Scottish Independence Guide: Letters to the Editor

You can contact the editor by the form at the bottom or by emailing Joe [at] scottishindependence.com

Dear SIG,

Can you add www.bellacaledonia.wordpress.com

Mike Small

It is in the blogs list Mike, at the top, as it is our featured blog at the moment.

Dear SIG

I have no Scottish connection at all, but am in fact Welsh and for obvious reasons, have a big interest in Scottish independence for I believe it is vital if Wales are to get independence.

I would actually like to ask a question rather than comment on your site. I am confused as to why Alex Salmond's independence white paper doesn't go as far as to give the people of Scotland the chance to vote on a head of state, and instead opts to keep Queen Elizabeth II as your head of state.

The only reason I can think of is so that it is more attractive for those sitting on the fence between voting yes or no.

Could you shed some light on the issue?

Osian Lewis

This would be a decision for the people after independence so therefore independence has to come first before any change could be made. My personal preference would be for a republic and a lot of other people in Scotland feel the same way. At this point I think the SNP sees the Queen as fairly popular and the party is politically committed to Scotland being in the European Union. The White paper reflects these political stances, however the ultimate decision on both will be up to the people of Scotland.

I have answered this latest missive point by point.

Dear SIG,

I believe that the United Kingdom is one nation and only as a single entity do we have influence in the world as whole. 

Well I don't believe in keeping Scotland invisible internationally. Britain does not have as much influence as it imagines and it needs to realise that it is no longer an imperial state and cannot bully other countries.

Scotland could have a direct voice in the UN and EU. Britain is seen around the world as England. That's not good enough for us.  

I am concerned that the trend of devolution will critically damage this. 

Well Scotland's MP's voted for a devolved parliament at various times from 1893 onwards however those voices were ignored by the British parliament. In 1979 we voted for a parliament but had to endure 20 years of Thatcherism before it was delivered.

Now you reckon we would be better off without it? How are you going to deliver that then when your position has no support whatsoever in Scotland? You can't turn the clock back.

I am also convinced that the cost of government in its currently devolved format is substantially greater than that of a single UK government. 

You're right, but that's the price of democracy. Don't worry though Scottish independence would be cheaper for us than British Government and we will be happy to take those oil tax revenues of your hands. Gordon can always print more funny money through his central bank!

Even more vital, though, is the right of all UK citizens to expect the same quality and access to public services regardless of where in the UK they may happen to live. 

Well actually if you want better public services then you need to vote for a party that supports public services and is willing to pay for them. This is something which England appears not to want, that's fine but in Scotland and Wales we prefer to aim for something better.

Devolution has created inequality in access to services and the quality of delivery is often below standard in the devolved regions. 

In your opinion but not the opinion of the health professionals who prefer the Scots system.

The notion that the Welsh live in Wales and the Scots in Scotland is romantically appealing, but in reality far from the truth given the mobility of the UK population over the past 50 years or so. 

The people who live in Scotland are Scots, those who live in Wales are Welsh and those who live in England are English (apart from those who live in Cornwall who are Cornish). It's not too difficult to understand but just to make it clear for you, the people who live in France are French.

Devolution is divisive. 

No it isn't. It reflects the reality that there is more than one country and one attitude in the UK. The divisions were always there in policy but prior to devolution they could be ignored by an undemocratic state. Our views on defence and foreign affairs can still be ignored by a parliament where Scots are outnumbered 10-1 that's why we need to complete the process of 'home rule' by becoming independent.

I would prefer to see the devolved governments disassembled...

In other words you have no support whatsoever in Scotland. You might not like progress and you might prefer silence from Scotland but the argument has moved on and you need to wake up.

...and the focus put on developing more efficient public services through an emphasis on the UK as one nation with the strength to play a confident role in this increasingly complex world.

Anthony Braddock

Which you want to make less complex by denying the right to self determination to part of your own state because you don't want to recognise their rights to home rule or independence. That 'vision' is backwards, ignorant and idiotic.

Happy St Andrews Day!

Dear SIG,

I couldn't agree with your site and ethos more! I too am very keen to see England independent from Scotland and for that matter from the rest of the supposed United Kingdom.

Scotland and Wales have their own national assemblies wherein you can self-govern, create your own laws and choose what to teach your children in school. England has no such national assembly and no identity due to the obliteration of Anglo-Saxon culture. At least there is still some romanticism surrounding the Celtic heritage. All we seem to have is bloody Morris Dancers!

I feel that if we were given independence from Scotland, Wales and Ulster we would at last be free to be defined as our own country, celebrate our own distinct culture, have our own national anthem and to finally govern ourselves without Scottish, Welsh and Ulster MPs sticking their noses in to our affairs. Why should MPs based in constituencies in the Shetland Isles have been given voting rights when deciding whether or not London should have a congestion charging zone? Outrageous.

Oh by the way Mel Gibson is an American who grew up in Australia. I do not understand the Scottish link other than his poorly researched portrayal of the historical racist William Wallace.

Support English Independence!!

Matthew Pearce

Thanks for your email Matthew. I must take issue with you on one point, William Wallace was not a racist. He was fighting for the freedom of his own people against foreign rule. He was therefore a Scots hero and patriot.

In the past Britain was considered as equivalent to England. It's only in the recent years after a long hard campaign in both Scotland and Wales which eventually led to devolution that England has started trying to assert a seperate identity.

Since England has 80% or more of the MP's in the British parliament and ten times the population of Scotland (twenty times the population of Wales) the idea you are being discriminated against doesn't really hold up to reality.

In fact what happened historically was that England deliberately expanded its influence over the Celtic nations of Cornwall (who no-one in England seems to want to recognise as a country at all) Wales (in 1746 the 'British' parliament passed a bill claiming both Wales and the Scots county of Berwick as part of England) and England forced a union on Scotland despite the Scots people being wholly against it.

It was the elected London Assembly and the former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone who decided on the congestion charge by the way.

I would have a bit more sympathy for England if their MP's hadn't deliberately denied Scotland any form of devolution for over 100 years! Nonetheless, support for Scottish independence in the modern age is welcome from all quarters, but have a bit more respect for our history. At the time Wallace was around the English King was kicking out the Jews from England and burning Berwick to the ground so the idea Wallace was a 'racist' is pretty far off the mark.

Dear SIG,

What I cannot understand is why Westminster consented to give Scotland a devolved parliament without it's own Treasury.

If we are such parasites on the UK as they keep telling us ie that we get more per head than anyone else, they could shut us up in two seconds by REVEALING HOW MUCH SCOTLAND PUTS INTO THE UK TREASURY EACH YEAR.

Of course if they did it would be without the oil revenue, according to a Fact Finder that I have in the house, published by Cambridge University Press which breaks the UK up into it's individual countries under Scotland's Economy it says Based on Coal, but all heavy industry declined during the 80s with the closure of many pits, Oil services on the East Coast, tourism especially in the Highlands shipbuilding, steel whisky textiles agriculture forestry.

Under England - it says Economy NORTH SEA OIL AND GAS etc etc etc etc, I rest my case!!! But poor Wales gets the best write up of all and I am assuming that these are educated people who compile this trash.

For WALES it states, Economy Coal, Slate, lead, steel industrialised S valleys and coastal plain; tourism in N and NW, ferries to Ireland at Holyhead, Fishguard; IMPORTANT SOURCE OF WATER FOR ENGLAND.

Marion Whyte

There is some statistical information about what we put in and what we get back. Since the SNP are in Government they have made sure that the figures are more accurate and the latest set can be found under the following link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/18101733/0

Dear SIG,

My name is Pamela Holmes and I am the head of the politics, philosophy and economics society at the school of George Watson's College in Edinburgh. The society meets every Tuesday lunch at 12:35 to discuss and learn more about the fields of politics, philosophy and economics through examining both current issues and various aspects of the subjects both contemporary and traditional.

