I have constantly put forward a solution and included it in several letters I have sent to Nicola Sturgeon.
It is in two parts. My first option would be for all the pro-independence parties to simply offer a manifesto giving independence as a first option. Then if there is a simple majority in the forthcoming elections then in effect we are independent and can then carry out a general election for Scotland and negotiate a settlement of assets with the rump UK.
That is not going to happen because of the SNP’s mistaken position of having to govern for all. So that brings me to my second choice of a solution. The SNP put an intention to wrest control of the powers contained in section 30 from Westminster to Hollyrood. Now if there is a majority for this then Westminster should concede to the democratic will of the Scottish people, but they won’t. We can then hold a referendum. Now because of the fact that Westminster would attempt to say that it was only advisory, they would hardly be in a position to attempt to mount a campaign for a no vote (which according to the UN is exactly how it should be with the host country not participating or trying to influence a campaign for independence,unlike the last time). We would win that referendum and could then either simply declare independence or we could go to the UN and the EU for support.
I await sight of the SNP manifesto on Tuesday but I am sure there will be nothing all along these lines in it and we will be once more be in the process of being marched back down the hill. Furthermore I expect a dilution of the promise to hold a referendum during the period from the Autumn 2018 to the Spring of 2019 to something like a referendum should be held when Britex negotiations have been completed.
There is absolutely no logical reason for this stance from a party whose sole function is to achieve independence. If the SNP hold this line then they will have to either change their constitution to one that states that in the event of them forming a devolved government of Scotland they will put the governess of the people before independence, or they will have to form a new party which does not have independence at the heart of its constitution.
We need a proper road map to independence with a progressive but constant movement towards independence, with a serious grappling with the issues that are still outstanding since the last one and I predict that the voting results in this General Election will reflect the absence of such a road map since the last independence referendum in 2014.
Bob Costello 