Thanks to the majority SNP-Green government's #2023ReferendumGuarantee, it is the unshakeable destiny of this country to hold a second independence referendum within the next nineteen months at the absolute most. And it's great to see yet more evidence that some of the really concrete practical steps needed to honour that solemn vow are being taken. Just a few days ago, Nicola Sturgeon used her official visit to the US to tell a journalist that the referendum would definitely take place in 2023, and tonight brings exciting news that she's written an essay to launch what is billed as "the new independence campaign". This will almost certainly be the last time that a new independence campaign is announced, because there simply won't be time for more than one campaign in the maximum of a year and a half that remains before referendum day.
We've yet to see the contents of the essay, but we can be sure that they'll be perfectly pitched to prepare Scots for their visit to the polling station next year. This calls for another update of the Scot Goes Pop #Referendum2023 Countdown Clock...
There are just 229 days until the earliest possible date for #Referendum2023 (5th January)
There are just 579 days until the last possible date for #Referendum2023 (21st December)
(Note: the Countdown Clock calculations assume that tradition will be maintained by holding #Referendum2023 on a Thursday, and that it will be before Christmas.)
Of course there have been many previous occasions when new independence campaigns have been heralded that were supposed to lead to a referendum, and nothing really happened. So perhaps there'll be a touch of cynicism in certain quarters about this latest development. But this time is obviously totally different due to the clock ticking down on that ultra-specific 2023 guarantee. And because of that, we can confidently join Donna Summer in shouting it out with a megaphone: "This time we know it's for real..."
Believe it when I see it.
ReplyDeleteFireing the starting gun no less.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thenational.scot/news/20156684.sunday-national-nicola-sturgeon-fires-indyref2-starting-gun-exclusive-essay/
Which would be great except she was ment to be firing the starting gun in 2017
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/13/nicola-sturgeon-fires-starting-gun-on-second-scottish-independence-referendum
and 2019
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/columnists/798968/jenny-hjul-nicola-sturgeon-is-firing-the-starting-gun-for-indyref2-whether-or-not-we-want-one/
and 2016
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sturgeon-fires-starting-pistol-for-second-poll-0frfrwtsf
But of course this time she really means it!
Somebody needs to buy her a new starting gun. One that actually works.
DeleteGenuine question - what is it about this time ?
ReplyDelete"It's time to start a debate." The Mrs Merton approach to securing national freedom.
DeleteVery witty and apt James but the numpties will say you are a mysogynist. Any serious independence leader would have taken action immediately after the Holyrood election to establish a date in law for a referendum. That truly would have been the starting gun being fired.
Deleteyoutu.be/ru2lxxCZ-PU
ReplyDeleteSturgeon is either a coward who is scared of failing, losing her position of power and someone else prising the SNP accounts away from her husband or is working for the British state.
ReplyDeleteThe first priority of this cosy wee constitutional debate could do well with being about the Separation of Powers in the new Scotland between Legislature, and especially, Judiciary and Executive. I'm certain the FM will want to head that one up herself !?!
ReplyDeleteHas Kirsten Oswald already added Monkey Pox on to the list of possible excuses for no Indyref2 next year? 🐒
ReplyDeleteMike Russell is at this moment loading up his horsebox with copies of
ReplyDelete" The Essay" to distribute around Scotland. Is this the " Secret Plan" now being implemented? Were the numpties who claimed for years that Nicola has a secret plan correct all along? Or is this just a diversion and the real secret plan is still safely held in Sturgeon's handbag along with the knife she stabbed Salmond in the back with?