This usually takes the form of someone making a short speech on a topic and then debating both their views and our own. It is a very beneficial and enjoyable discussion and I would be most grateful if someone from your organisation would perhaps be able to come and present such a talk yourself one Tuesday?

I appreciate that you are very busy but if you would be interested please email me back.

Thank You,

Pamela Holmes

That sounds great. Hopefully we can arrange that soon.

Dear SIG,

I am Demetre Rayskiy from Russia Today TV Channel, foreign desk producer. I would like to know if it's possible to invite someone from your organisation to speak about: "Scottish national party to press for independence".

Thank you for your kind assistance

Demetre Rayskiy

I hope you managed to get someone suitable to interview. Apologies for delay in getting back to you.

Dear SIG

Hi just to let you know of a site that requires publicity and signatures.

http://www.scotlandthefair.com/ A citizens fightback against the recent detractors of our nation.

Scotland the Fair

More power to your elbow, well done. SIG

Dear SIG,

This website is pathetic. Not only does it use Mel Gibson Brave Heart Propaganda is shows how much you people know about Economics. Face it we are better United. If you reply then maybe I will share what I know. I am Scottish and we are better United.

Kyle Coats

It sounds like you don't know a great deal Kyle but hopefully you will educate yourself.

Dear SIG,

The fight and quest for independence is no up to our Government, It is up to us as Scots, the people of the nation! We must muster ourselves and rally and make Holyrood do as we employ them to do and Speak with our voice. We must ignore the constant comments from the unionist's who fear standing on their own two feet, or the politician who cares not but for his or her own political or personal position and expenses allowance.

They care not for what is good for the nation, they care about their own bottom line and or agenda. An independent Scotland would be a small nation indeed but so is Kosovo. working in partnership with neighbours and EU trade partners, would serve us well. We need not fear any thing but fear itsself, those afraid to take a chance gain nothing and have nothing.

We are Scotland. For to long we have been the cannon fodder for the UK and USA. our soldiers are brave and fierce we can defend ourselves, We need not fight others battles. Lets fight our own battle, A free Scotland full of free people. we can make our own decisions, Aye, we will make mistakes, they will be our mistakes though. This nation for centuries has been full of strong, hardy and honourable people that have the will and ability to survive and thrive. so why stop now.

Come on Scotland, lets show the world why Scotland is the best nation and place in the known universe

Calum Anderson

Well said Calum.

Hi there SIG,

Great work promoting a great cause! I am a big supporter of independence for Scotland (and all other nations). I have also been a member of Independence First.

The problem is that the independence case is not often heard properly, due to bias in the media-on TV and in the papers the unionists always have much more chance to opine it seems.

How do you suggest we get our message past the censorship of the media so it is in people's minds to a bigger extent? Support for the union is allegedly more than for independence but it's hardly surprising with our media bias.

I believe it's also partly down to a natural fear of changing the status quo, but it's a challenge that should be risen to not shied away from.

FREEDOOOOMM!!!

Ian McIntosh, Edinburgh

It's nice to see someone I actually know writing in! Good to hear from you Ian.

Dear SIG

Hello I was wondering if it is at all possible to add your own blogs on this site or can you comment on the other blogs?

Nathan Shannon

Yes, just drop us a line and we can add your blog to the list. All the blogs featured have their own comment systems. and I am sure they will welcome your remarks.

Dear SIG,

I am first generation yank on my fathers side. Is there anything I can do, and is there a place for me in a free Scotland future. I have always held Scotland as my true Country and if I can't live there before I die I always wanted to die as a Scottish man, getting back from what my Grandparent's took away from me, my Scottish heritage.

Mark Copland

Mark, you are a Scot like the rest of us and it is always inspiring to hear from Scots Americans. You can write to your local representative and express your enthusiasm and support for Scottish independence or you can write to our papers here (see the media page on the top bar). Every effort helps.

You would be welcomed if you came over to live here but your support for Scotland's cause is very much appreciated in any case.

All the best - SIG

Dear SIG,

My family is from Scotland, even though I have two British surnames as my first and last names. I Live in America, and I want to help, in any way possible. I think that Scotland should be the next to go for their independence, look at Ireland and the progress that they are making, that should be Scotland fighting for our independence!

Bridger Rawlings

Thanks for your comments Bridger.

I find your website very interesting! Lots of good information. I was impressed by all the information that is available. Being that I am from America though, I do not hear of the Scottish struggles. I just wanted to know if the Scots are really ever going to gain freedom? Will England ever be able to give up Scotland, and be embarassed in front of the EU? I'm just curious as a French/Scottish American.

But anyway good luck lads, you have 100% support from myself and my familly.

Justin

Cheers Justin, the SNP will bring forward a referendum bill in 2010. The unionist opposition may block it but if they do I believe they will lose any subsequent election so things are looking very good for the independence cause, never better in fact.

Dear SIG

Well two points I'd like to make here. It is again in black and white. I have just finished rereading the McCrone report. Even with the updated figures applied and with the current economic circumstances worldwide in mind, Had Westminster not stolen the oil, lied too and cheated the Scotland out of its rightful prosperity, Brown and his Darlings statement would have been partially correct, Scotland would have been in a great position to stave off the worst of the recession. yet Westminster forbade this by stealing our right to succeed in order to drag us down with the UK's inevitable decline, so they use use us for the whipping boy of blame.

Point two. Why is it so many English would and do stop us from gaining independence. Speak of the burden Scots put on England, we are called drug addicts, lazy, and spongers or to stupid to govern ourselves. One little English Scottish association chairman once told me how proud he is proud to be Scots, And yet in the same conversation at his home he told my why Scotland was to stupid and incapable of being independent, then went to speak of his love of the Sovereign whom Scotland must recognize then as their own and why the now accepted Hanoverian invention of Scotland is so correct.

It appears his historical knowledge stopped when it got to 1746 and went no further back. How Scots is that then, And yet the English and the little English form loads of Scottish Associations, Societies, And Groups, they all want to be Scots or related to Scots, they cannae wait to buy a kilt and act like a Scot and claim Scottish Ancestry. They seem to want to be like us, act like us, many of you try to sound like a Scot. So what is it and why is you continue to try to hold us back. do you not want to be free. or do you need an identity, is this why you borrow ours when its convenient or your afraid to tell someone your English?

Calum Anderson

I agree with your first point Calum but I can't entirely agree with your second. Many English people come to Scotland and identify themselves with the Scots and some even campaign for Scots independence! Yes there are many lies which are disseminated by English owned newspapers and no doubt some English people in Scotland are confused as to whether their first loyalty is to Britain or Scotland. Unfortunately that applies to a few Scots as well!

We are getting there though and the English people who support Scotland tend to throw their efforts in fully. England will gain a genuine friend when Scotland becomes independent. It is the unfair nature of a union between two countries where one is much larger and dominates the shared parliament that is the problem and causes justified resentment, however once the false state of Britain ends I think it will be a weight of the back of both countries and we will each enjoy a prosperous future. 

Dear Sir or Madam,

I would like to contact you with a request. NDR, a Public Broadcaster in Northern Germany, is producing a documentary on the Highlands. It will be part of a series called "Documentaries around the world" in which we tell stories on people and landscapes. It is broadcast on a prime time slot and gets an average of 800.000 viewers when it is broacast the first time, and we use to rerun these documentaries many times.

I am the author and director of this documentary and I would like to tell also something about Scottish History, about the Scottish struggle for independence. I think this is very important. Therefore I will shoot for example at the Wallace monument, at the Culloden Battlefield and in Glen Coe.

