Here we go...

Well she did it.  Stealing thunder from Theresa Mayhem’s expected announcement on triggering Article 50, Nicola Sturgeon has announced that she will be seeking Holyrood’s permission to hold a second referendum for Scottish independence.

So what now?

The first thing that I hope to see is that people, regardless of who they vote for, realise that this referendum is not about a vote for the SNP but it is a vote for a democratic Scotland.

Secondly, I hope that the Yes movement encompasses those who believe in independence but vote; Tory, Labour and LibDems.  Can you imagine a movement that boasts voters and members from all the main parties in Scotland?  I can, and it’s an awesome thought.

Thirdly, I want to see a much better co-ordinated campaign that is inclusive of not only Bella Caledonia and the likes, but also Stu Campbell of WingsOverScotland.  Like him or loathe him, he can produce some brilliant journalistic pieces that shreds the arguments of those who back the Union.

Lastly, let’s not get involved in any mud-slinging.  Let us focus instead, on uniting and ultimately winning the democratic right to govern ourselves…and yes, get out of this rotten-to-the-core political union.

We can’t scream and shout and call people names when they still, for reasons known only to themselves, cling to the UK.  We all need to show them that there really is a better way.

I don’t think the BBC, Sky or most of the media have learnt anything since 2014, and certainly going by last night’s evidence I would say it might be even worse.  So folks, we need to hold fast, rise above it and win, but win with a smile.

Alba gu bràth!

Two more weeks to go...

Despite living in England for the past 18 years, I was really hoping that my home country, Scotland, would vote yes in the referendum.  Unfortunately, it was not to be.  Project Fear won the vote…just.

Or did it?

Since that result, the SNP has seen its membership rocket from around twenty thousand to one hundred and five thousand. I am not ashamed to admit that I am one of those new members.  I was numb after the vote and wanted to join the SNP, despite the fact that I live in England.

Now, here we are just over 7 months later and Project Fear II has been launched.

Why?

There are a number of reasons:

Nicola Sturgeon, since becoming leader of the SNP has won many admirers.  She was one of, if not thee top performers in the televised leaders debates.  She has received a lot of support on Twitter from people living in England.

All polls seem to suggest that Labour’s Northern British branch (I refuse to call them Scottish Labour) is facing a whitewash with the SNP predicted to take 50 seats and perhaps leaving Labour with or five seats at best.

The so-called big parties of Westminster are in panic mode and are slinging everything they can at Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP. If I was to be completely honest, they are, in truth running Scotland down too. The Tories have; made noises about Westminster holding the Scottish Parliament to account, put up huge posters in England depicting Ed Miliband in Alex Salmond’s pocket (oh how they must have laughed at that one).

They have been so petty that David Cameron would not even share the sofa with Nicola Sturgeon on a recent episode of the Marr Show.

The Right wing press have portrayed Nicola Sturgeon as ‘The most evil woman in Britain’, and so on. Labour and the Tories both claim that a vote for the SNP is a vote for the other Party. I’m sorry, but they can’t both be correct.

All things considered, the SNP have bounced back and in some style.

It really has been exhausting, and there’s still two more weeks to go.