Independence is about more than the SNP

The referendum on whether Scotland should be an independent country is a completely different matter from which political party, if any, you usually support.

On 18th September we vote Yes or No to Scotland becoming an independent country with the power to make its own decisions.

Then in May 2016, just six weeks after Independence Day, we'll choose our first independent Scottish government - which could be Labour or SNP, Greens or LibDem, SSP or Tory, or a new party formed in the aftermath of a Yes vote.

Supporters of Yes (just like supporters of the No campaign) have a range of different views.

What unites them is a unifying belief in the need for Scotland to take control of its own affairs.

If Scotland votes to become independent in 2014, new policies or changes to current policies will be decided by whichever party wins the Scottish General Election in 2016 or the next Scottish General Election or the next.....

With independence, never again will Scotland have to wait a generation to see the party it backed overwhelmingly in election after election get the chance to take power.

With independence, never again will Scottish politicians be allowed to put the interests of Scotland second in order to win power.

A Yes vote is not a vote for the current government or its policies.  It is simply a vote to put Scotland’s future in Scotland's hands.

By taking responsibility for our own future we have the potential to make our undoubted wealth and resources deliver much more for our people – regardless of your view on which political party would be best able to deliver that.

On Monday 14th July, Yes East Kilbride continues its programme of public meetings with three speakers who demonstrate that support for independence goes far beyond the ranks of the SNP.

Jeane Freeman and Tommy Sheppard come from a Labour background, while Andy Myles has long association with the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Come along and hear for yourself why independence is about more than the SNP.

A lot more 'left' to be said

With polls of voting intentions in the independence referendum showing Yes and No neck and neck, Yes East Kilbride has announced two meetings to let Labour voters who are still undecided find out what a Yes vote would mean to them.

On 27 June, a meeting entitled ‘The progressive case for Yes’ will be held at the Murray Owen Centre from 7.30pm. Speakers include Carol Fox of Women for Independence, a former Labour parliamentary candidate. Carol will be joined by her brother, Colin, co-spokesperson of the Scottish Socialist Party and a former MSP.

Pat Kane; musician, writer, activist and former rector of Glasgow University will argue that independence offers the chance to make Scotland a more equal society.

The second event ‘Can you be Labour and Yes?’ will be held on 2 July at Greenhills Community Hall.

This event will feature Jim Sillars; former Labour MP and SNP Deputy Leader, who recently withdrew from a meeting in the town due to the death of his wife, Margo MacDonald MSP, who had close connections with the town.

Joining Jim on the panel will be Allan Grogan, founder of Labour for Independence, and Sandra Webster of Women for Independence, who will argue that only a Yes vote gives Scotland the power to build a fairer, as well as a more prosperous society.

Commenting, Chair of Yes East Kilbride Paul McCartney said:

"We have some fantastic events over the next few weeks, and we encourage all undecided voters, especially those who traditionally back the Labour Party, to come out and hear the progressive case for Yes.

"At our stalls and on the doorsteps, we find more and more people moving to Yes, especially among traditional Labour voters who are unconvinced of the case for No.

“The last Better Together event in East Kilbride featured a Tory Cabinet Minister and was moved at the last minute to avoid facing the people of the town. By contrast, Yes East Kilbride events are open and welcoming.

"Panicked by the growing support for a Yes vote, the three pro-UK parties are now offering more powers to the Scottish Parliament, if there is a No vote. The fact is that only a Yes vote lets us harness Scotland’s enormous wealth to deliver a fairer society. It is an opportunity we must take with both hands.”

Michelle joins Business for Scotland EK team

Yes East Kilbride is pleased to announce that Michelle Rodger, journalist and entrepreneur, is joining the team presenting the Business Case for Yes in East Kilbride.

Michelle will join Ivan McKee in presenting the benefits of independence for Scottish business.

The meeting takes place at 7pm on Tuesday, 27th May in The Bruce Hotel, Cornwall Street, East Kilbride.

Yes East Kilbride is aiming this event at the town's business community. All are welcome, whatever their position on the independence referendum, and Yes East Kilbride is particularly keen to hear the concerns of undecided voters.

The business case for independence comes to East Kilbride

Ivan McKee

Leading pro-Business Yes campaigner, Ivan McKee of Business for Scotland, is coming to East Kilbride to set out the business case for a Yes vote in the Independence Referendum.

Ivan worked in manufacturing for thirty years, mostly for large companies. Eight years ago he launched his own manufacturing consultancy and turnaround company.

He has worked in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, and currently has manufacturing businesses in Scotland, England, and Eastern Europe.

Business for Scotland hit the headlines recently when its challenge to the anti-independence stance of the Confederation of British Industry led that organisation to register as a pro-union campaigning organisation, and then, after much confusion, to deregister.

Yes East Kilbride is holding a series of meetings that will allow voters to hear the facts about Scotland’s potential as an independent country, and the implications for them. These meetings, and key information about the issues discussed, will be reported in this blog.

The Business for Scotland meeting with Mr McKee takes place in the Bruce Hotel, at 7pm, on Tuesday 27th May.

Ivan Mc Kee said

“All the data shows clearly that Scotland contributes significantly more to the UK than it takes out.”

“Scotland’s natural resources put us in a much better position to weather future economic storms than being tied to a UK economy which is too heavily dependent on casino-style financial services.

“After Independence, Scotland would continue to enjoy close trading relationships with the rest of the UK, as well as with other countries in Europe.”

