Here is a Facebook memory from the 1st September 2014. 17 days before the independence referendum. We had fought hard and well throughout the campaign. We had put up with the onslaught from the unionist press and the BBC. We had put up with people like Allister Darling on his way to the House of Lords but we kept our heads high and we plowed on never loosing hope.
The result was not what we hoped for but the people of Scotland did not give up, we had come from 27% in the polls at the start of the campaign to 45% and we were not about to give up.
In their tens of thousands they joined the SNP as at that time they saw them as still being the best chance of moving towards another referendum. Unfortunately the SNP did not understand the true feelings of the Scottish people and instead of laying out a roadmap to independence, starting with addressing the mistakes of the referendum campaign, they put independence to one side. They convinced themselves that their interests would be best served by leaving the new army they had to wilt and rot through inaction.
The SNP are guilty of the worst strategic thinking in the history of politics. They convinced themselves that people joined them because they were doing well in government and not because they wished another chance at independence. They were wrong in that assumption.
Since the referendum they have missed so many chances that looking back I am at a loss as to their basic logic and as for doing well in government, well that is what we pay them for and we pay them well for it too. I have a coach company and I employ coach drivers, I don’t thing they are doing exceptionally well if they can actually drive a coach, for goodness sake because that is what I pay them for.
Well they have paid for this mismanagement of the remit handed to them by the Scottish people, as shown in the three elections since the 2015 General Election.
Have they learned anything? no ,I doubt it and I have a feeling they are about to push the party further to the left in order to counter the Jeremy Corbin factor. That will be another in the long line of mistakes they have made.
In general ,the people of Scotland could not care less what the party of independence is, regarding left ,right or center because they are politically mature enough to realize that after we achieve independence then that is when we will chose the political party that will govern us.
The SNP have let the people of Scotland down and they should be ashamed of that, it is as simple as that.
No doubt this will be met with the usual tirade of abuse and statements like “Nicola has a plan but she is not telling us what it is “and “the SNP are keeping their cards close to their chest” Well, I for one am heartily sick of all this sycophantic mind numbing nonsense. As far as I am concerned, the SNP are in the last chance saloon and the bar is running dry. There urgently needs to be a change at the top and I mean Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrel, they are responsible for the mess both the SNP and the independence movement are in at the moment, I am sorry if this does not sit well with some folk but I personally have put too much into the fight for independence to see it wasted by sheer and utter incompetence.
It is way past time for a change, and a new road to independence.
Bob Costello
1 September 2014 at 22:49 ·
Well only 17 days to go before the most important date ever in the history of Scotland , yes it is by far the most important date because the last time Scotland decided to cease being an independent country in 1707 , it was not the people of Scotland who decided this ,it was the nobility and they made this decision for selfish reasons. So what has changed? well I will tell you what has changed . This time the ordinary people of Scotland have a voice and they intend to use it but we are still battling against the vested interests of the Westminster government who are battling to keep the vast wealth which Scotland possesses, and why are they doing this? they are doing this because they are waging a fight for survival. Throughout the years Westminster have exploited and wasted the wealth of Scotland for their own selfish ends and now they see the gravy train grinding to a halt because the people of Scotland are standing on the line in front of it and it has reached the end of the line.
Since the 15 October 2012 when Alex Salmond dragged David Cameron, screaming and shouting to the table and signed the Edinburgh agreement, Scotland has changed there is a new engagement, people are now more politically aware than they have ever been. Pandora’s box has been opened and the spirits of independence can never more be put back in that box. We are on the march and we have 17 days till we reach our objective.
Every destination starts with a dream and then there is the journey my Journey has been fascinating. I have met such wonderful and committed people, all on their particular Journey but we all have one thing in common and that is the destination, an independent Scotland where we will be able to hold our heads up high in the community of nations, where we will hold out our hand in friendship to anyone who wishes to take it , where we will look after our poor ,our elderly and the less fortunate in society, just the same as any close family. As we approach that destination , please take some time to consider the journey because regardless, and in the unlikely event of the vote not going our way we, all of us will always have the journey and that is something to be proud of and something they can never take away. So everyone of you out there who have manned the stalls ,have trudged around doors dropping leaflets ,who have had to put up with abuse and unpleasantness ,who have debated with and convinced no voters to vote yes, you do not have long to go so keep your humour and that smile on your face because the other side are becoming more desperate by the day . So walk lightly, talk softly and take time to look over your shoulder, there you will see a small footprint in the sands of history be proud, be very proud that you put it there.
Bob Costello 