Letter to “The National”, 20/09/21
As a member and organiser of a number of independence groups I took part in both the Day of Action on Saturday organised by Business for Scotland and the Hope over Fear rally on Sunday in Glasgow. On Saturday our Airdrie for Independence group held our first post-covid Yes stall where we distributed the fantastic material supplied by Business for Scotland, and where we were met by an organised counter protest by the local “unionist club”. 7 years previously on the same spot the Yes and No campaigns made their respective pitches and Project Fear won out that time. This time , while we distributed a great range of well researched, fact-based material, our “enemy” as one staunch passer-by described himself had nothing to offer but foul mouthed and often sectarian abuse, while the unionist club themselves distributed leaflets simply asking supporters to join their locked-door, secret society. With all their lies and false promises exposed, the grassroots unionists have nothing left to offer but intimidation and abuse. The positive case for the union is dead, and they know it.
On Sunday I attended the Hope over Fear rally in Glasgow and distributed leaflets on behalf of Trade Unionists for Independence, where we had a good reception from the smaller than usual crowd who braved the changeable weather, alternately basking in roasting sunshine before being drenched with heavy rain. But the weather wasn’t the only factor at play here, and while a rail strike and Covid played their part, I feel the real problem with the attendance here (and on the previous day’s events) was the lack of support from the SNP leadership. Sadly, the only trolling that the Trade Unionists for Independence received on social media came from someone with “Both Votes SNP” on their profile, a sad indictment of where the Yes movement stands at present. I can therefore only agree with the sentiment aired by John Laird in today’s National when he notes that with a few exceptions these events had no SNP backing from above, and sadly are being factionalised by people who are supposedly on our side.I cannot say I am a great fan of going to rallies and marches. There are many, many other things I would far prefer to do with my time, but I attend because our opponents are waiting to see us fail. They rub their hands with glee if there is a poor turnout and crow that there is no appetite for independence when this happens. We, as the Yes movement must remember this, first and foremost. I am getting sick of hearing people say that they will not attend this rally or that march because it is a front for Alba or Tommy Sheridan or the like. We all have to play our part and on occasion must put petty differences aside and show some unity to our common cause. I would also hold the National to account here too, because in the past this newspaper helped ensure that events like Hope over Fear were well publicised and well attended. Bar a small piece in your noticeboard section I saw little there to fire up the troops, and where in the past there may have been some decent post rally coverage of a Monday morning, I saw nothing. This was really disappointing and I hope that in future the National throws its weight behind every major pro-independence event – regardless of who the organisers or speakers are, and that going forward our main political parties do too. We all have a common goal and our eyes should remain firmly on that.
An Independent Scotsman 