If I may I would like to ask you if you could give me some advice, whom I could contact concerning Scottish independence today. I would like to find someone I could accompany with my camera for a day, so I am interested in more than an interview. It would be good to find some way to visualize the Scottish struggle for independence today.

The shooting is supposed to take place in May, I have just begun the research and I will go on a recce in April, so it would be possible to meet before.

Thank you very much. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Knut Weinrich

Sadly I don't always pick up emails like this in time to help the person concerned but I hope Knut's project was successful. SIG

Dear SIG,

 I've recently written a guest post titled 'Understanding Scottish Independence' for the 'New England Tartan Day' blog. I have it saved as a PDF file and was wondering if there is any way I could submit it.

Michael Follon

Thanks Michael,

I have added the New England Tartan Day blog to our blogs links and the relevant posting is available from the above link. I highly recommend it.

Dear SIG,

Firstly, I am English. Secondly, I do want Scotland to have whatever is best for Scotland the same as whatever is best for England. I think the whole thing needs reworking. To be honest it makes me sad to think of independence - depending what independence means, you should be free to have your own money or laws or whatever but I like the thought of working together and having a little bit of the union remaining, maybe a new union.

I mean my nephew is 3 years old, his father is Scottish and his mum is quarter Scottish, quarter English and quarter Welsh but I dont want him growing up with lots of division.

Way back in my family there are people who were in the Wallace Clan, but I go to Scotland and I have come across attitudes which are like 'f***ing English' when I have always had fondness for England, Wales and Ireland. I think the government now is messing up Scotland but it's messing up England too. I don't want it to increase seperation in people. If you get my meaning. It is easily done.

Rowan

Rowan, I am quite certain that everyone will maintain the same social links after Scots and English independence that they have right now. People may feel some nostalgia for Britain but the reality is that it is the British Union which stops Scotland from having a direct voice in the EU and UN and for that reason it has to go.

I don't condone nasty remarks against the English but similar stuff is directed towards the Scots by similarly ignorant idiots, ignore that trash and realise that Scotland is a country with the same rights to rule itself as any other.

Dear SIG,

How cliché is this website? The answer, very. You use Gaelic in your banner, yet I doubt you can speak it. You have Mel Gibson in your banner too!? What kind of message does that send? you support a homophobic, anti-semitic Australian.

Leon

It's of Mel Gibson dressed as Wallace and represents William Wallace. Braveheart was an excellent film and Mel's subsequent actions don't diminish the quality and emotional impact of this film.

Dear SIG,

I hope you are well.

My name is Tim Barrow and I am the producer of The Inheritance.

The film is an award-winning Scottish road movie feature film made from the ground up with new Scottish talent. Shot for £5,000 in 11 days, The Inheritance won the RAINDANCE AWARD at the British Independent Film Awards, was nominated for 2 BAFTA Scotland New Talent Awards, and for Best UK Feature at Raindance Film Festival and London's East End Film Festival.

The film screened at 8 film festivals and on over 20 cinema screens across the UK, including Filmhouse, GFT, Eden Court, DCA, Sabhal Mor Ostaig on Skye, and even in Midlothian Council chamber in Dalkeith.

In order to promote the film to a wider audience we are distributing The Inheritance on DVD together with a documentary detailing how we made an award-winning feature film for £5,000.

DVD sales are going well, with orders coming from outside the UK as well - the US, Canada, Australia, Italy, Portugal, France and Russia. The film is available through our website - www.theinheritancethemovie.com - and we are also stocked by outlets such as Fopp, Blackwells, Foyles, Avalanche Records, and cinemas like Filmhouse, BFI, ICA, Curzon Soho, Macrobert, Eden Court. The film resonates with Scottish audiences - being about young male identity and families in contemporary Scotland.

The film is partnered on DVD by a 60 minute documentary detailing how and why we created The Inheritance. It features interviews with the team behind the film and a unique filmmakers resources section. We show that by working with love, belief & passion and celebrating our limitations we were able to make a feature film from scratch and enjoy the success of The Inheritance. We aim to inspire others to bring their own films to fruition.

We are working to spread the word of the DVD, and have events planned with schools and further education colleges - showing kids that breaking into the film industry is achievable and all their ideas have worth if pursued with passion and dedication.

We've received some great press already - e.g. Herald, Scotsman, Financial Times, Sky Movies.

Can I send you a DVD? It'd be great to hear what you think of our work.

And in the year of the Homecoming we're immensely proud of promoting a low budget Scottish film success story, one which is proof of teamwork, craft and belief.

I hope all is well with you.

Best wishes,

Tim Barrow

That would be excellent Tim. Sounds like a very interesting film.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I'm a 17 year old student from Germany and I'm going to write my scientific paper (something like a really short form of a dissertation) about Scotland's way to independence. The whole title will be "Scotland's struggle for independence- a naive dream or a realistic and feasible aim? Based upon its historical and cultural identity, what makes Scotland able to form an independent state?".

I would like to include some information that I found on this site, but for that I need to know who runs it and why. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find it so could you please tell me?

I'd be very thankful if you'd do.

Yours sincerely, Gesine Heger

I'll be in touch!

Hello SIG,

My name is Christine, I am from Greece and I admire and love your country. First of all I have read about your history and your rebellions against the English and I feel in some way connected to you. I really think that your country is beautiful and unique and it deserves to be independent and free. I have visited Scotland once and I intend to visit it again soon. Please inform me about your activities and how can I help you for an independent Scotland.

Christine Pefanis

For all those who want to help I have put some suggestions on the site on a link under the 'why' bar. Thanks for your comments Christine, they are much appreciated.

Dear SIG,

I love the site but please don't put Mel Gibson as the image of Sir William Wallace, can't you find another image of our great hero???

Brian Kilgour

As the most recognisable modern representation of William Wallace I think the image is appropriate.

Hello SIG,

I am an author now living in Canada, originally from Glasgow. I have started a website selling Scots items that are against English control. Please have a look at

www.cafepress.com/oorjim

my author website is

www.prmcphee.com

Peter McPhee

Hello!

Could you please add to the list of peoples fighting for independence the VENETI (caplial VENICE)?I will be glad to send to you all the information you need THANKS A MILLION

Stefano

Send in some more info please. All the best - SIG.

Dear SIG,

It's to a Country and it's people to determine it's own future and past! Not another, for when another writes the history and determines the future, it is always from a position of conqueror and Overlord and the people of the conquering Country must bare the brunt of actions taken in their name and except the resulting guilt or retribution!

One can attempt to subdue using gold or time! Nevertheless, a free land will always wake and let its roar be heard!

MurrayMcKwar

Dear SIG,

Just wanted to say that, as an Englishman, I can't wait until Scotland is fully independent - seriously. If I were a Scot, I'd want independence right now, and I urge all Scots to demand complete independence from the rest of the Union. As a patriotic Englishman, I want my country to be free of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We can all cope perfectly well on our own (though Wales might suffer). With England left to the English I wouldn't have to put up with broad 'regional' accents anymore! And all those Scottish politicians can finally return home. I can't wait!

Steve Berry

Dear SIG,

Scottish Independence is key to the survival of our heritage and culture.

Without Scottish independence, all thing Scottish will continue to blended into English culture, and the beliefs, values, and heritage will forever viewed from the "English Perspective" leaving our ancestors to as barbarians and pagans in the school books our children read.

William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Gillean of the Battle Axe, and many others will be forever viewed as traitors to a false crown rather than being regarded as the heroes and patriots they were.

Scottish Independence is what our forefathers fought and died for.

