The last few days have been just about the most traumatic, exhilarating and emotionally draining I have ever known in my political life. Yet, I still feel invigorated, hopeful and optimistic about the future of my country. I’ve seen my nation accept the verdict of the Scottish people with good grace and without any hint of the rancour predicted by those who don’t really understand the resilience of this wonderful country. I have seen the incredible spirit of those who have campaigned selflessly to the point of exhaustion in this referendum and who have vowed to continue so that the energy and engagement created by the independence referendum continues to have a voice. Many thousands have joined the SNP and other political parties in the last few days; determined to stay in the debate about our future. Many more have vowed to continue to campaign in their own way and have their voice heard. Some, uncertain how to express their views, have just left contributions to be distributed at foodbanks. This is why our country is a most remarkable place and why we will endure, regroup and progress.
I am still unclear on how all of this will now work out. Scotland has spoken and rejected independence by a clear majority, but yet we don’t feel defeated or diminished. What we must, therefore, do is to focus on what we can achieve while we’re all still in this particular place and while we’re all still focussed on national self improvement. I will work with anyone who wants to make my country a better place and that includes all of those in the No campaign who are serious about taking our nation forward. Nothing will disabuse me from the belief that the people who live and work in Scotland are those best placed to make the decisions about Scotland’s future. Scotland rejected independence, but we must ensure that we continue to take our country forward with the fullest range of powers available to the Scottish people.
I am also still uncertain about what is on offer from the UK parties. Their offers seem to range from the most limited tinkering of tax powers to talk of full ‘devo max’. Created in a panic, they are now falling out with each other about how to proceed. The Tory Government is now determined to include issues to do with powers for England and the voting rights of Scottish MPs. Cameron introduced these English proposals immediately after the referendum was concluded to placate his own MPs and get any ‘more powers’ settlement through a hostile House of Commons that has just about had enough of Scottish constitutional debate. Labour, sensitive to their own self preservation issues, have rejected this inclusion- leaving the two main UK protagonists in something approaching a deadlock.
That is why it now up to us to take the lead and define what is required to take Scotland forward. Whilst we should continue to press the UK parties to honour the commitments made for Scotland, we should also start to define what Scotland actually needs to make a difference. Let’s start with the definition of devo max. ’Devo max’ is maximum devolution and it is everything devolved other than defence and foreign affairs. We should now be shaping up as to how this can be delivered and start to advocate for this quickly according to the timetable set down by the No parties. We can do this under a full ‘Home Rule for Scotland’ banner and unite all the Yes groups and those who voted No seeking the fullest range of more powers for Scotland.
We are ready for this new leadership role and with tens of thousands of new recruits, we have the energy and the will to continue to shape our country. If Westminster fails to respond we must have the right to review our status within the UK again. Meanwhile, let’s prepare for the General Election in eight short months time. This is where this new movement can start to flex its muscles and return a large group of Home Rule Devo Maxers. This isn’t finished yet and we still have a pivotal role to make our country a better place, and ensure it can be all it can be.
petewishart 
Home rule may be a starting point Pete, but the people have to be listened to. The people of Scotland are sovereign we have had enough of Tories, Labour and for that matter all politicians telling us what we are allowed. The SNP can be our vehicle (and I am a member) but only if it listens.
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Pete, does devomax, include oil revenue?
Devo-Max / Full Fiscal autonomy should be the short term objective…I doubt there are many No’ers that would reject that. It might be the Indy killer, but likewise it might not…a gradualist approach to full Indy is the only smart, achievable and realistic option at this time.
nice sentiments and very well written
Just imagine that the default position wasn’t that we work towards creating the political and social will to ask the people to decide whether or not to leave the Union, but that every ten years we had a referendum to decide whethet it was worth our while staying in the Union. If we viewed the Union as a contract, which would be continued on a ten year term if performance was deemed satisfactory, our “dividend” might be much more satisfactory. As a Yes supporter this probably still wouldn’t go far enough, but it would at least change the Westminster/Holyrood dynamic.
In the wake of the No Vote winning the referendum we need to look at how best the constitutional change can benefit Scotland and the Rest of the UK this is how I think change can work.
This is how to answer the West Lothian Question (or as some are now calling it the english Question).
Constitutional reform is simple. Yes I said simple.
Step 1 Abolish the House of Lords.
Step 2 Use the house of commons for the English Parliament
Step 3 Use the house of lords building for the UK Parliament
Step 4 Devolve ALL domestic affairs to each of the 4 regional parliaments
Step 5 Retain Defence and foreign affairs in the UK parliament.
The number of UK MPs can be reduced in the UK parliament to reflect the reduction in work-scope, the free loading unelected Lords can be put out to retirement. and English members vote on English affairs in the English Parliament, Scottish Members vote on Scottish affairs in the Scottish Parliament and so on for Wales and Northern Ireland in their respective parliaments.
Sorted.
The rest is just detail.