Empowering Scots

The independence question is essentially one of how best to empower Scots. However, there are many ways in which Scots could be empowered right now, without any need for independence.

Scots are the most powerless people in the United Kingdom, with no say over the governance of their local community. This situation could be rectified immediately by giving Scotland’s 1,200 community councils at least the same powers and budgets as England’s parish councils.

Furthermore, Scotland’s 32 unitary local authorities could co-opt members of community councils, enabling the transmission of democratic power from community level to regional level (just as county councils used to co-opt burgh members).

The SNP must surely understand the total powerlessness of Scottish people, which begs the question – why doesn’t it do something about it? Perhaps the party believes that the more powerless Scots feel, the more likely they are to vote for independence.

But for Scots to vote for independence, they will need a lot of self-confidence. Unhappily, decades of powerlessness at community level have undermined our faith in our ability to do things for ourselves. Unless Scots are empowered from the grassroots, I suspect they will stick with the devil they know.

Michael Gallagher

Precinct Street

Coupar Angus, Perthshire