We owe it to them and all those of Scottish heritage to continue their struggle and win them their independence

David McClain

Dear SIG,

For too long the Scottish people have been brainwashed by Unionists into believing that we can do nothing for ourselves. We are ruled by an arrogant, ignorant Government in London who care little for our beliefs, History, and aspirations. I have voted SNP all my life and look forward to the day we gain our independence.

Allan McAllister

Well said Allan. There has been a lot of correspondence recently, thanks to everyone who has written in. Your comments are much appreciated. SIG

Dear SIG,

What went wrong with the Scots financial industry (RBS and HBOS)? Who is responsible?

Who will be accountable?

John Fraser Houston

The credit crunch is what went wrong. The consequences are the loss of one of our most important banks, yet it didn't have to be that way, Brown wanted HBOS to be take over by Lloyds and refused to consider any other options. HBOS could have survived as an independent entity and I believe it would have if we were independent. SIG

Dear SIG,

I would suggest that the current crisis and the rescue package put together for BOS and RBS demonstrates that our futures are inextricably linked. Regional Government within a national context is best for Scotland, Wales and England.

Best wishes,

Ian Lannigan

I suggest that it indicates the exact opposite and that we need a lot more power over our economy to protect our interests. SIG

Dear SIG,

Firstly I am English, Secondly as an Englishman (Not British) I support Scotlands bid for independence, this is not because I dislike Scots, No I have many Scottish friends, its because of recent events in Europe. The UK Government recognised the illegal Seperation of Kosovo from Serbia. On this the green light has been set by the EU,UK and US for other nations to have independence. I hope good relations with trade, military etc continue. An added bonus would be the removal from office of Gordon Brown.

Dave Boods

Dear SIG,

The other night i was talking to a friend and Scot who live in england. apparantly he read on of my posts here concerning Scotland's freedom. here in lies the crux of it. us Scots want to be free, those in the south think that means we hate them and are Anti-English. they forget most of us have as many English relatives as Scottish. we do nae hate the English people, we do nae wish them harm. we do nae even want them sad. what we want is for them to stand on there own two feet. look after them selves and let scotland get on with looking after its self, as we can and wull, its westminster we dispise and all its supporters to include all the Scottish MP's who gouge us for all they can . they are nae longer Scots but transplanted English. the PM is a Scot of the worst kind. my friend says Scotland wull nae be free and should nae be free because they wull have no one to blame for there problems. we already know who to blame . so lets get on getting out of the union forever. the union is dead , the uk is dead. let the nightmare end lets all go home free men

Calum Anderson

Dear SIG,

As a born Canadian with a very long and proud Scottish heritage, I applaud your efforts and urge all those who wish to see the self-determination of Scotland to keep fighting the good fight and know you have my family's unwavering support.

Dana-James MacGregor

Dear SIG,

I am a year 13 student from Levin, New Zealand, studying the independence of Scotland for my social studies research assignment. I am of Scottish descent and have recently visited family over there, and I absolutely fell in love with Scotland. So I was stoked find a website dedicated to this cause. I have a few questions though. Could Scotland support itself financially if independence is achieved? And do you know where i could find some statistics or a survey of how popular the idea of independence is in Scotland?

Cheers, Duffy (Christopher Duff)

With regard to statistics and surveys there used to be a lot of these carried out but since they tended to show a majority for independence (once don't knows were excluded) they have been happening less often. There seems to have been a dip in support for independence more recently (coinciding with the financial crisis) however I and others remain confident that we could win a referendum. The reason is that the arguments for independence are positive while the arguments against it are relentlessly negative and generally based on manipulated statistics supposedly showing that uniquely amongst the countries of the world Scotland can't afford independence, which is ridiculous.

In actual fact of course we could. Recent figures show a financial surplus, while the UK has a massive (and growing) fiscal deficit. Almost all past UK Government figures have deliberately excluded oil revenues however these would lawfully be controlled by Scotland with independence. SIG

Dear SIG,

Just a short anecdote that might equally amuse and enrage you. Its a long time ago but I was surprise when I heard it.

Do you remember that TV advertisement for some Scottish named beer ... I cant remember which beer it was.

There is a young jock working in in England, filthy backstreets, who chucks his briefcase into a skip, gets on to a tube train, then opens the door to an old frosted, cut glass pub window and friends in Edinburgh?

I had a friend who was working for a PR company that handled their affairs who saw the letter from the UK Conservative Party telling the brewery to pull the add from television during the election because they felt it was raising too much nationalist sentiments. And the brewer did so.

I cant remember the year. If you remember the ad, you should be able to work out which election.

I was amazed (I am naive) that it was done.

Here's hoping this time ...

J

Dear SIG,

From the Whitelaw and Ferguson Clans in America (among others), we look forward to visiting an independent Scotland.

Gregory Nunn

Dear SIG,

I am English and in my twenties. I agree that Scotland should have independence on everything except the military, which should stay combined. Edinburgh should not answer to London, and London should not answer to Brussels!

I also think Scottish traditions should be re-instated, like the compulsory learning of Gaelic in schools.

On the form I filled in to post this message, you need to make the message box wider. I think it would encourage people to write more and be more specific.

Scott

Dear SIG,

I am setting up a new blog on Scottish Independence. www.tellthemscotlandisfree.blogspot.com

Paul Murphy

Dear SIG,

You are right it is not all about Money! Would be most grateful for a link on your website to www.oilofscotland.org which explains the Mc Crone report and the other Secrets and Scandels the Scottish People have had to endure.

Truth Teller info@oilofscotland.org

Dear SIG,

I am an Algerian student of English language, history and Literature. Being fond of Scotland, I'd like write a thesis about the Scottish independence in order to gain my bachelor degree. Our university library lacks books about Scotland, thus I am writing to you so that you may give me some titles, as well as the name of politicians, writers who are for/against this independence.

I will be grateful if you give answer to my mail.

Best regards

Attouche Abderrahmane

I appreciate your interest. There are some interesting books about independence here. As for pro and anti-independence views I think you will find that every modern Scottish politician has an opinion on independence and you should write to them individually at the Scottish parliament. The SNP and Greens are in favour while the other parties are all against.

Good luck. SIG

PS: If anyone out there would like to help Attouche in his research, send us an email and I will pass it on. 

Dear SIG,

I have only one point of view about Scottish "Independence".It is the same as that I hold of English "Independence". Independence WILL mean rule by Brussells.Not Independence,rather,subjugation ..albeit,smoothed over by elequent speakers.

Beware.

Keith Dickens

Dear SIG,

In your article, Who are the Scots, you have stated that Gaelic was the original language of Scotland, the Celts arrived in Scotland bringing Gaelic with them in the early part of the first millenium, the Picts and earlier Scots did not speak Gaelic, some of their language may still be in use to-day being absorbed through the ages.

John Donaldson

Dear SIG,

Original designs and independent minded, Scoring for Scotland is a Scottish-based company producing quality T-shirts with a message. Most

Scottish designs continue to play on the same old cliches, but we felt it was time real political and cultural change in present-day Scotland was reflected.

So....Scoring for Scotland produces T-shirts which point the way to a better, independent future!

Make your mark - SAOR ALBA!!...... All the best from Scoring For Scotland

Les Hodge

Why in Other, there isn't Catalonia??

Xavier

You're right, it should be there. We'll try and get that sorted sometime soon. SIG.

Dear SIG,

I too support a fully independent Scotland. However, I am saddened that your website portrays, alongside the likes of Burns and Bruce, some American actor(?) who resides in Australia! An actor who has had various well-publicised skirmishes with the law because of his drunken behaviour, and his anti-semitic outbursts. Do you really wish to give this person credence on a SCOTTISH website?

Obviously I follow the reasons for you showing his photo, but... this is showboating at best, and extremely tacky at worst.

