Q1 English Tradition and Change in the UK

EMD Scottish Independence

Scotland's Yes movement: Inspired or disillusioned?

If all had gone to plan for Nicola Sturgeon, Scots would have been heading to the polls for a
second independence referendum. In June last year, the then first minister announced her
intention to stage the vote on 19 October 2023.

Her hopes were dashed by a Supreme Court ruling that she did not have the power to do so, with
the SNP1 forced to return to the drawing board2. On Sunday, the party agreed an independence
strategy based on winning the majority of seats – at least 29 – in Scotland at the next general
election.

The SNP won 48 seats at the last election in 2019, but recent polling has suggested the party has
lost much of its once huge lead over Labour. Both the Conservatives and Labour have vowed to
continue to oppose any calls for another referendum, yet the ambitions of the Yes movement
remain.

Mandi McInnes, from Perth, and Beverley Craig, from Crieff, took part in the Chain of Freedom
independence event last weekend. It involved members of the Yes movement linking arms in a
bid to form a human chain across the central belt. Standing in line in Glasgow next to the Forth
and Clyde canal Mandi said such events showed younger Scots there is still a “huge appetite” for
independence and a “positive alternative” to Westminster.

Beverley echoed familiar concerns among the independence supporters that their views were
underrepresented in the media. “There are people who are not necessarily part of the
independence movement who think independence has died,” she said. “Friends of mine I met
recently said I thought that was gone when Nicola [Sturgeon] went and it was like, well no.”

Wilma Bowie helped organise the Chain of Freedom event. The Inverness activist told BBC
Scotland that more women than men had signed up to take part.

Sir John Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde and president of the British
Polling Council, said voting intentions among women had been one of the key changes since the
2014 vote – along with a shift in attitudes of young Scots. In recent years, younger voters have
been consistently more likely to back independence than those aged 35 and over, he said. The
polling expert identified Brexit as the major issue in the independence debate. Scotland voted to
remain by 62% to 38%, while the UK overall voted to leave by 52% to 48%.

Neil Mackay, 40, helped set up All Under One Banner, a campaign group which has held 39
events across Scotland since 2015. Its 40th event was scheduled in Edinburgh earlier this month,
but was called off due to heavy downpours. Although that was due to extreme weather, there is a
sense among some within the movement that spirits have been dampened3 in recent years.

Peak attendances for marches came in 2019, when the Brexit debate ensured the constitutional
question remained at the forefront4 of Scottish and UK politics. Mr Mackay, who lives in
Helensburgh, said a second referendum seemed “tangible5” then.

In recent years the Yes movement has been fractured by Ms Sturgeon's departure, the police
investigation into SNP finances, gender recognition reform and arguments over the path to

1
SNP – Scottish National Party
2
to return/go back to the drawing board – to start thinking about a new way of doing sth. after a previous plan or
idea has failed
3
to dampen sth. – to make sth. (feeling/reaction) less strong
4
at/in/to the forefront (of sth.) – in an important position
5
tangible – clearly seen to exist; concrete and available
Q1 English Tradition and Change in the UK
EMD Scottish Independence

independence. Mr Mackay told BBC Scotland News that while activists remain optimistic,
“countless false summits” have caused people to become “disillusioned” with the political
leadership.

Humza Yousaf – who pledged to be the “first activist” after being named as Ms Sturgeon's
successor – has sought to strengthen ties with the grassroots movement by attending Yes events.
At the SNP conference this weekend, he urged the SNP and the wider Yes movement to unite
behind his independence strategy.

But Mr Mackay said a lack of “drive” in Mr Yousaf's government was embodied by the new plan
to achieve independence. “We know Westminster isn't up for negotiations,” he said. “It's a no. It
doesn't matter if it's Labour or Tories or whoever.”

Mr Mackay identified an invigorated6 youth movement as the key to building support for
independence. “They need to feel it's imminent 7 for them to get excited about it,” he told BBC
Scotland News. “I think that's true for everyone really, but especially the youth.”

Cameron Garrett was too young to vote in 2014 but started to support independence following
the 2016 EU referendum. The 20 year-old, who lives in Dumfries and Galloway, is now co-
convener8 of the Scottish Young Greens. He said while there was still momentum behind the Yes
movement, “the political waters are a bit murkier and a bit choppier” following the Supreme
Court ruling that the Scottish government did not have the power to legislate for a referendum
without Westminster's consent.

“For one reason or another, obviously it's not happened but it doesn't mean the support has gone
anywhere,” Mr Garrett told BBC Scotland News. He said likeminded young people, driven by a
desire to tackle the climate crisis and strengthen ties with European neighbours, would be key to
driving the campaign. “People always say young people are the future,” the activist said. “Yes
we are. But we are also the present. Young people for too long have been ignored and let down
and not listened to.”

Prof Curtice said support for independence has settled at about 49% in 2023 – excluding
undecided voters – following a slight spike after the Supreme Court decision. (…) While
members of the independence movement crave a winning political strategy, Prof Curtice warned
the challenge for campaigners was to persuade people that the risks of being outside the
European Union were greater than the risks of being outside the UK.

He said: “Until, frankly, both sides come up with a coherent answer to that question, I don't think
we'll know how public opinion in Scotland will pan out9.”

Source: Angus Cochrane: Scotland’s Yes movement: Inspired or disillusioned?.BBC news, 19 October 2023,
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-66983211 (last access 8 December 2023).

Tasks:

1. Take notes to outline the current situation regarding a Scottish independence.

2. Analyse which persuasive techniques Cochrane uses to present the latest attitude towards
Scottish independence.

6
to invigorate – to make sb. feel healthy and full of energy
7
imminent – likely to happen very soon
8
convener – a person who arranges meetings of groups/committees
9
to pan out – (informal) to develop in a particular way