I have not heard anybody, anywhere, argue in public or on the media the case for Scottish Independence for six months (except for me). I have not heard any elected representative of the SNP argue the case for Independence for… well since Autumn 2014.
It is not surprising the increase in the polls of support for Independence has stalled, as nobody is putting the argument. The trouble with leaving the matter aside until support becomes overwhelming, is that if you leave the matter aside support never will become overwhelming.
I am therefore considering standing as an Independent in the Scottish parliamentary elections, purely to put the full-on case for Independence. There are plenty of other people who can argue about the minutiae of the glorified council at the bottom of Holyrood Road. The SNP has explicitly stated it wants the votes of unionists as well as nationalists in this election. I don’t.
I want to give people who want to express their desire immediately to be shot of the corrupt and warmongering British state, a chance to say so unequivocally at the ballot box once again.
This is a question of principle. It is not undertaken with any expectation of being elected. I would stand in North East Scotland on the regional list ballot. The question is, were I to do this, are there people out there who would help me?
Craig Murray
02/03/16 1:15pm
Help you like a shot if there is anything I can do from London. The postal charge is the same, isn’t it. I’m not wealthy so we would have to talk about expenses – but glad to give my time free. Printing and posting flyers and stuffing envelopes, or what not, I can do, if you want – just let me know.
Kind regards,
John
May 2016? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_East_Scotland_(Scottish_Parliament_electoral_region)
“The SNP has explicitly stated it wants the votes of unionists as well as nationalists in this election. I don’t”
Of course the SNP wants unionist votes. It wouldn’t have enjoyed the success it did at the last GE without them.
“It is not undertaken with any expectation of being elected”
True nationalists being a bit thin on the ground.
good luck Craig, i’d vote for you if i was Scottish.. and in the right catchment area..
hope you find the help you need. we need so very many more Craig Murrays within politics.
To be honest, I fear standing as an independent might be a distraction. As I’ve argued before, what we need to do is to set up Yes Scotland II as a matter of priority in order to have an organisation that focuses on independence and in particular on getting popular support up to the 60% mark, which would let the SNP get on with governing until the next referendum gets called.
The question of independence for Scotland can only come from a legally binding agreement with the rest of the UK. By this I mean a referendum in Scotland whereby a solid majority voted for independence, not, as some people [like Craig Murray] infer, a unilateral declaration of independence [UDI] which would create chaos in the rest of the EU. I posed this question on this blog last week, without a response. If Scotland declared UDI and seceded from the UK of GB and NI. They would need to apply for membership of the EU as a separate entity. What are the chances of Scotland gaining membership with the precedent that they had just set, which would effect so many other separative movements in Europe? Hell Spain alone has 16 separatists movements https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_active_separatist_movements_in_Europe Spain and many others would block Scotland’s accession, rightly fearing the break up of their states.
Harry Law
No, Scottish Independence can only come from being recognised as an independent nation by the United Nations. Whether the rest of the UK likes it or not is irrelevant.
“Scottish Independence can only come from being recognised as an independent nation by the United Nations”
Not sure how much support it would get in the UN if the only referendum on the matter showed a clear majority of Scots opposed to independence.
I’d vote for you. But I’m in the South West! My expectation is that the SNP won’t deliver on independence and that even if they’re as committed as they claim it’ll take another 40 years to get anything done. And I say tha hoping I’m wrong! The massive hike in membership was solely about independence but there’s still an entrenched “old guard ” there who have no intention of making room for new voices
if you stand in regional list you will get my vote Craig
“No, Scottish Independence can only come from being recognised as an independent nation by the United Nations.”
United Nations Charter Chapter 1 Article 2.
All the best, Craig, with your endeavour.
I think it could be a way forward. What you don’t have is the Party machine behind you (yet) and that takes time to build. What the SNP has made perfectly clear is that it does not want your kind of independent politics in the party. Therefore, even if you are not successful, and I sincerely hope you are, at least you will keep them on their toes and that can’t be a bad thing.
It would be better if you could get others to stand with you on the same political ticket. What about Tommy Sheridan? At least he has already served Scotland and shares many of your views especially regarding independence. Only good could come of it. If the SNP could see that the issue was back in mainstream it would be quick to steal your clothes. After all, that was the platform on which they eliminated all other parties.
Nicola Sturgeon made a fine speech at Trafalgar Square on Saturday. It was bitterly cold. I had to climb a lampost of the National Gallery to get a decent shot of the stage. I bet people wondered how I got up there at my age. Well, you can tell them I climbed up. Yes the security men wanted me to climb down but there was nothing they could do about it. Anyway I don’t want to steal Tony-M’s thunder on the event anecdote scene so I’ll sign off.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127161425@N07/25441809765/in/dateposted-public/
The sun came out briefly when Jeremy Corbyn was speaking. That says something.
Good luck if you decide to stand.
John
Tommy did ask me whether I would consider putting myself forward to Solidarity activists as a potential candidate. But I really don’t want to get drawn in to the toxic divisions within the Scottish left.