Do you not have an image of Oor Wullie (Wallace) to display instead? Instead of that tinsel-town drunkard? Sean Connery has a MUCH higher public standing.

David McWilliams

Dear SIG

I think an update to this site is long overdue. I have found it extremely informative and well laid out though. keep up the good work.

Kenny Davis

Dear SIG,

I am a proud Irishman and support your non violent struggle for independence. I am privy to a lot of so called 'British' media and it does irritate me when i read or hear an article which describes a particular person as successful in her field, be it acting, sport, literature etc, that person is often labelled as 'British' whereas if he/she is not so successful or is seen as some form of social pariah he/she suddenly is overtly a Scot/Irish or Welsh etc!!! I think this is typical of an arrogant English attitude but also evincing an national deep rooted insecurity and your first contributor 'Jordan' is a prime example of ignorance coupled with arrogance.

I also hope that the nomenclature of 'nationalism' doesn't become the dirty word it assumed in Irish politics.

I also agree with your comments on nationalism, I think it is a concept which has been hijacked by extremist racists and fascists and in itself is not a bad notion to aspire to once it is inclusive and positive and no more an a platform to convoke a recognition of shared beliefs and attitudes, i.e. the hallmark of a shared cultural identity.

I wish you luck and a peaceful and prosperous independent future.

Best wishes

Wayne

Cheers Wayne. Your comments are much appreciated. Thanks to everyone btw who has written to us recently. SIG

Dear SIG.

I just read the letter from UK JORDAN, Utter drivel is right. I believe he has summed up the main reason we as Scots must and will leave the union forever and prosper on our own. He sounds like all the other English liars who rule through threat and deceit. Apparently he has no idea how the world works. I am happy he is proud of his country and wants to stay English. Hope he likes living in a fading country. I myself will stay Scot and be a free man. Your reply to him was wonderful and full of the truth of history and the lies of the English government.

SIG does a truelly wonderful job please keep putting our words up for all to read even those who have no clue of what they are talking about or those who simply disagree with us. By doing so we have an even better chance of turning them towards freedom from the chains we live under and the theft of our riches to pay for the English lies and way of life. I have waited 50 years to see it get better for Scotland as the unionist say it is and will be. Well I have news for you. it hasn't gotten better, its not getting better under Labour or England in general. it will get better as the SNP takes charge and gets things done. Most of all get us out of the union.

We will not only last longer by our self we will prosper magnificently. Maybe UK JORDAN does not know the sun set on his British empire a very long time ago. it has been a fading star for many years with no real power or strength. soon England will fade into a state of total apathy and near obscurity. Now England has become a puppet of the USA.

WAKE UP UK JORDAN LOOK AROUND YOU AND SEE THE REALITY. Its you who needs to get in touch with reality and a life.

With all due respect to all mentioned in my letter

Calum Anderson DSC, LOM (SGTM Ret)

Thanks for the support Calum Sadly there seem to still be a couple of deluded souls out there like our latest correspondent:

So you clowns want a free scotland no thanks i do not want a cathoilc run scotland we protestants will fight you to still in the union god bless the queen 1690

ROB - UK REDNECK

Divide 'n' rule lives on, but most people with any sense (unlike this guy) know that to win independence we need to stick together and not be divided by sectarian nonsense. The nickname says it all! SIG

There is a mistake in the 'who are the scots?' section. In the text it says 'The official language is English, although Gaelic is spoken, primarily in the North and West of Scotland'. Actually English is the de facto language and is not the official unlike Gaelic which as of 2005 is actually the official language.

Jamie

An interesting point. The vast majority of people in Scotland speak English and most official documents, road signs, court proceedings, newspapers, media, TV  etc are in English so this would tend to suggest English is the official language. 

Dear SIG,

I just wanted to congratulate you on a very cool site. Since the SNP have won the Scottish elections and are now running a minority government Scottish independence is higher up the political agenda than ever before.

Thanks for all your efforts on Scotland's behalf. I firmly believe that within the next ten years (at the most!) we will have voted for independence. 

Keep up the good work.

Mark Duncan

Thanks for the message of support Mark, much appreciated. SIG

Some background music you may wish to consider.

www.hazelwhyte.com

There's a lot of it - Hazel would probably donate if contacted through her website.

Bill Lewry

Thanks for the tip Bill. We've recently updated the MP3 jukebox on the music page and we will be adding more music soon.

Dear SIG,

I fully support your cause but your images of Scottish heroes of independence show Robert the Bruce as Robert the Bruce, Robert Burns as Robert Burns and Mel Gibson as William Wallace. There seems to be a problem here. As you well know Braveheart was ignorant and historically incorrect. Perhaps a better image to use would be an image of William Wallace. William Wallace is a national hero. He is not a drunken anti-semite as Mr Gibson is.

Please have a think about it

Regards

Christopher Robert Bruce

What we actually have is a painting of Burns, a statue of Bruce and a modern actors depiction of William Wallace. While I agree there were some historical inaccuracies in Braveheart here at the SIG we still enjoyed the film and its message and we reckon Braveheart made a massive positive worldwide impact for the Scottish independence cause, so because of this we think a wee pic of Mel in his famous role on the site is appropriate. SIG

THIS IS SO STUPID! SCOTLAND WOULD NOT EVEN LAST A DAY WITHOUT ENGLAND! EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY HAS ITS PROBLEMS! SO LEAVE BECAUSE YOU DONT GET YOUR WAY. HOW DUMB. UNITED MEANS TOGETHER, WORKING TOGETHER OVER PROBLEMS AND TRIALS AND GOING TO WAR TOGETHER AND BEING PROUD TO DIE FOR YOUR COUNTRY! UNITED KINGDOM FOREVER! I ♥ UK JORDAN

Ah, the British perspective rears its ugly head at last. Would England last a day without Scotland?* Do you find it patronising to be asked that question? Gee I wonder why! Britain /UK is not a country it is a union between three and a quarter countries (and an unacknowledged one, Cornwall).

It's not working any more and part of the reason for that is patronising dolts like yourself who attack Scotland. I'm Scots not British and 83% of my countrymen think the same way as me. If you were a proud Englishman rather than a foolish Brit with a post imperialist inferiority complex you might be able to develop an identity which does not define itself by attempting to dominate other countries.

It is really pretty sad that you feel you have to pretend Scotland is reliant on England to survive when in actual fact Scotland's long term economic prosperity was guaranteed in the 70's with North Sea Oil, or at least it would have been if the British Government hadn't lied about it because it needed Scotland's wealth to prop up a desperately failing English economy.

Why not have the Saltire, St George's Cross and Welsh Dragon flying at the UN? There are loads of countries out there who are a lot smaller than Scotland and do a lot better. You are clearly an eejit but I will attempt to educate you. Read a book called 'Rule Brittania' by Daphne Du Maurier. In that book (set in Cornwall) the UK is forced militarily into a union with the US, the UK will still get seats in the US Government and there will be a joint presidency/monarch (the proposed new country is renamed USUK and it's planned to turn the UK bit into a large theme park for American tourists).

If you don't find that idea of 'union' enticing then you might begin to understand Scotland's perspective on the British union!

Scottish independence is inevitable and it will benefit England as well.

Open your eyes. SIG

* Answer: Yes, of course it would. A stupid question but no stupider than your own.

Jordan replies:

For your info..UK is a country, and Its Scotland that would die without England, the reason why Scotland joined England was because we have power, and we can threaten to block off your food supply whenever we like to. And why would I read a book most likely to be rubbish?? Wales wants to stay with England, they are good British citizens, unlike you. I'm proud to fly the Union Jack and call myself British. And I wont have a little twerp like you take that away from me. Open YOUR eyes, and close your mouth.

