‘I’ word impedes political progress

Published on 15/07/2012 00:00

I NOTE Duncan Hamilton’s clumsy effort (Insight, 1 July) to portray independence as a process, not as an event. No doubt the SNP leadership see it this way, and that is the line of thinking that he is trying to strengthen on their behalf, but the vast majority of us will not be confused by this. That includes most SNP members as well as unionists.

“Independent” means being entirely free and separate, doing your own thing, for good or ill. It is brought about by an event. One day you are not “Independent”, the next day you are. It is this event, “Independence Day”, that motivates most SNP activists.

It is devolution that is a process. Devolution need not ultimately lead to independence. Within the UK, some sort of federal arrangement is likely to be the most stable position in the longer term, and is the most likely end point of devolution. We don’t need Nat commentators trying to persuade us that black or white is some shade of grey. We know what independence is and it won’t change any between now and autumn 2014.

If we were seriously interested in developing our constitutional position, then we would not have a divisive “independence” referendum at all. We would ask if people wanted more devolution / a federal 
structure / Home Rule for Scotland. Yes or No. That would receive an overwhelming vote in favour and give an unambiguous mandate to politicians across all parties to develop the necessary detail. The word “independent” is an obstacle to progress.

Victor Clements, Aberfeldy