12 OCTOBER, 2022 - SHANK MEDIA, BY MATT HOOPER: WE HAVE REACHED DAY TWO, THE FINAL DAY, OF THE SUPREME COURT HEARING ON WHETHER IT IS WITHIN THE COMPETENCE OF THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TO HOLD A REFERENDUM ON SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE. A DECISION IS EXPECTED SOME TIME LATER THIS YEAR OR EARLY 2023. BUT HERE IS PART 1 OF MY VISION FOR AN INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND, PART OF THE SERIES ON 'THE FUTURE OF SCOTLAND'.
IN THIS ARTICLE I COVER MANY OF THE MAIN TOPICS WHICH WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE RAISED IN A CAMPAIGN BY THOSE WHO WISH TO DENY SCOTTISH PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION AS AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY. THIS IS JUST AN OVERVIEW, AND IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS I WILL GO INTO MUCH MORE DETAIL ABOUT MANY OF THE TOPICS.
HEAD OF STATE
THE ISSUE OF A HEREDITARY MONARCHY IS A CONTROVERSIAL ONE FOR MANY IN SCOTLAND, BUT, AS WE SAW FOLLOWING THE PASSING OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II, SCOTLAND STILL LARGELY SUPPORTS THE MONARCHY AS ITS HEAD OF STATE. NICOLA STURGEON HAS GONE ON THE RECORD AS SAYING THE MONARCH WOULD REMAIN HEAD OF STATE IN AN INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND.
OF COURSE THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF THIS INCLUDING CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND, BUT THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF NATIONS WHICH HAVE GAINED THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND HAVE CREATED AN ELECTED HEAD OF STATE. THIS INCLUDES IRELAND, THE UNITED STATES AND INDIA TO NAME BUT A FEW.
PERSONALLY I AM MINDED TO KEEP THE MONARCH AS HEAD OF STATE, BECAUSE THERE IS THE VERY REAL DANGER A COUNTRY CAN ELECT A CHARACTER SUCH AS BORIS JOHNSON OR DONALD TRUMP AS PRESIDENT, BECAUSE THESE CHARACTERS ARE VERY GOOD AT BOOSTING THEIR POPULARITY IN A CAMPAIGN. THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT WORKS VERY WELL, AND A FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND WOULD LEAD THE COUNTRY JUST AS WELL AS THE PRIME MINISTERS OF CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.
KING CHARLES III AND HIS HEIRS WOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL HEAD OF STATE, BUT WOULD HAVE NO POLITICAL INFLUENCE OVER SCOTLAND, AS HE DOES NOT OVER CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.
HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS SOMETHING WHICH IS NOT THE SETTLED WILL OF THE SCOTTISH PEOPLE, AND WHEN SCOTLAND BECOMES INDEPENDENT IT MUST SETTLE SEVERAL ISSUES TO GIVE ITSELF THE PLATFORM TO MOVE FORWARD AS A MODERN DEMOCRACY. SO I PROPOSE THAT THE QUESTION OF HEAD OF STATE IS PUT TO THE PEOPLE IN A REFERENDUM BEFORE THE END OF THE FIRST SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY TERM AFTER INDEPENDENCE IS ACHIEVED.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT IF WE, THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN INDEPENDENCE, BRING THE MONARCHY INTO THE PICTURE WHEN CAMPAIGNING FOR INDEPENDENCE, WE WILL LOSE. THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE IN SCOTLAND WHO STILL SUPPORT THE MONARCHY AS HEAD OF STATE, AND THERE ARE KEY EXAMPLES OF CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BEING INDEPENDENT NATIONS WITH THE MONARCH AS HEAD OF STATE.
KING CHARLES iii
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CONSTITUTION
THE UNITED KINGDOM DOES NOT HAVE A WRITTEN CONSTITUTION, AND THIS HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS ISSUES OVER THE YEARS, AND GIVEN CONSECUTIVE CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLOIT IT. SO AN INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND SHOULD BEYOND ANY DOUBT, HAVE A WRITTEN CONSTITUTION, AND IT SHOULD BE SHAPED BY THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND.
THERE WOULD BE A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD FOLLOWING ANY SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENCE VOTE, PROBABLY OF THE SAME TIME SCALE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SEEN WITH BREXIT - 12 T0 18 MONTHS. DURING THIS PERIOD THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSULT EVERY RESIDENT ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION, CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING A CONSTITUTION SURVEY. THE SURVEY WOULD ASK ALL RESIDENTS OF VOTING AGE FOR THEIR VIEWS ON WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE NEW SCOTTISH CONSTITUTION, COVERING A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS.
