By George Five years of broken promises
The last week witnessed the anniversary of one of the most important times in our democracy.
You may have missed it with other aspects of our political and legal system being examined through the Supreme Court.
Five years ago we had the opportunity to decide if Scotland should take its own place on the world stage, decide its own future and priorities.
We, as a whole, decided that this was not for us.
Some of us were disappointed at the result – after all, the hopes, aspirations, new ideas that we had to take our country forward were not to be.
After the build-up, the positive messages - by some - it was not to be.
Some people were relieved. We had a vow, a promise from the protagonists at Westminster, that we were not only going to remain in the UK, we were told we could lead it.
Well, that was very magnanimous and welcoming wasn’t it? We were a full and equal partner as described in the Act of Union. We would be respected – something that some of us thought could have been lacking in the past.
Well, once again there is nothing much to be argued with there?
The claims that we would be thrown out of the European Union if we voted for independence were gone.
Our place with our European partners was safeguarded – not for us the prospect of being taken out of a system that has provided economic benefits and the most sustained period of peace in Europe through the mutual understanding and trade between nation states.
Looking back, although the case for independence did not break through, we were going to be respected and our views would take on a bit more substance when examined at Westminster.
Of course the economy would be protected and the value of the money in our pocket would be just as valuable to buy products in this country and beyond.
No bankers would make a profit by betting against the value of the pound by being removed from the European Union, and the extra costs incurred with the introduction of tariffs that would make our goods more expensive.
These costs then passed on to us, taking the most effect on those with the least means to afford extra charges.
Well this all sounds great doesn’t it? The chance that we would be removed from our European friends, isolated, looking out with little influence.
The possibility of looking inwardly for our problems and blaming those that some see as outsiders – yes, it must be their fault. We would ensure that that direction was totally ruled out. Not for us some throwback to the 20th century when some countries proclaimed
‘Our Nation First’, with some leaders undermining democracy and cancelling parliament. That would be abhorrent. That would be a nightmare.
Don’t get downhearted – unlike the past where we would have to tug our forelock and get on with it, we have representation.
We have the Scottish Parliament to represent the people of Scotland. We have a Scottish Government that will represent the 62 per cent of us that voted to remain with our European partners.
We have a Scottish Parliament that will represent our voice in this alleged Union of Equals.
We have a parliament that will continue to fight the injustices of the right wing changes to our benefits systems, the useless Universal Credit system.
We will continue to fight against the injustices which see foodbanks becoming more and more prolific in this great Union of ours.
And we will continue to fight against undemocratic despot actions that challenge democracy, and remove parliamentary scrutiny at a time when one of the greatest challenges face us. Five years is a long time. It feels longer after the promises have continually been broken and what respect there was has been totally removed.
The trust will never return.
The next time we are asked I am convinced the answer will be ‘ Yes’.