Paul Mc Cartney, Convenor of Yes East Kilbride, said:

“We can all see the damage done to the East Kilbride economy by Westminster’s focus on London-based financial services.

“Only a Yes vote on 18th September will give businesses in Scotland the opportunity and the support to use Scotland’s resources to build a fairer and more sustainable economy for the 21st century and beyond.

“We look forward to welcoming representatives of East Kilbride’s business community to the Bruce Hotel to hear the business case for a Yes vote.”

Further reading.

Scotland's Future, Chapter 3 - Finance and the Economy - Scottish Government

Scotland's Future, Chapter 8 - Environment, Rural Scotland, Energy and Resources - Scottish Government

UK economic recovery on shaky ground - The Guardian

No campaign EU membership myth falls apart - Business for Scotland

A Just Scotland - Yes or No

This Friday, 25th April, sees the first major debate of the referendum campaign in East Kilbride.

The debate has been arranged by South Lanarkshire and East Kilbride Trades Union Council, and will feature two speakers from each side in the campaign.

Speaking for Yes will be local SNP MSP, Linda Fabiani, who will be joined by Cat Boyd, of the Radical Independence Campaign.

Socialist Case for Yes Heard in East Kilbride

Yes East Kilbride hosted a packed public meeting on Friday 11th April, with speakers explaining the socialist and trade union case for an independent Scotland.

Chaired by Yes East Kilbride's Paul McCartney, the audience heard from John Davidson; Vice-President of East Kilbride PCS Branch, Frances Curran; former SSP MSP, and Elaine C. Smith; actress, entertainer, and Convenor of the Scottish Independence Convention.

Over 100 people attended the event.

Elaine C. Smith took the opportunity to pay tribute to Margo MacDonald

Elaine said:

"Margo's dedication is recognised as having made a major contribution to getting us to where we are today."


"Her presence in the campaign will be sadly missed, but we owe it to her to redouble our efforts and complete a journey in which she played such a large part."

Frances Curran and Elaine C Smith

Chair of Yes East Kilbride, Paul McCartney said:

“It was great to host such a well-attended event, with many new faces eager to find out more information in the run up to the referendum.

“All speakers made fantastic points, and it was clear the audience enjoyed the event. There were engaging questions and lively debate, which was exactly what we wanted.

“The point was well made that we don't want the absurdity of nuclear weapons, food banks, or a repeat of the Iraq war.

"On 18th September, for the first time in our history, the people of Scotland will be truly sovereign and can decide who is best placed to make the decisions that affect their community.

“As the polls narrow, and as momentum grows towards a Yes vote, there is all to play for.

"We will continue to put our positive message to East Kilbride at similar events over the coming months."

Notes: photos by Craig Maclean

Margo MacDonald - an appreciation from East Kilbride

Yes campaigners in East Kilbride were saddened to hear of the death of Margo MacDonald, Independent MSP, and veteran promoter of Scottish independence.

Many obituaries are being published of Margo, who has had a tremendous impact on Scottish politics since her election to Westminster for the SNP at a by-election held in the autumn of 1973 in Glasgow’s Govan constituency. Although Margo was not re-elected in the February 1974 general election, from then on she was an established figure in Scottish political life.

What many of the obituaries will miss out is Margo's earlier political life, and her connection to East Kilbride.

Having fought the 1970 election for the SNP in Paisley, Margo was selected to fight the next election for East Kilbride, the town in which her family had settled when Margo was already in her late teens and which already had a large SNP presence.

Bill Arthur, former SNP Councillor for Long Calderwood ward on East Kilbride District Council, knew Margo and her family well. He attended Duncanrig Secondary with Margo's sister, Anne Aitken.

Bill recalls Margo's time as the Westminster candidate for East Kilbride.

"Having been a PE teacher, Margo was a hugely energetic candidate. She had me driving her all over East Kilbride to a wide variety of events, from attending the British Legion to standing outside Rolls Royce giving an open-air speech at lunchtime.

"She had a tremendous personality, very charismatic, and with a huge interest in people.

"Margo was a very fair-minded person, so when the party asked her to take on the job as candidate for the Govan by-election, not seen as an easy task, she agreed to do it, despite my protestations.

"She was a great character and will be sadly missed."

Margo greets Gordon Murray as SNP candidate for East Kilbride as George Reid looks on

Long-standing independence supporter, Lottie Fulton, now living in Calderwood, also remembers Margo’s time as candidate in East Kilbride and working in her campaign in a later contest in Hamilton.

Lottie, who then lived in the Murray, remembers Margo making regular visits back to East Kilbride.

"I was working as a Home Help at the time, and I used to meet Margo when she came to East Kilbride to visit her mother. Conveniently, she could also get her hair done by the hairdresser who came to look after her mother’s hair at her home.

“Margo was a great person to be around; she was great fun and a very charismatic character. She drew people to her, and they put in an extra effort because of that.

"Scotland has lost a great Member of Parliament, and a great ambassador."

Margo's husband, Jim Sillars, the former Labour and SNP MSP, was scheduled to speak at a Yes campaign rally in Calderwood hall on Friday 11 April.

Paul McCartney, Chair of Yes East Kilbride said:

"Our thoughts are with Jim Sillars and Margo's family at this difficult time.

"However, despite Jim's withdrawal, the Calderwood meeting will go ahead, pursuing the cause that meant so much to Margo throughout a political career that blossomed right here in East Kilbride."

Photograph courtesy of the Scottish Political Archive