United Kingdom WILL forever stand. The Union Jack will forever fly.

P.S. Scotland would be gone without the English colonies of St. Helena, Cayman Is, British Virgin is, and British Indian Ocean Territory, Burmunda, etc. and there economy. Get a life

What utter drivel. SIG

Dear SIG

Hello my name is Lorne Crowder I am from Albuquerque New Mexico. Although I am American I come from a long line of Scots and Irish freedom fighters Ii would like to let you know that I support your cause 100% and would proudly die for Scotland's cause.

Great to here from you Lorne. Your commitment to our cause is much appreciated. Luckily Scotland will be able to get our independence entirely peacefully through the ballot box. All the best - SIG

Dear SIG

I was forwarded on one of your YouTube Scottish videos by a friend who knows I love The Proclaimers. Just writing to make contact. Scots In London are apolitical - but we do have relaxed links with most major Scottish political groups. We are pro-Scots/Scotland and all things Scottish. We'll be launching a new slick website very soon.

Cheers,

Eddie (Founder and Promoter, Scots In London www.scotsinlondon.com)

Great to here from you and your group Eddie. Your website is very cool and if you can give us a plug on it we would be much obliged. SIG

Saor Alba.

Dear SIG,

Recently I returned to this island after being gone for 36 years in the USA where I served 25 years in the USA Army Rangers. I am shocked at the state of the government in London. My father is Scottish, I am Scottish and soon I will move with my new wife and kids back to Stirling and away from the corruption I see all through this place called England. Every day I see the lies and deceit, It makes me ill to see how the politicians kiss all the babies while they steal their lolly pops.

No matter what Blair or anyone says about the consequences of independence I think it is the best and most important thing we can do so we as Scots can set up a Government without all the lies and back biting and corruption. I listen to the House of Commons debates and the wrangling that goes on here and I realise how much I must go from this place to my proper and true home, a land of honour and kin. I am proud to say "Tha mi a Alba" and wear my kilt. I never say I'm British or English. I would rather fight for freedom than die a slave to corruption. Count me in the front lines.

Don't you dare stop what you do, Keep our voice heard and loud. Thank you

Calum G Anderson-Gillard

Thank you Calum. Your support is much appreciated.

Guys, Like your site, it's the bizz. I think it's well laid out, easy to use, a good job and puts across the message, but one slightly irritating thing,- each time I come in I get a pop-up javascript runtime error dialog box. You should fix this as you get a poor impression of the site first time in. Hope this helps.  Keep up the good work - believe - Jim

Hey Jim, thanks for the comments, any idea how to fix that? It's not something we've noticed before.

All the best - SIG

Dear SIG,

The British state is riddled with incompetence, corruption and abuse of power. An independent Scotland should have a written constitution which lays down mechanisms to counter these dangers. Investigators, prosecutors and judges should be drawn at random from a large pool of qualified people, just like juries.

The first step to a constitution for an independent Scotland should be to enact a draft constitution which will come into force when Independence is formally declared. This should simply consists of the rules for amending the constitution. It should ensure that amendments can only be put forward if they are supported by a certain percentage of the population, and can only be passed by referendum. It should also seek to ensure that all sides in any debate have equal access to the media & equal resources, so that the debate is settled by the quality of the arguments, and not by any other factors. Amendments could be debated & passed before Independence is declared.

R.A.McCartney

You are right and a written constitution would be required, the only question is how would it be effectively and democratically created. Have you considered joining the Independence Convention? If you feel passionately about this subject you probably should. Cheers SIG.

Dear SIG,

If like me you are fed up walking through Glasgow and looking at the statues of failed unionist politicians then I ask you to sign this petition that asks the Scottish parliament to erect a statue in George Square to honour the heroes of the Scottish wars of independence not just to remember Bruce and Wallace But All The Heroes Of Scotland of that time The Scottish People who gave their lives so their country could be free

David Turner

http://www.petitiononline.com/arb1320/petition.html

Done David. I hope a few other visitors to the site will do the same and we'll add a link to the forum about it. All the best SIG

Dear SIG,

SAOR ALBA !

Please sign this petition http://www.pledgebank.com/Cornish-Tick-Box

The English and Welsh have been permitted a tick box option for the next Census 2011, but the government said recently that one of the original indigenous groups of these Isles, the Cornish, are to be refused. The government informs us that only 37,000 people claimed Cornish ethnicity at the last 2001 census (ie. stated they were not English or British) and that this number is "too small" to warrant a tick box as an ethnic group. The Cornish were allocated an ethnic code of '06' for the last census, however to claim to be Cornish you had to first deny being British, by crossing out the British option, and then write in Cornish in the 'others' box. Additionally the decision to collect information on the Cornish identity was extremely badly publicised and most were unaware of the new code. How many more would have described themselves as Cornish if they did not have to deny being British or if there had been a Cornish tick box ? How many people knew that it was an option ? How many ticked British but feel themselves to be Cornish British ?

The Cornish have been rendered invisible by previous censuses by the UK government. They are an indigenous national minority of the United Kingdom, possessors of a recognised minority language of these islands under the Council of Europe's Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. If the UK government has made legal undertakings with the Council of Europe to take "resolute" action in support of the language, how on Earth is it going to measure its compliance with international legal obligations with respect both to this language and to the people associated with it, if it does not include relevant tick boxes in forthcoming censuses ?

There is a government ONS meeting (open to the public) at Cardiff City Hall on 16th March 2007 'to develop views on the content of the 2011 Census' and amongst others, the Cornish Branch of the Celtic League will be attending along with their Welsh brethren giving support. Please pass this information on and help support the cause !

'No Cornish - No Census !' Kernow Bys Vyken !

Free Kernow

http://www.pledgebank.com/Cornish-Tick-Box

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/events/2011Census_updated/default.asp

http://www.cornishnotenglish.com/

It's great to hear from Kernow, I hope everyone here will sign this petition. We'll add the links to the Cornish page. Your struggle is our struggle. SIG

Dear SIG

I am the seventh generation from the Highland clearances, via North Ireland, New Brunswick, Minnesota and most recently Oregon. I say A pox on British Patrimony, over on this side of the sea, MacGregor is Rising...

David Brendah

Thanks David, great to hear from you. SIG

Dear SIG,

This year Scotland will go to the polls, the daggers are drawn and the back biting has began, the political football is already in progress and if the political parties are dismayed by the apathy shown by in the voters' it is their own fault, for they have not come up with anything new and are still quoting the same ideology or should I call idiotology for some of the proposals that they come up with are not based on common sense.

I have seen in this country stripped of its industry by political ideology, have seen the best health service in the world reduced to do a shambles, similarly with education. I have also seen the country brought back to reality by a virtual dictator only to see it reduced once again to a shambles. We are paying higher taxes and getting reduced services. We will soon be paying to keep them in their offices and the streets covered in debris because there will not be sufficient money to pay for the cleaning. This has got to stop and we can no longer go on the way we are going and a new direction is now required. We can no longer depend on political ideology to run this country and I am going to suggest a new approach to governing it. Two and a half thousand years ago a Philosopher said that country should to run and for the benefit of the people and not for the rulers.

What I am going to suggest is, that a hundred men and women who will put the country before themselves and run this country as a business for the benefit of the people. The task will be fraught with difficulties for they will have to fight corruption, blackmail extortion and all that troubles that we halve at the present moment. To do this the country must be independent and not troubled with rules and regulations to hamper them.

Is there a hundred men and women in this country who will do this and grab the Scotch Thistle with their bare hands and say Wha Daur Meddle Wi Me and lead this country to a better future.

