Introduction
Given the Supreme Court’s blocking of the Scottish Government’s referendum legislation and the extremely low probability of Westminster agreeing to a referendum of any sort, the path to independence is unclear. It seems that none of the leading pro-independence political parties have a solution to this constitutional roadblock.
In early 2023, Believe in Scotland (BiS) published a document called the Route to Independence. This suggested, amongst other things, that the Scottish Government (then an SNP/Green coalition) should create a new Convention on Independence and prepare to use the next General Election as a de facto Referendum. The SNP conference eventually passed a motion that included the idea of a Convention to engage civic Scotland but as with their conference’s 2020 motion to start such an organisation, no progress was made.
Believe in Scotland, has concluded that a Citizens’ Convention is the best solution to unblock the constitutional logjam and also to co-create an inspiring vision for an independent Scotland
BiS Scottish Independence Congress (SIC) on the 22nd of November 2023 was attended by delegates representing 142 Yes Groups and there was a general consensus calling for BiS to seek to take the lead in establishing a Constitutional Convention on behalf of the independence movement. It was suggested that this Convention might follow a similar path to the Scottish Constitutional Convention that led to Scottish Devolution.
Following a period of consultation and research into Constitutional Conventions, Citizens’ Assemblies and other policy engagement programmes (see Appendix 3 for summary), BiS has concluded that a Citizens’ Convention is the best solution to unblock the constitutional logjam and also to co-create an inspiring vision for an independent Scotland that will move support into an unassailable lead in the polls.
The independence movement blossomed during the 2014 referendum campaign but very quickly following the result, it became too political, focussed on policy debate, and not on the hopes and dreams of the people. Believe in Scotland, has concluded that a Citizens’ Convention is the best solution to unblock the constitutional logjam and also to co-create an inspiring vision for an independent Scotland
A key goal of the Citizens Convention will be to form a deep understanding of how independence relates not just to hopes and dreams but also to people’s daily concerns, so that we can provide relevant solutions to their everyday problems. In short, it will refocus the conversation on independence away from the echo chambers of social media and onto a genuine and far-reaching inclusive national conversation. This will reconnect the independence movement with the needs of the people. A Citizens Convention means everyone will be heard on this new road to an independent Scotland.
In early 2024 BiS approached both parties of the Scottish Government asking them to work with us to create a plan for a convention route to independence. Jamie Hepburn MSP, then Minister for Scottish Independence, and Ross Greer MSP, the constitutional spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, led on behalf of their respective organisations. Significant progress was made and an outline plan agreed after several meetings (some of which happened after the dissolution of the Bute House Agreement). At the Believe in Scotland march and rally on April 20th 2024, former First Minister Humza Yousaf MSP announced that the three organisations were working in partnership to design a convention.
The Convention plan is designed with the goal of giving independence a higher purpose beyond politics
The next step was for wider engagement within the two political parties and for BiS to share the plans throughout the independence movement. However, following the confirmation of John Swinney MSP as First Minister and the calling of the General Election for 4th July, all work on this convention project by the political parties has been suspended. Believe in Scotland considered that this work was far too important to suspend for any length of time and have completed work building upon the initial discussions, so that momentum is not completely lost.
Several major organisations from civic Scotland, non-partisan think tanks and union officials have already been approached informally and have indicated that their organisations could join a Citizens’ Convention but not a dedicated Independence Convention, as they are required to remain neutral on the constitutional question.
BiS now presents this plan for a Citizens’ Convention for consideration and open discussion. It has the goal of creating a vision for a better Scotland by engaging the people of Scotland and capturing global best practices to inform the independence movement and pro-independence political parties.
The Convention plan is designed with the goal of giving independence a higher purpose beyond politics, by engaging the population on the topic of independence in a totally non-party-political way. The design is a combination of systems thinking for social construct change and includes the thinking on citizens’ democracy and wellbeing economics which must sit at the heart of the independence cause.
The outcome of the Citizens’ Convention will be a new vision for Scotland, based on the Scottish people’s hopes and dreams and ambition for a better Scotland. That vision then becomes a challenge to all political parties in Scotland and both governments of Scotland to deliver. We suggest that there is zero possibility of the recommendations of the Citizens’ Convention being able to be implemented through any form of government other than full independence for Scotland.
Thus, without being called into dispute by the Supreme Court ruling, the Convention offers a path to independence that can be funded by the Scottish Government. If unionist politicians are to try to block the proposals being adopted by the Scottish Government, then they will have to vote against the will of the Scottish people.
Until now, Westminster has simply been saying ‘no’ to a political party but the language and style of the Citizens’ Convention will not be party-political; it will be plain speaking, engaging, inspiring and creative. It will be a turning point, not just for the constitutional question, but in answer to the question: What would a nation that was truly invested in the wellbeing of its people, environment and economy, and fit for the challenges of the 21st century, look like?