‘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.