JM Low

Thanks for that. Once we are independent hopefully the quality of our representatives will improve. At least we would have people in there who believe in Scotland first and foremost rather than running it as some kind of colonial outpost. SIG

Dear SIG,

Hello and Happy New Year to you all, I am very much for an independent Scotland. I want to travel to Scotland for the holidays at the end of 2007. Let me know your suggestions for a great trip.

Barbara A Murchison, California

Hi Barbara,

Your best bet is http://www.visitscotland.com/ for travel advice. I would recommend going to the cemetery just below Calton Hill at Waterloo place there's a wonderful monument to Thomas Muir and others in there it's a 90 foot high obelisk and there's a statue of George Washington across from it as well.

The monument to Muir has the following inscription: "To the memory of Thomas Muir, Thomas Fyshe Palmer, William Skirving, Maurice Margarot and Joseph Gerrald. Erected by the Friends of Parliamentary Reform in England and Scotland."

On the other side of the obelisk,is a quotation from a speech made by Muir on 30th August, 1793: "I have devoted myself to the cause of the people. It is a good cause - it shall ultimately prevail - it shall finally triumph."

The Edinburgh castle is obviously great as well and you should try and stay in Edinburgh and get to Glasgow and Stirling (the castle and day tour up there is great as well and will take you to the massive William Wallace Monument which is wonderful).

Apart from that I'm sure the above site will help with your plans.

All the best - SIG

Dear SIG,

I just read that Tony Blair is warning against independence for Scotland. As a Southern nationalist here in North America, I wanted to wish you God speed on regaining your rightful place as a free people. Maybe someday, your country and mine, the Confederate States of America, will both be able to celebrate our liberty.

Emmett Jones

Thanks for the support Emmett.

Dear SIG,

I just found your web site! I have been following the Scottish Independence movement for several years. I don't know all the issues but from here in the United States I support the movement and I pray for the day that Scotland will be independent.

George Ewen (University of Kentucky)

Hi George, great to hear from you. I hope you'll spread the word to some of your friends in the States about the site. Cheers!

Hi, I am an Australian that for some unknown reason has fallen in love with Scotland. Although I know very little about your country my heart is beating faster and warmer as I read the letters and look through your site. I wish you all the love and luck as you endeavour for independence. I hope I get to set foot on Scottish soil soon.

Love

Arna

Thanks Arna, it's great to hear from someone in Australia who is thinking about Scotland. All the best - SIG

Dear SIG,

It would appear that the Unionsman is now censoring anti-Tony Blair comment on its web site. It is time that the Independence movement in Scotland was better represented than merely by the SNP. Is it time to start a 'boycott the Scotsman for Independence' campaign?

I am sick fed up of Westminster's manipulation of the facts - what can I do?

Peter Thomson

Hi Peter,

Some ideas to help the independence cause are here. Re the Britman all you can do is write the truth in a letter to the paper and encourage others to do so and correct their inaccurate stories on their online forums (We've not noticed too much censorship though the odd innocuous comment seems to get binned and they occasionally chop pro indy letters to shreds if they print them). Also it would be very useful if you could help publicise this site to try and redress the balance.

We'll get there.

All the best - SIG

Dear SIG,

When the referendum is given and the campaign is going I suggest Cap In Hand by the Proclaimers is played. It would really annoy the Scottish Unionists.

Kevin O'Leary.

Hey Kevin, it's a great song and a good shout. It's on the MP3 jukebox from the main (and music) pages for anyone out there who hasn't heard it yet. 

Dear SIG

I was wondering if you could answer a query I have - If we gain Independence and we stay a constitutional monarchy, would there be a referendum to decide whether we keep the British monarch or elect a new monarch as King or Queen of Scots with a separate dynasty and monarchy/Kingdom we would be truly independent from the rest of the UK - as we become separate of the Union we would logically become a separate Kingdom again, is this correct - sorry to be so annoying with a rather lengthy and confusing question, thanks for your time.

Sean

Thanks for your query Sean, that's what the site is for! The official position of the SNP (who would likely be the largest party in any post independence negotiations) is that post independence we would remain a part of the Commonwealth and would retain the current queen as head of state.

A vote for independence would end the political union of 1707 but we would theoretically still retain the 1603 union of crowns until there was a firm decision to reverse it. The SNP is pledged to a referendum on the issue post independence however, and many pro independence people (like the SSP and SRSM) are republicans. .

Personally I favour a republic and I imagine that there are very few people who would want to retain the British Queen after the break up of the British state.

Personally I think the person who sits in the room and suggests retaining the Queen in post independence negotiations will be treated with the contempt they deserve!

Re Scottish contenders the main legitimate claimant to the Scottish throne seems to be Duke Franz of Bavaria who has no interest in Scotland. The other claimant is 'Prince Michael of Albany' who is very positive about independence but unfortunately also seems to be something of a fraud.

Dear SIG,

For it to be possible for a Scot, Gordon Brown, to be a contender for the English Premier's job, when the English are not allowed to sit in the Scottish parliament is absolute hypocrisy!

Take your independence stand, yes, but then bow out of the English Parliament totally!

Michael Hicks

Hi Michael,

There are a number of English people in the Scottish parliament just as there are quite a few English people who live in Scotland and support Scottish independence.

Anyone who lives here can stand for the Scottish parliament.

If we were independent then Scotland would have no MP's at Westminster therefore as an MP representing a Scottish seat Brown would no longer be there.

Of course Gordon Brown has no interest in Scotland whatsoever so even if Scotland leaves the UK he might still be interested in getting elected to your parliament, though hopefully English electors would tell him to get lost!

All the best - SIG

Dear SIG

I have just got an e mail address and would very much like to contribute to the idea of an independent Scotland. I have enjoyed reading your web-site, not agreeing with everything but it's a bit of fresh air in today's climate.

Cheers x 

Ann Lynch

Hi Ann, thanks for getting in touch. There is quite a few things you could do to help

Sign Independence First's petition at:

http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=123

Vote for the Scottish Independence Guide as a 'top political site' which helps top raise our profile via the button on the bottom left or by clicking the link below:

http://members.sitegadgets.com/scripts/topsites.cgi?username=dalriada&ID=60

Visit Independence First's website and consider joining up at www.independence1st.com

Email your friends or text them about the Scottish Independence Guide and ask them to vote for it a well.

If you are interested in contributing to the site then email us an article (or changes to existing articles) we're particularly interested in expanding the music section and keeping the political and news sections up to date

You could also ask Google to add the site as a news source on:

http://www.google.com/support/news/bin/request.py

All the best,

SIG

PS: We would also like to ask everyone to support Independence first's march on 30th September 2006.

More details are available here:

http://www.independence1st.com/IFLeafletPage1.html

Independence First need help with leafletting before the march, please contact their national secretary Carol Roscoe secretary@independence1st.com if you can help in this regard. 

Dear SIG,

I have been contacted by a colleague who has had a brief dialogue with one of your supporters on a Cornish Internet forum. He suggested I made contact with your website in order that we may engage in dialogue to our mutual advantage.

Firstly, a little bit about my background:

I am a stannator of the Cornish Stannary Parliament, an organisation that recently has successfully lodged a case in the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. It is envisaged that the case will come to hearing sometime in the next five years, as it is a particularly complex case.

The issues relate to the lack of a statutory guarantee of equality before the law, in the UK. Central to our argument is the feudal position of the heir to the throne, the Duke of Cornwall, who enjoys a plethora of special privileges and exemptions from the law (in Kernow) which indirectly and directly discriminate against us the indigenous Cornish.

