Journey to Yes 13-18
As more Scots who voted No to independence reconsider their decision, we follow their journey to Yes and self-determination for Scotland.
Journey to Yes #13 - Pensioner and former paratrooper
James is a pensioner and former paratrooper who lives in Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire. James voted No to independence and leave in the EU referendum but has completely changed his views on both. James discusses his disillusion with the UK Govt and their inept handling of constitutional issues, a famous relation and deeply unimpressive Scottish Tories and Labour.
Journey to Yes #14 - Farming
Hilary and Carey are organic farmers in South Lanark who voted No in 2014 and are now passionate Yes and SNP supporters. They are amongst 67,000 people directly employed in Scottish agriculture. The sector manages 80% of Scotland’s land mass and a further 360,000 jobs (1 in 10 of all Scottish jobs) are dependent on agriculture. Scotland’s farming community are in the frontline of damage done by the Brexit result and Hilary and Carey now face the possibility of losing their livelihood.
Hilary and Carey believed the Better Together campaign’s promises about staying in EU and now see belief in ourselves and the country we want to be as the way forward. Increasingly angered by Labour and the Conservative Government’s mishandling of the Brexit vote and aftermath they see a bleak future for farming under Tories who do not understand or care about Scottish farming but will use Brexit as licence to return devolved powers back to Westminster - a plan cynically implemented and rubber-stamped by Ruth Davidson and David Mundell. Hilary and Carey discuss the potentially devastating impact of exiting the EU with no long term plan could have on farming and how Scotland must seize self-determination to prevent a new wave of clearances.
Journey to Yes #15 - Simon Pia
Simon Pia is a Journalist & Consultant, Lecturer and former spin doctor to Scottish Labour including former leader Wendy Alexander, Iain Gray MSP and Gordon Brown. Simon has always believed home-rule or federalism to be solution to Scotland’s democratic deficit.
Torn over the independence question, Simon feels the Yes campaign’s economic argument was not strong or honest enough to sway him and the majority. Brexit now makes any offer of federalism or economic threats from the UK Government redundant. Simon believes more unites Scotland’s progressive parties than divides and a grand coalition may be a possible way forward.
Journey to Yes #16 - Richard Murphy, Economy
Richard says Yes. Richard Murphy is a political economist, author, chartered accountant and one of the world's leading thinkers on tax and how it can change society. He advises the Trades Union Congress on economics and taxation, and a long-standing member of the Tax Justice Network. Richard is Professor of Practice in International Political Economy at City University.
Just 10 years ago it was difficult to take the idea of Scottish independence seriously. Now Richard sees leaving the UK as the only way for Scotland to reach its full economic and human potential. In this special extended episode Richard discusses the economic forces powering the Yes movement, dismantles the case for GERS and looks at the key issues of currency, investment and taxation that must be addressed to win the independence argument. The prize is a better Scotland.
Journey to Yes #17 - Professor A.C. Grayling
Professor A.C. Grayling is Master of the New College of the Humanities, and a Supernumerary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford. Anthony has written and edited over thirty books on philosophy and other subjects. Anthony is a leading campaigner for human rights and Vice President of the British Humanist Association.
Journey to Yes #18 - Chris
17 year old Chris Wilson is rising star in the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and Central Scotland Youth Officer for the party.
Chris's home town of Motherwell was devastated by the Conservative's deindustrialisation policies under Margaret Thatcher and John Major in the eighties and nineties. There has been lasting legacy on the town but this also inspired Chris to get involved in politics.
A promise of a more federal UK influenced Chris' decision to back No in 2014. The failure to deliver meaningful powers for Scotland and the Brexit vote convinced Chris that independence is now the only choice for Scotland. The Scottish Lib Dems now must resolve their support for the union and the EU. Chris believes the party is more divided over independence than appears and that, as the Tories' disastrous negotiations continue, support for Scottish self-determination and more autonomy from the UK party will grow. The Scottish Liberal Democrats can have a bright future in shaping Scotland as a successful independent nation on the global stage.
