B MacNeil on board advising him on collapsing HR and creating that electoral event soon. Build it, they will come. Failure to engage is the failure to which Scotland has become accustomed and if such is delivered by an SNP leader than that party’s conversion to supporting devo max and the Union will be complete. Prove me wrong please. And do it today.

2014 was a dress rehearsal; the serious business needs to happen now, otherwise our people will continue to die unnecessary premature deaths; hope will be stilted and progress stalled. No longer is it required to argue for leaving the Union; the case to be made is why to stay; it’s a corner nobody can fight for there is no defence, no case to answer. Union life comprises want, hunger, cold and death. Scotland deserves and Scottish Independence can and will only deliver better.

Scotched Earth ? Or Scotland a desert ?

When Grangemouth Refinery is no more do you fancy then that Scotland will no longer have a need for petrol or diesel ? Will all Scotland’s petrol stations close overnight ? In the blink of an eye we drive only electric vehicles ? Shall our aircraft fly without aviation fuel ?

Ridiculous untenable notions of course when the only refinery in UK under threat is Grangemouth – others thrive, planning extensions. No economic or environmental considerations justify Scotland becoming unique in the world as a major oil producer without her own refinery – only political hobbling of Scottish aspirations, advanced scorched earth, following the likely overturning of that NO vote of 2014 as sure as night follows day.

Grangemouth, the oldest refinery in the UK, succeeded the first oil works in the world – Young’s Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company Limited – opened in 1851 at Boghead, Bathgate. Based there for geographical reasons and to benefit from an acknowledged skilled workforce. Rather than closing down, Scotland should be shouting

Scottish achievements and innovations from the rooftops, looking to continue to create successes, not gazing at further industrial vandalism, echoing the devastation wrought by Thatcher and her successors.

Scots helped to build the modern world – Scottish inventions in agriculture, heavy industry, power, transport – think McAdam, Watt, Dunlop, Telford, Howden, or in communications and science Alexander Graham Bell, John Logie Baird, James Clerk Maxwell, James Young Simpson, Alexander Fleming – the list of Scottish inventions is almost interminable and Scottish impact upon the world immeasurable and valuable.

Are we seriously to believe that there are no determined Scottish minds with the vision, cash and knowhow to improve, maintain and if necessary replace Scotland’s only refinerywhen Scotland produces £10billion per annum from the North Sea ? When five refineries in England will not only remain open but also expand ? – doubtless planning on refining Scotland’s oil to sell at a profit attributable to English not Scottish production.

Pull the other one.

This, along with the scandal of the winter fuel payments, lost in the coldest yet most fuel-producing part of the UK, the planned privatisation of the NHS – this is the price of the Union, the result of that NO vote; pooling and sharing; what’s ours is theirs etc.. Better Together with war mongering duplicitous imperial priorities alien to those of the majority of Scots.

The Scottish independence movement, the Yessers of 2014, those persuaded since, and those as yet unsure, all of us, together, need up off our knees and onto our feet – making a collective, powerful stand against the continued deindustrialisation of Scotland and exploitation of Scottish resources.

We were told in 2014 ‘lead us, don’t leave us’ ; there were love bombs over the border, phone calls and majestic purring – a Yes vote was going to remove us from the EU and jeopardise pensions. What a difference a decade has made!

I like to think that 2014 was a dress rehearsal; that Kenny MacAskill was right when he said that there will be a tipping point; perhaps that tipping point is close. Mostly though I hope that my fellow Scots manage to persuade our political and civic leaders to find a national spine, a national conscience and the valour needed in these dark days.

If you’re scunnered and beelin at the weasel words of those who promised change, if Grangemouth’s impending closure is a bridge too far, if you’re demented knowing gazing ashore from the oil rigs and wind farms of the North Sea onto Scotland leads to a vista of food banks, baby banks, school clothing banks, poverty, fear and pain, if your head, heart and soul tell you that we’ve got to look after ourselves and Scotland’s future destiny must be shaped by those who live and work in Scotland, then I look forward to joining you on Saturday in Freedom Square in Glasgow – there we shall contend for Hope over Fear, not for glory, honour or riches, but for the freedom to reap our own harvest, ring our own till, feed, heat, educate and care for our own. By ourselves, honestly and peaceably.

When we are united for independence, then we can set to – creating that Constitutional Convention, the Independence Election, Scotland United and with our independence create the Scotland we should be. We’re not a nation of cowed Jimmy hat-wearing banjo playing broken toothed intoxicated halfwits boasting about wha’s like us. We deserve to regain our International status as an intelligent capable democratic prosperous egalitarian peace loving independent nation. Now that so many challenges face us it is the day and it is the hour. I’ll see you on Saturday. Let’s get the job done this time.