Episode 20 - Robin McAlpine

Independence for Scotland. We are certainly talking about it, but is anybody doing any proper planning about how Scotland gets there?

Robin McAlpine, head of the independence leaning think-tank Common Weal, is challenging the constituent parts of the Yes campaign to think carefully about how it lifts support for independence into the majority, He doesn’t believe that UK Brexit vote is enough to convince enough Scots to back a breakaway, even though a clear majority backed remaining in the European Union.

He has produced a book, Determination, setting out his argument for a thoroughly thought-out and meaningful campaign for Scottish independence. Here he discussed his ideas with podcast host Derek Bateman. What follows is a fascinating discussion.

“We cannot keep saying to people the same things as last time, and expect a different result,” argues Robin. “The people who will win the next referendum will look pretty much like the people who voted Yes last time around.”

Robin argues that defeat in 2014 has not been followed by a proper political “autopsy”, because of the massive growth of the SNP and the fact that Scotland hurtled quickly into the 2015 UK and 2016 election campaigns. Listen to his case by clicking the audio file above, or downloading to your usual service.

“Determination: How Scotland can become independent by 2021”; Robin McAlpine; Available from Common Weal; £5.00

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