PERSONALLY I BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE WRITTEN INTO SCOTTISH CONSTITUTIONAL LAW:
1. THE RIGHT OF EVERY PERSON IN SCOTLAND TO A HOME
2. THE RIGHT OF EVERY PERSON IN SCOTLAND TO FREE EDUCATION
3. THE RIGHT OF EVERY PERSON IN SCOTLAND TO FREE HEALTH CARE AT THE POINT OF NEED, AND THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CANNOT EVER BE FULLY PRIVATISED
4. PUBLIC TRANSPORT MUST REMAIN IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE, RUN BY THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
5. ENERGY PROVISION MUST REMAIN IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE, RUN BY THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
6. THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY TERM WILL BE 5 YEARS
7. IF THE PARTY WHICH LEADS THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT CHANGES LEADER MID-TERM THEN A GENERAL ELECTION IS IMMEDIATELY CALLED
THESE, OBVIOUSLY, ARE JUST A FEW OF THE ITEMS WHICH WOULD BE WRITTEN INTO THE SCOTTISH CONSTITUTION, AND THERE WOULD BE MANY MORE. CONSULTING THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND HELPS TO FULFIL THE PROMISE MADE BY THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT AND THE SNP OF PUTTING POWER IN THE HANDS OF THE SCOTTISH PEOPLE TO DECIDE THEIR OWN DESTINY.
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, ELECTIONS
THE CURRENT SYSTEM OF SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT IS ADEQUATE TO GOVERN SCOTLAND AS AN INDEPENDENT NATION.
IT WOULD BE WRITTEN INTO THE CONSTITUTION THAT THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY TERM WOULD BE 5 YEARS, AND THAT IF, AS IN THE CASE OF THE TORY UK GOVERNMENT, THE LEADER CHANGES MID-TERM, A GENERAL ELECTION WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY CALLED.
OBVIOUSLY NEW ROLES WOULD HAVE TO BE CREATED WITHIN SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT, AND THE GOVERNMENT AS AN ORGANISATION WOULD BECOME MUCH BIGGER. HOLYROOD WOULD REMAIN THE HOME OF THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT, BUT SEVERAL DIFFERENT SCOTTISH GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE HEADQUARTERED ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN GLASGOW, EDINBURGH, DUNDEE, PERTH, STIRLING, AYR, DUMFRIES, DUNFERMLINE, ABERDEEN AND INVERNESS.
THIS HELPS MAKE THE ENTIRE COUNTRY DEMOCRATICALLY PART OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SCOTLAND, NOT CENTRED ON THE CAPITAL CITY, LIKE THE UNITED KINGDOM IS WITH LONDON.
EUROPEAN UNION (EU)
SCOTLAND VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO REMAIN IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT AND SNP HAVE INDICATED SEVERAL TIMES THAT IN AN INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND THEY WOULD APPLY TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION.
I WOULD PROPOSE THAT THE ISSUE OF EUROPEAN UNION MEMBERSHIP WOULD BE PUT TO THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND IN A REFERENDUM BEFORE THE END OF THE FIRST SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY TERM FOLLOWING INDEPENDENCE.
ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH NATIONS (ABN)
FOLLOWING INDEPENDENCE I BELIEVE SCOTLAND MUST FORGE A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH ENGLAND, WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND. AS POSSIBLY FOUR INDEPENDENT NATIONS, OR THREE SHOULD NORTHERN IRELAND IN FUTURE VOTE TO REUNIFY WITH THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, WE MUST WORK TOGETHER.
THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH NATIONS WOULD HOLD ANNUAL SUMMITS IN EDINBURGH, LONDON, CARDIFF AND BELFAST. THE ASSOCIATION WOULD WORK IN A SIMILAR WAY TO THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND THE FOUR NATIONS WOULD WORK TOGETHER ON PROJECTS OF MUTUAL NEED, SUPPORTING EACH OTHER'S DEVELOPMENT WHILST REMAINING INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES.
THE FOUR LEADERS WOULD BE EQUALS, AND THE MINISTERS IN EACH GOVERNMENTAL DEPARTMENT FOR EACH OF THE FOUR NATIONS WOULD ALSO MEET TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF MUTUAL NEED AND TO WORK ON MUTUAL PROJECTS.
