Independent for Independence

I’m not naturally a politician; I much prefer the law and enjoy my work. Over 40 years though it’s become very clear to me that those who fall foul of the criminal law tend to be the voiceless, faceless, the ghosts from the schemes, the care experienced, homeless, unhealthy, addicted, prostituted. You know there’s a backlog of trials, thousands on remand and on bail for years, prisons overcrowded and early release debated far too late when real concerns are ignored and sidelined.  

In Scotland’s civil courts and children’s panels decisions are made daily based on flawed or incomplete information ; civil legal aid lawyers are getting like hen’s teeth and access to justice is becoming dependent on ability to pay not need.

That’s a lot like the health service – we all have friends drawing down pensions to pay for the lasering of eyes, new hips, knees, teeth. The surgeons who say you’ll wait 2 years for the op on the NHS miraculously become available the next day when you flash folding notes or a healthy credit card.

These aren’t the reasons why I seek Scotland’s independence, but they are some of the reasons why I will never give up. No matter what.

When Scotland is independent we will feed all of our children in nursery, primary and secondary school. There will be no working poor for we will pay decent wages. Pensioners won’t choose between eating and heating. The Clyde and surrounding lochs will be fishing and sailing waters not deadly storage centres for WMDs. When you sit on an oil rig or a wind turbine in the North Sea you’ll look ashore to a landscape devoid of food banks, baby banks and school clothing banks.

That’s just starters for my vision for Scotland as a normal independent country – in time we will also have an integrated fully functioning transport network, national housebuilding and energy companies, armies of grannies and aunties helping young parents to bring their children up safely and properly, respect for single sex rights and an end to domestic violence, alcoholism and drug addiction born out of trauma and despair. 

Scotland will flourish when we reap our own harvest and ring our own till. The dream that will never die will be realised with #ScotlandUnited.