You blew it big time, didn't you?
The referendum for Scottish Independence ended almost four weeks ago, and it is only now that I feel I can write anything down. What I am about to write is from the perspective of a 'Yes' supporter. As I live in England I was not allowed to vote.
So here are my ramblings about various aspects of the referendum.
First of all, let's look at the 'Better Together' campaign.
I have never witnessed such an awful campaign in all my life. I had to watch, sometimes open-jawed, at the sight of Labour sharing a platform with the likes of the Conservatives, UKIP and the Orange Order. They told us (including Labour Scottish MP's) that we could not be a country on our own. We would have no currency. In fact, Johann Lamont, the leader of the Scottish Labour Party, told us it was not in our genes to make political decisions. Unbelievable! The media threw everything at Scotland, except the kitchen sink in the way of lies, lies and more lies. It was a relentless and uninspiring campaign.
On a much brighter note, the 'Yes Scotland' campaign was much more positive.
They sold us a vision of aspiration. We can be, we can do and we are good enough. Sites on the internet such as; Bella Caledonia, Newsnet Scotland and Wings over Scotland proved to be invaluable sources of information and insight. The energy and buzz created by the Yes movement was never ever matched by Better Together.
To prove my point, here are two images depicting outdoor gatherings from both sides of the debate:
Better Together
Yes Scotland
Now, which one do you think looks like the kind of event that you'd go to?
Despite the fact that the No vote won it in the end, my real, problem is with the three so-called leaders of Westminster coming up a few days before polling to make some rash promise to offer more powers to Scotland if the people voted No. This was never about more powers, it was about self-determination.
I genuinely believed that when the No vote won that that would be the end of the Yes movement. I couldn't have been more wrong.
Membership for the SNP has trebled to over 100,000 members, whilst the Greens and Scottish Socialists have doubled their membership numbers. All great to see. In fact, I myself joined the SNP because I want to help and contribute to my country gaining self-determination. So, I need to see what else I can do. Bella Caledonia, Newsnet Scotland and The Common Weal are all looking at expanding their services to help combat what is seen as the established media's biased coverage. Things are positive and moving in the right direction.
I am no political pundit but I think that Scottish Labour are in trouble, to the point where I believe that they are finished in Scotland as a political force. I expect to see the Green Party make great in-roads. The Scottish Socialist Party are a bit of an unknown quantity to me, but it will be interesting to see that they do.
So, all-in-all I feel lifted from that crushing disappointment and I am full of enthusiasm and optimism that Independence for Scotland will still be achieved.
If anyone thought that the no vote would send the Yes voters running, they were wrong.
We are not going anywhere!