This highly complex case, in our view, has serious implications for the whole of the UK, as it involves a major constitutional issue. There is no doubt at all, in our minds authorities are in a state of moribund paralysis over the status of the Cornish as a national minority on account of this issue. In our case, the state is using a flexible “unwritten” Constitution to deny us our convention rights in breach of Article 17. This it has done to protect a constitutional body that is now masquerading as a “private property development company”, according to the government department (i.e. the Treasury) that administers its financial affairs.

You might be aware of a court case in January 2001 in which the three accused were charged with conspiracy to cause criminal damage to signs belonging to the detested organisation known as “English Heritage” in Cornwall. I was one of the accused. In this example, although not a single newspaper reported it, the central pillar of the defence was law relating to the Duchy of Cornwall. After nine months and 11 court appearances, the state prosecutors obtained a PII (Public Immunity Certificate) which meant that we were unable to use current statute law in our defence. The case was later dropped and “Not Guilty” verdicts were returned by the English judge. This only happened after the authorities discovered that we were intending to ignore their Certificates and were prepared to go to jail as a consequence. The Brit state bends over backwards to avoid any attempt to get the Duchy in court and, despite frequently trying to do so here in Cornwall, there remains no official court records of any such attempts.

I won’t trouble you with any further details but look forward to your contact in the very near future.

Kind regards and Saor Alba!

Dr Nigel Hicks

http://www.cornish-stannary-parliament.abelgratis.com/

Thanks for getting in touch, we've set up a page on the site devoted to Cornwall here and I have added your link to it, if you would like to see any changes, please let us know.

I think there is a very good case for giving the British state a war on many fronts by turning up the pressure from all the independence movements through joint action and the sharing of information. It is exciting to here from nationalists in Cornwall, we believe you have an excellent case and like Wales your political rights are being unconstitutionally denied.

PS: Thanks also for your other email, we look forward to working together in the future and swapping ideas. SIG

> Of course since his new party is taking away the main British
> orientated elements of the SSP it's possible the remaining party will
> be stronger

Dear SIG,

I must confess that I am an Ecology/Green voter, yet I have always admired Tommy Sheridan.

With the possible exception of Rosie Kane none of the other SSP MSPs have made
their mark on Scottish politics and by her venomous rants against Sheridan Ms Kane has
lost the considerable respect which I previously had for her.

In the first parliament Tommy Sheridan alone achieved a miracle - getting warrant sales
banned. Since 2003, the rest of the mob only managed to prevent families of hepatitis
sufferers obtaining  compensation due to their childish antics - something which Tommy
Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne didn't get involved in. Unless you want to count Colin Fox
prancing about in a Robin Hood outfit - and that from the party who mocked the Speaker
for wearing tights!

I hear the rhetoric, but I prefer to judge people by their actions. Tommy Sheridan has done
more than anybody in the recent history of the left to attempt to better the situation of
people below the poverty line.

Was Tommy Sheridan guilty? Who cares? It is his private life and the News of the World
deserved a bloody nose for prying into things that don't concern them.

Did I vote for the SSP? No.

Will I vote for Solidarity? No.

Yet, I wish Tommy Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne well with their new party. It takes real
guts to walk away from an organisation that you have created and start afresh from zeo.

Tommy Sheridan has been a real asset to the Scottish Parliament from the day he joined it.
Which is a lot more than can be said for the remaining SSP members.

Christina de Kéroualle d'Aubigny de Lassée.

Cheers Chris,

Like you we like Sheridan and wish him every success, but the influence of the Brit left platforms (CWI and SWP) on his new party is worrying. SIG

Dear SIG,

Your project is nonsense and will fail. Slavoj Zizek (the greatest Leftist thinker writing today) has pointed out that whereas racism was once a species of nationalism, today nationalism is a species of racism. It's time - in the name of international socialism - to make nationalism history.

Do yourself a favour. Take a look at those people in multicultural England who call for "English nationalism". Such sentiments belong only to the racist Far Right. As Scotland becomes more multicultural, Scottish nationalism will experience the same shift undergone by English nationalism.

Get out of this mess before you too become another brick in the postmodern Far Right.

Mark Richardson

Mark, your logic is flawed. Nationalism is only racist when it is based on imperialism ie a belief in the superiority of your country over others. The Scottish independence movement is about equality for Scotland with other nations. It is civic based and inclusive of all cultures races and creeds.

Scotland like every other country has a right to self determination under international law. Britain had a large racist empire and a lot of current British racism comes from deluded memories of Britain's past imperial power.

If Scotland became independent then England would perhaps have to accept that the Empire is over. At the moment Blair attempts to maintain some semblance of imperial power by attaching his Government to the US. This position is not helpful to Scotland's interests internationally. 

Dear SIG,

I really like your site. Lots of information and contacts. If I have one criticism it is the use of Mel Gibson's pic. I know it is instantly recognisable for many folk but I don't really think it is appropriate here.

Other than that I'm impressed. I will link to it on my own blog.

All the best

Denise Morton

Thanks Denise, We've included Mel's pic (as William Wallace) on the site because this is the most modern depiction of Wallace, one of Scotland's greatest historical figures. Braveheart brought the story of Wallace and Scottish independence to a worldwide audience. It had a few historical flaws but the feeling of the film was just right.

Thanks for the link. SIG.

Dear SIG,

If you are interested in finding out more about the movement in Scotland towards gaining Independence this is a very good site. Apart from the information and history it also gives you several links to blogs and other sites so that you can get a broad view of why people in Scotland want their independence. I found it easy to use and very informative and found the links very interesting.

Sally Welham

Cheers Sally.

Salude!

I just wanted to give you the address of the independence site of iRS - indipendèntzia Repùbrica de Sardigna - the official web site of the biggest Sardinian independence movement. Have a look: www.indipendentzia.net

We will link your site in our website.

Thanks now

Miriam Serra

Thanks Miriam. We have added a page about Sardinia here. We wish your independence movement all the best and hope it is successful soon. Former MSP Lloyd Quinan recently visited Sardinia for a conference and met up with some representatives of your organisation. He was very impressed. Let's hope we can work closely together in the future. SIG

Dear SIG,

Good site. Two comments:

Under 'Why?', you could add 'to stop the whinging'. I am an immigrant, and I can't help noticing the incredible amount of self-flagellation by the (unionist) political class, and the constant obsession with England and the English by about everyone else. I mean does it matter if the Scottish health system/education system/transport system/ culture/sport/environment/economy is better or worse than the English? Isn't it more important to check whether it serves Scotland well?

Under maps, what about changing the map right at the end to one that shows the historic counties?

Best wishes,

Christian

Hi Christian,

Thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated. The constant references to England for comparison purposes are indeed absurd, if a road is used by 1,000 people a year in the Highlands and it is used by 1000,000 people down the south of England does that mean the people using the road in Scotland are 1,000 times better off? No, of course not, it's just a road, yet by using a per person analysis of spending the UK Government constantly manipulates the statistics.

You're right we need to focus on what is best for Scotland, yet the British Government is obviously a lot more concerned about where most of the votes are, and they're not here.

We'll look into the maps. SIG

Dear SIG,

I received an invitation from Capital One to choose from eight pictures which one I'd like on my new credit card. number 7 was a St George's Cross,.No Saltires! Freephone numbers 0800 952 4925.

I'm scunnered, and gave them the runaround fetching someone to explain why a Scot living in Scotland would want a bloody English flag. Contacted everyone I know to do the same, and hope others here will do the same. GRRRRR!

Helen Tennant

Hi Helen, yes these kind of 'oversights' can be very annoying. On most websites if you are entering your details you can't even choose Scotland as your country of origin but have to choose United Kingdom instead. The reasons for Capital One's decision will be economic, because England is bigger than Scotland or Wales, but with independence we will be able to boost our profile considerably and then companies might treat Scotland with a bit more respect.