Yes camp might be willing but they’re far from ready

i warmly welcome the First Minister’s statement and hope everyone concerned realises there are serious lessons to be learned from it.

the snp are a key part, but not the only part, of the Yes movement. Neither the party nor their leader can be allowed to set the agenda on another independence referendum simply to suit party political interests.

Other views must be heard and the First Minister’s announcement suggests she has been listening.

Nicola sturgeon’s promise that she will “reset” her timetable for a second referendum and instead “redouble” her efforts to secure the best possible Brexit deal for scotland are both to be welcomed.

earlier this year, i wrote; “the issue was never about whether or not to hold a second independence referendum, but when to hold it. Yes cannot afford to lose again and lose we shall if the timing is wrong.”

the rhetoric and hype from the snp leadership since the eu referendum has been irresponsible.

scots deserved a composed, factual exposition of the position, but did not get it.

the dust was not allowed to settle on the Brexit vote before the Yes movement were buckled into a political straitjacket by the snp.

the mistake over indyRef2 was to demand what most people did not want.

Contrary to beliefs of snp strategists, scots didn’t link the eu with independence and wanted to see the first question settled before the second one was asked.

scotland’s leaders have too often whipped up emotion to overcome reason, with defeat the price. Flodden and dunbar are examples where emotion driven to a high pitch saw strategic advantage thrown away, delivering scots into the hands of opponents.

the Yes movement may be willing to fight a referendum now, but they are not ready.

where is the critical analysis of why we lost in 2014 and what we need to put right?

then there is the crucial geopolitical difference between then and now – the UK’s withdrawal from the eu.

scotland’s interests will best be served by building a wide consensus of national support for powers presently held in Brussels to come to edinburgh, powers that can help our economy grow.

if sturgeon signs up to that objective, she may recover what has been lost of her standing in our nation’s eyes.