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SSRG Guest Article – Empowering the Nation

Empowering the Nation is a conference hosted by the SSRG at the Carnegie Conference Centre Dunfermline from 29-31 July. It is a deliberately ambitious event and the first major conference to be held following the announcement of a date for the next independence referendum; the first chance for independence supporters to publicly address many of the key issues and constitutional questions currently facing Scotland.

Our aim in hosting this non-partisan conference is to encourage and enable the sharing of knowledge within and beyond the independence movement and to advance the debate on Scotland’s future from all aspects – academic, technical, populist and political; under the current devolved settlement and as a self-reliant sovereign nation.

All of Scotland’s political parties have been invited to attend and are expected to be represented. Scotland’s Trade Unions have also been invited to attend as well as the wider Yes movement whose members are expected to be the majority of conference participants. There will also be a press and TV broadcast presence.

We have a great line-up of well-known speakers from Scotland and beyond and a wide range of key topics for our 400+ attendees to debate and discuss. Participants will be able to have their say and contribute to establishing guiding principles and strategies for Scotland during working sessions linked to the key areas of debate. The outputs from focused team sessions over the three days can be expected to include a number of “calls to action” from the conference to inspire & motivate local activists, politicians of all parties and government organisations.

A list of conference speakers and main topics are set out on the SSRG website conference page. (https://bit.ly/3yuXCrh)  The final content of most agenda items have now been confirmed with our speakers. There will also be a number of breakout events and even some entertainment which will be announced on our website shortly. The following items have been picked out to give a flavour of what to expect when you attend the conference –

The Potential Routes to Independence – The starting pistol may have been fired and a date announced for the referendum but it is still not clear to everyone which course will lead to our ultimate objective of transforming Scotland into a independent sovereign nation. One of the first debates at the conference will therefore aim to explore and increase our understanding of the implications and realities of all Potential Routes to Independence. SSRG have identified 6 routes but more may be revealed during debate. With our line up of speakers we are looking forward to open & honest debate, respectful disagreement on tactics and timing, but a meeting of minds and a shared understanding of what preparations and actions could be taken by individuals and groups across Scotland, now and in the coming months, to increase momentum and ensure success. 

“Scottish Questions” a TV Debate – On the Friday evening at 6pm there will be a 1 hour recorded live “Scottish Questions” debate with a balanced expert panel and chair in front of an open (unselected) audience. The debate will be broadcast later that evening on the Sky TV platform. All political parties in Scotland have been invited to take part. The conference agenda has a wide range of topics but of necessity is constrained to fit a 3 day timetable. The TV debate will permit the audience to pose questions and generate debate on topical or urgent items not covered by the main agenda.

Scotland’s Economy, Taxation and Currency will be an important feature of the conference. SSRG are pleased to announce that the Scottish Currency Group, which advocates the introduction of a Scottish currency as soon as possible after independence, will establish a “Scottish Central Bank” and set up a “Bureau de Change” booth during the conference to illustrate the introduction of a new currency. The conference will become a “sterling free zone” for 3 days so that all attendees can use the newly designed Scottish currency for any purchases they make at the venue. 

International Relations & Recognition – Over recent months the discussion on how Scotland can achieve independence has shifted and there is now a noticeable focus on the Claim of Right, the Treaty of Union, and the Sovereignty of the People of Scotland. The conference debate onInternational Relations & Recognition will enable discussion and a better understanding of the value & purpose of these elements of our constitution and how they are integral to the evidence which could be used to convince others, particularly in the international community of our status, politically and legally as an independent sovereign state.  

Conference Working Groups & Conclusions – Over the course of the 3 days a series of Working Groups will be set up to consider and discuss key questions arising from the main Conference Debates. Our aim is to maximise the spread of views to motivate further action across the independence movement. 

To ensure conference output is structured and can be targeted, as appropriate, to inform and influence the actions of government, political parties, activists and specialist groups we will encourage the working groups to consider and agree what actions or further research they think must be taken, and by whom, to significantly improve the economic, social and constitutional position of the people of Scotland. Their calls for action or further research on the topics they discuss could be for improvements achievable under the current devolution settlement and / or those which appear possible only after Scotland is a fully independent state.  For some of the conference topics this may be a very ambitious task given the limited time available. That’s why SSRG believe that Empowering the Nation is not an end in itself conference but one of many steps along our path to self determination.  

Please join us on the 29^thJuly in Dunfermline to re-energise the independence campaign and help start the process of building a new Scottish state. – an independent country with an encoded constitution, a new form of participative democracy and where there is fairness and equality of opportunity for all. 

Purchase your conference ticket or register your interest at https://scottishsovereigntyresearchgroup.org/ 

(https://bit.ly/3yuXCrh) 

John Brown 

Scottish Sovereignty Research Group

MY COMMENTS

This will be worth attending. The SSRG have been doing valuable work and this Conference gives the opportunity to spread what they now know and be able to discuss with all interested groups and organisations on how best to move forward with these issues.

It is intentionally broad based and incorporates all parties and none, the Trade Union Movement, Civic Scotland and many other organisations directly engaged in Scotland’s future and they hope to develop the broadest range of proposals for the future on the basis of the widest involvement possible.

I am, as always

YOURS FOR SCOTLAND.