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1/28 Im on a ramble! This is a thread for people in England wondering about the SNP rise to prominence, and why it has nothing to do with nationalism or identity politics. Forgive me in places for simplifying things or generalising. Itâs just my own perspective.
2/1 You may remember that during the 20th Century, Scottish Independence was fringe as compared to the position now. When I was at school in Dundee the SNP or independence were not mainstream. Why has opinion changed so much since then?
3/ Much has changed in Britain in the past 50 years. We used to be a country politics was contained within a political spectrum which had its limits. Certain things were universal and unchallenged. Even Margaret Thatcherâs government, worked within certain limits.
4/ We used to be a country with large national publicly owned industries employing millions, creating jobs and common ties between Eng/Sco. We had a strong Labour movement across the U.K. which stood up for workers rights and the working class. Common struggles and common goals.
5/ The slow decline and dismantling of these common institutions began under Thatcher. Institutions which once tied us together were sold off for private profit.
6/ There was a dramatic change in 1997. Tony Blair came to power and his initial performance was good. He delivered devolution, introduced the minimum wage and the human rights act, aided the Northern Ireland peace process, and was seen as having a fresh Centre-leaning approach.
7/ However, I think it was 2001 when the decline in political confidence began. Labour became a party of neo-Liberal centrism, and financial de-regulation. The City boomed, and privatisation was accelerated. Importantly, Tony Blair entered the Iraq War against wishes of public.
8/ The Labour Party became chock-full of Oxbridge career politicians, and the path to globalisation and privatisation led to dogma that would become entrenched in Westminster politics for good. Politics drifted further and further away from reality.
9/ The worst was yet to come. In 2010, the LibDem-Tory coalition came to power. Despite having promised not to increase tuition fees, they went ahead and did so, irreparably damaging the LibDems forever. The policies of austerity and aggressive marketisation were pushed.
10/ I First became interested in independence when the first referendum was announced. The SNP stood on a progressive platform which ran counter to the new-liberal dogma of privatisation and marketisation. I couldnât identify with what Labour had become.
11/ Scotland had never really bought into or committed to the politics of new-labour/Conservatism. The onslaught of propaganda caused me to doubt that yes would win. In particular, I believed that the risk to EU membership spouted by the Better Together campaign would sway voters
12/ Even up to 2013/14, Brexit was not on the agenda. People didnât care about the EU. With a desire to win the election Cameron announced a Brexit Referendum in 2014. Commentators (the same ones who now spin on behalf of the Tories) scoffed - the U.K. would never vote leave!
13/ The political landscape was changed for ever. Suddenly, millions of people who had never cared about the EU now did. Incredible lies were told, and in 2016 the Brexit vote was delivered. Scotland voted 62% to remain, having been told to vote ânoâ to save itâs E.U. status
14/ Further, the political landscape in Scotland and England would diverge yet further. Right-wing populism took over in England elevating previously discredited politicians to high office.
Living in England at the time, I found myself deeply turned off by the politics of austerity, migrant-blaming racism and British nationalism. There was a small glint of hope when Jeremy Corbyn was elected as head of the Labour Party, but he turned out to be bitterly disappointing
15/ The traditional âlimitsâ of what was acceptable in Politics were completely thrown out the window. Boris Johnson shut down Parliament to avoid scrutiny, Jeremy Corbyn was completely useless as an opposition leader, with Ian Blackford becoming the de facto leader of the opp.
16/ I think most people could âjust aboutâ put up with the Union in the 20th century. As I said, there were always unwritten rules about the limits of politics, lines that wouldnât be crossed and a general sense that there were many things we had in common.
16.5/ When I look at the system as it is now, it is clear that this social contract has been thrown out the window.
17/ I canât look to Labour for any relief, nor to the many many sensible liberal egalitarian voters in England who used to be the majority and are now the large minority. The Labour Party and Liberal Democrats failed the U.K, and let the crazies have free reign to take over.
18/ Iâm driven, therefore, to the conclusion that the Westminster system has completely failed. Priorities in England and Scotland are so radically different as to be irreconcilable. Scotland remains a country overwhelmingly committed to egalitarian values, social welfare.
18.5/ All of Scotlandâs main parties campaigned vigorously to remain in the EU. England has been given over to exceptionalism and nationalism, bourne out of the sheer complacency and ignorance of the Oxbridge political elite.
19/ The entire basis for the political establishment has changed since 2014. Scotland and England are further apart politically than at any other time. Even most Unionists would prefer the U.K. to remain in the E.U. and are generally politically progressive.
20/ Brexit has also framed the independence argument in a completely new light. Leading economists have argued that it is âundeniableâ that Scotland would be better off in the E.U. and independent, than in Brexit Britain.
21/ So faced with a decision in 2019 about the future of Scotland, the choice is to me very clear. Even in my lifetime Iâve seen the radical acceleration of a market-obsessed, privatisation-nightmare that has exploded since 1997. The UK is unrecognisable from the Country of C20
22/ I want to have a country which prioritises people over profits, which doesnât engage in illegal wars, that doesnât waste billions on weapons of mass destruction that can never be used. I want to have a county that welcomes everyone, no matter where they come from.
23/ The SNP has relentlessly campaigned for things I care about, from their human rights record (especially the leading work in repealing section 28 and supporting gay marriage) to their environmental policies, migration policies and work on disability rights.
24/ Independence is our only and last opportunity to forge a new path. No part of my attraction to what it has to offer has anything to do with identity, sentiment or flag waving. Indeed, I see it as a rejection of nationalism. A rejection of 21st century British Nationalism
25/ numbers of countries have become independent from the U.K- three in Europe alone. They have thrived despite claims that they would be a disaster. I refuse to believe that Scotland is the only European country incapable of economic success.
26/ to conclude, it is the Union that has changed the goal posts so dramatically even in the past few years. It is Labour and the LibDems who have singularly failed and let the Country down. It is the SNP that have been the bulwark against increasingly right wing politics.
27/ The case against the SNP/independence relies entirely on disappointed absolutism- âyou canât show me with 100% certainty that you are right about everythingâ. Meanwhile, the Unionist arguments are continually given the benefit of the doubt and avoid any scrutiny
28/ The case for independence has never been stronger. It is time for Independence. Itâs easy to simply say âthe SNP have a bad record in governmentâ but nothing could be further from the truth when objectively looking. Perfect? No. Radically better than the alternative? Yes.
28.5/ So I would urge outsiders not to dismiss the indy movement as nationalism. It isnât. Are you really surprised? Is it really that remarkable? I think a lot of people are at absolute loss as to how we can possibly rebuild consensus and sanity to Westminster. I think we canât!
Update: If you canât be bothered to read my thread or think itâs too sanctimonious, it was summarised quite well in this song: https://twitter.com/mitchbenn/status/1194682346961850368?s=21
