Steps to regaining momentum on the road to independence

1. This proposal has been published with the intent of gaining feedback and suggestions for improvement from leading thinkers in the independence movement, pro-independence political parties and stakeholders across the independence movement. We would aim to have a final agreed process soon, so that the Convention could be launched and run through to its conclusion at the end of 2025 with publication of results in January 2026.
2. We will offer to engage with all the organisations within the independence movement through a mini Scottish Independence Congress in early August 2024 and adopt all agreed improvement suggestions.
3. We will call upon all pro-independence political parties to back the proposals at their next party conferences.
   
   With regards to the Scottish Government, the plan to launch what was termed a Constitutional Convention (which would involve all political parties and civic Scotland) was included in their Programme for Government in 2020 and reaffirmed at the 2023 SNP party conference. The move to a Citizens’ Convention format should therefore be unanimously accepted by all the pro-independence parties and their elected representatives.
4. Assuming agreement and that the Citizens’ Convention is approved by the political parties, we would hope the Scottish Government will announce its intention to initiate the Citizens’ Convention at least by Autumn 2024.
5. The preparation for The Citizens’ Convention will start in September 2024 with a Foundation Poll of 25,000 Scottish voters, utilising multiple regression analysis to set the benchmark on the values and priorities of the Scottish people.
6. In September 2024 the launch committee will meet and agree on the draft engagement process and research themes as defined by the Foundation Poll. A full systems thinking process for social construct 27 based change has been designed, including a draft project plan. Further, a team of leading thinkers has been identified to be the pre-launch committee, based on their expertise and knowledge.
7. Several key organisations from civic Scotland, non-partisan think tanks and union officials have already been engaged through informal discussions 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. Assuming the Citizens’ Convention is agreed those organisations will be officially approached in September 2024.
8. The Convention will operate through 2025, with initial reports and plans being published from August 2025 onwards. The full report will be published at the end of January 2026, leaving three months to campaign for a potential de facto referendum with independence polling expected to start well in the lead.
   
   Actors in the independence movement, related think tanks, political parties and interested civic organisations need to either back this recommended program, or put forward a better alternative route to independence. In our liaison with such groups, we have not come across any stronger ideas than this plan.
9. Assuming the launch of this Convention is properly prioritised and that the vision cannot be implemented without the full powers of independence, Scotland could be in a position to vote for independence in May 2026 via a de facto referendum and followed by a one year negotiation period and then a transition period of up to two years.
   
   During that time, the Convention could become the body that negotiates the transition and trade deals with the remainder of the UK. That way it’s not a political party that leads the cause but a body representing the people of Scotland.
10. Managed by a committee of trustees, the Convention’s conclusions will be voted on in the Scottish Parliament in order to give official democratic credibility to the Convention’s conclusions.

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