In Australia we are facing a GE sometime this year, and it may be sooner than we think. The current government is in the process of pushing a bill through that will make it almost impossible for independants and/or minor parties to be elected to the senate because of our preferential voting system. If that bill isn’t passed by the senate, it can be a trigger for a double dissolution of parliament.
The above may seem on face value to be nothing to do with your post. However there will probably be an exception, and his name is Nick Xenophon. He was elected to our senate as an independant from South Australia. He worked tirelessly to maintain his profile, and is now circumnavigating the aforementioned bill by forming his own party which goes by the acronym NXT – Nick Xenophon Team.
In many ways Australia follows what happens in Westminster, but there are occasions when it is the converse. It may be that if the bill before our parliament goes through, then Westminster will follow.
From afar, it seems that there was massive support for Scottish Independance even though the referendum was defeated. Surely there must be a lot of residual support for it now. That is where your supporter base lays, and where your attention should be. Garner enough support, and pressure can be applied to MP’s from constituents directly. Much better to be amongst a school of fish than a small fish in a big pond.
BTW: Love this blog. One of the more sensible ones in the world…
Hope you decide to stand. I have been hoping for an independent Scotland forever it seems. I heard you speak at referendum meetings and feel that there should be a much diversity in the new Holyrood parliament as possible. The more SMPs that scream for breaking away sooner rather than later the better. I also think you would be well placed to handle the politics of the devious. Would be happy to support you . Good luck.
I do not think that standing as an independent would be a good idea (you can work out the reasons for yourself).
And avoid Solidarity at all costs.
Craig, just double checking with you that you know your personal details are up on your latest posting. Presumably you do but just in case you have overlooked something.
Kind regards, John
Do you think it was a great idea to publish your address on the internet?
Or is this not really your address?
Bert.
It is indeed my address. I don’t understand the current fashion for hiding your address. It used to be in the phone book. Mine is, naturally, in Who’s Who.
I’d be interested to see the SNP’s reply to your letter.
You’re wise to avoid to toxic divisions in the Scottish left. They all seem nice on the surface, but many – especially SSP – can turn nasty: I was appalled to hear of the abuse yelled at Brooke Magnanti from SSP radfems, and the way they vilify Sheridan to no end (the man has his faults, but that doesn’t excuse the vendetta against him).
I don’t agree with everything you say, Craig, but good on you for standing.
I notice that Craig’s letter was addressed to one Peter Murrell, the Chief Exec of the SNP.
Would that be Mr Nicola Sturgeon by any chance?
Hi Craig
I understand your frustration because I like you want independence anc I want a future for my son, but I have told myself that I will give the SNP my loyalty until May.
There could be a multitude of reasons for not mentioning independence as SNP used to do better in local elections than national, they could be trying to win over soft voters who don’t really want indy, or they could be keeping UDI up their sleeve once they are better placed, but I think we have to give them a chance. They also know they are on a crest of a wave and have to maintain that, and dropping the indy position would only wane that, so I for one have trust that they are the better chess player.
I would vote for you as a candidate, but I for one am not happy with they way our votes are getting divided by the likes of Rise allowing Unionists in through the back door, and while it’s not good to have a 1 party state getting complacent and lazy, we have to give them a chance.
I am as desperate for indy as you (I’m not a patriotic Scot, but I am anti establishment) so we have to pe patient until May,
Regards
I live in the North East of Scotland and am very intrigued by your pledge to stand. I would be strongly tempted to vote for you.
Though I may be in two minds as to how effective a use of time and energy it would be to stand as an independent, I would be willing to help in any way that I could to make efficacy more likely.
Good for you Craig, wish you best of luck and if you need any kind of help, just let me know mate.
Mate shake it up and watch the old guard rushing to the nearest toilet grabbing at their dicky bladders.
Best of luck to you.
Craig,
Best thing you’ve ever done. Well its the funniest thing I’ve read today, and I have had an incredibly frustrating day.
I nearly turned up in Norwich to drop some leaflets, when you were English, and beaten by a little girl made famous – when no one else would go on Newsnight – and they tried to destroy her. I must admit I rather liked Chloe after that.
It did occur to me, last time you were on this subject, that all the opposition to the Establishment – had been infiltrated by the Establishment – yet you are/were the Establishment….and no matter how hard you try – they won’t let you in.
Keep on trying – you should get a result eventually.
Tony
Craig, PS – change your email address. They are going to think you are a Russian spy (these people are really stupid) .ru – what are you thinking?
I also stay in the North East of Scotland, and would vote for you Craig. The political system is corrupt all right. It never did properly serve the majority, but they don’t even pretend to serve the masses today. Unless we break away from the Westmonster elite we just will not progress as a country. Good luck Craig.
What would you do about the Named Person legislation Craig?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3467642/Fury-Orwellian-psychological-tests-schoolchildren-sees-interrogated-parents-nurture-enough.html
Agreed with Tony_0pmoc – the .ru address needs changing if you want to stand as a candidate as people aren’t going to trust you with an obviously-Russian email address. This doesn’t mean you can’t use a Russian server, just that you disguise that that’s what it is. Yandex is Russian and that’s got a .com option; try that one instead.