SCOTLAND MUST LEARN FROM THE ABOMINABLE WAY THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT HANDLED BREXIT, AND SCOTLAND MUST LEAD A RESHAPED 'UNION', ONE WHICH SEES EACH COUNTRY RETAIN ITS INDEPENDENCE, WORKING FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
UNITED NATIONS, MILITARY AND NATO MEMBERSHIP
SCOTLAND ALREADY HAS A SUBSTANTIAL MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE, THROUGH THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE BRITISH ARMY AND ROYAL AIRFORCE. SCOTLAND SHOULD EXPAND AND REINFORCE ITS MILITARY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I PROPOSE THAT SCOTLAND SHOULD APPLY TO JOIN NATO IN THE FUTURE.
SCOTLAND SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO JOIN THE UNITED NATIONS.
PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTER
THERE ARE 2.53 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS SCOTLAND, AND EACH OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS WOULD BE STAKEHOLDERS IN A NEW SCOTTISH PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTER. THE CURRENT BBC TV LICENCE COSTS £159 PER YEAR, I PROPOSE THAT THE NEW SCOTTISH PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTER IS PAID FOR BY A MIX OF SHARES SOLD TO THE SCOTTISH PEOPLE, PROGRAMME SPONSORSHIP, ADVERTISEMENT AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT. THE SHARES WOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY ISSUED TO EACH HOUSEHOLD IN SCOTLAND, AND EACH HOUSEHOLD WOULD BE BILLED £100, WHICH COULD BE PAID OVER A NUMBER OF MONTHS.
THIS WOULD IMMEDIATELY RAISE MORE THAN £250MILLION TO FUND THE PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTER, AND IMMEDIATELY HAND THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND A SIGNIFICANT SAVING OF UP TO £59 IN YEAR ONE, AND THEN £159 EVERY YEAR FROM YEAR TWO ONWARDS, BECAUSE THE SHARES WOULD BE A ONE OFF BILL. IN RETURN, EACH HOUSEHOLD WOULD BE A SHAREHOLDER OF THE COMPANY.
THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND WOULD SHARE IN THE PROFITS GENERATED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTER, AND EACH HOUSEHOLD WOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE HOW TO RECEIVE THEIR SHARE OF THE PROFITS. 10 MILLION SHARES WOULD BE CREATED, WITH THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND OWNING A MINIMUM OF 25.3%, WHICH WOULD INCREASE IN LINE WITH POPULATION GROWTH.
THE REMAINING SHARES WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO BE PURCHASED BY PRIVATE COMPANIES, INDIVIDUALS AND INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, HOWEVER THERE WOULD BE STRICT RULES ON INVOLVEMENT WITH POLITICAL PARTIES AND THEIR DONORS. THIS WOULD BE TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTER REMAINS IMPARTIAL.
HOUSEHOLDS COULD CHOOSE TO RECEIVE THE MONEY AS A CASH PAYMENT, OR AS A CREDIT AGAINST ENERGY USAGE OR OTHER BILLS. EACH SHAREHOLDER/HOUSEHOLD WOULD ALSO HAVE A DIRECT INPUT INTO SHAPING THE PROGRAMMING OFFERED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTER, WITH AN ANNUAL SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE COMPANY.
I WILL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTER FOR SCOTLAND IN PART 2 OF THE FUTURE OF SCOTLAND, TO COME SOON. IT WOULD INCLUDE MULTIPLE TV STATIONS, ONLINE AND RADIO, CREATING ORIGINAL CONTENT AND PURCHASING CONTENT FROM OTHER PRODUCERS AND WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER BROADCASTERS.
THE PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTER WOULD PROVIDE NEWS AND PROGRAMMING FROM AND FOR THE WHOLE OF SCOTLAND, JUST AS BROADCASTERS SUCH AS BBC IN ENGLAND, CBS IN THE USA AND CHANNEL 7 IN AUSTRALIA DO.
NATIONALISATION OF ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT
IN A WORLD WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE THE PLANET SCOTLAND NEEDS TO HAVE A PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORK WHICH WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND. IT NEEDS TO BE AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND.
IT SHOULD NOT BE RUN WITH THE SOLE AIM OF MAKING A PROFIT AND REWARDING SHAREHOLDERS. SPEAKING AS SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT DRIVE AND RELIES SOLELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO GET AROUND, WE NEED A UNIFIED PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM WHERE BUSES RUN RIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND CAN BE CO-ORDINATED WITH TRAINS, AND VICE-VERSA. WE NEED A TRAIN SERVICE WHICH IS AFFORDABLE AND CONVENIENT, AND THE ENTIRE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE ACCESSIBLE SO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OF SCOTLAND CAN USE IT AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO DRIVING.
THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD STUDY DIFFERENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS ACROSS EUROPE AND THE CIVILISED WORLD, TO HELP WITH THE CREATION OF A NEW SCOTTISH PUBLIC TRANSPORT AUTHORITY AND PROVIDER.
NATIONALISATION OF ENERGY
AS WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEING WITH THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS, THE PRIVATISATION OF ENERGY IN THE UK IS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER, AND THE ENERGY PROVISION WITHIN SCOTLAND SHOULD BE NATIONALISED WITHIN THE FIRST SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY TERM AFTER INDEPENDENCE IS ACHIEVED.
ENERGY COSTS SHOULD BE IN LINE WITH USAGE, AND UNIT COSTS DETERMINED BY THE NEED OF THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TO COVER COSTS OF REFINING, CREATING AND DISTRIBUTING FUEL, AS WELL AS STAFFING AND REINVESTING INTO THE INDUSTRY. THOSE PEOPLE WHO USE LESS SHOULD PAY LESS, BUT ENERGY COSTS SHOULD BE CAPPED IN LINE WITH MEANS TESTING, WHICH WOULD BE DONE TO ASSESS A HOUSEHOLD INCOME. IN SHORT, THOSE WHO EARN MORE AND USE MORE WOULD PAY MORE THAN THOSE WHO EARN LESS AND USE LESS.
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REGISTERED DISABLED WOULD RECEIVE A HEAVY DISCOUNT ON FUEL, WITH THE FIRST NUMBER OF UNITS USED NOT CHARGED FOR, THIS WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT. ANY PROFITS MADE FROM FUEL PROVISION WOULD BE REINVESTED INTO THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE OR OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES IN SCOTLAND.
ALL NEW SCOTTISH PROPERTIES BUILT WOULD BE INSTALLED WITH A SOLAR PANEL, PART OF A PLAN TO REDUCE SCOTLAND'S CARBON EMISSIONS DRAMATICALLY AND MAKE FULL USE OF SCOTLAND'S NATURAL RESOURCES. I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT ENERGY AND THE GREEN REVOLUTION IN SCOTLAND IN A FUTURE PART OF 'THE FUTURE OF SCOTLAND'.
COUNCIL TAX DISCONTINUED AND REPLACED WITH DIRECT FUNDING FROM GOVERNMENT
"AT THE END OF THE DAY IF YOU WANT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT." YES, BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PAID FOR AS IT IS NOW, IS MY ANSWER WHEN IT COMES TO COUNCIL TAX. A SMALL INCREASE IN INCOME TAX AND VAT COULD BE USED TO FUND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACROSS SCOTLAND, WITH EACH LOCAL AUTHORITY RECEIVING A FIXED AMOUNT FROM THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT PER HEAD OF POPULATION IN THE LOCAL AUTHORITY AREA.
THIS WOULD MEAN EVERY SINGLE RESIDENT IN EACH LOCAL AUTHORITY AREA WOULD BE PAID FOR, SO THE LIKES OF ST ANDREWS, WHICH IS FULL OF STUDENTS (WHO CURRENTLY DO NOT PAY COUNCIL TAX), WILL GENERATE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR FIFE COUNCIL. THIS WOULD ALSO REMOVE A GROSSLY UNFAIR BILL WHICH IS HANDED TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN EACH LOCAL AUTHORITY AREA BASED UPON WHICH 'BAND' THEIR PROPERTY BELONGS TO.
CURRENCY
THE CURRENCY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STICK THE NAE-SAYERS HAVE USED TO BASH THOSE WHO SUPPORT SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE. IT IS SIMPLE. SCOTLAND WOULD CONTINUE TO USE POUND STERLING, AS IT HAS DONE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS. SCOTLAND CAN CONTINUE TO ISSUE POUND STERLING AFTER INDEPENDENCE AND REGULATE IT THROUGH A NEW SCOTTISH CENTRAL BANK WHICH COULD BE CREATED FOLLOWING INDEPENDENCE.
SO THAT IS MY SUMMARY OF THE KEY ASPECTS OF AN INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND, OVER THE COMING PARTS OF 'THE FUTURE OF SCOTLAND' I WILL GO INTO MUCH MORE DETAIL ABOUT MANY OF THESE TOPICS. I WILL SET OUT MY FULL VISION FOR AN INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND, AND WHY THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND SHOULD SUPPORT AN INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM AND VOTE FOR SCOTLAND TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY.
