Scottish Independence

Scotland is a nation and its people sovereign.

Scotland's Democracy

The Westminster Parliament does not respect the sovereign will of the Scottish people as demonstrated by Scotland being taken out of the EU despite the clear democratic decision of the Scottish people to Remain and by the refusal of the UK Prime Minister to transfer the necessary powers for a mandated independence referendum.

By taking their seats without a plan to use the institution as one plank in an independence strategy, Scotland’s MPs are effectively giving tacit agreement to UK control.

Over the last seven years, despite the majority of MPs from Scotland supporting independence, the MPs have failed to realise any benefit to Scotland or to the cause of independence.

Parliamentary Action

On the 13th of July 2022, ALBA MPs took part in a parliamentary intervention to protest the Johnson Government’s refusal to acknowledge Scotland’s democratic rights. You can read more about the intervention here.

It is ALBA's position that all independence supporting MPs should similarly intervene in the Westminster Parliament on a daily basis until the UK Government accept Scotland’s national Claim of Right to democratic choice.

Popular Action

ALBA MPs already prioritise community campaigning in Scotland over merely occupying the green benches at Westminster.

Parliamentary action should be backed by a campaign of peaceful popular agitation in Scotland.

An Independence Convention

The ALBA have repeatedly called for the Scottish First Minister to follow through on her promise made in February 2020 to call an Independence Convention. This Convention should be made up of a majority of Scotland's MPs and MSPs and, in alliance with civic Scotland, progress Scotland’s right to self-determination and Independence.

Despite the SNP being elected on a mandate in 2016 to hold an independence referendum if Scotland is being taken out of the European Union against the wishes of the Scottish people, no referendum or preparations for a referendum were forthcoming. Scotland has now been taken out of the EU.

It is ALBA's position that Scotland shall join EFTA immediately after the Scottish Parliament acquires the competence to sign international treaties and the powers to abide by them. This will allow Scotland to gain access to the European Economic Area and effective free trade with the EU, thus mitigating the negative effects of Brexit.

• Scotland lost single market membership which includes the four freedoms; to live or work in any EU country; to sell goods anywhere in the EU; to provide services anywhere in the EU; and the free movement of capital.
• EFTA membership could be negotiated in weeks rather than years and could be negotiated in parallel with independence negotiations with the UK, and would be welcomed by existing EFTA member countries, provided independence is achieved democratically and peacefully. On becoming an EFTA member, Scotland could rejoin the EEA within a few months.
• EFTA membership would enable Scotland to negotiate to become a full EU member in due course if the people of Scotland so choose while enjoying the benefits of free trade in the meantime, thus being in a much stronger negotiating position with the EU for potential membership.

When sovereignty is secured with an independent Scottish state, a most important post independent action will be the engagement of the people in framing the fundamental law, the supreme law, in a written constitution, by which Scotland will govern itself.

ALBA acknowledges the work already done by a variety of groups on a proposed constitution for an Independent Scotland protecting the rights of all our people. ALBA considers that a series of citizens’ assemblies followed by a referendum will be the appropriate mechanism for consultation, participation and approval.

ALBA recognises that when the people are free and independent, they must fashion the instruments with which we are to govern ourselves - the division of powers, the extent of those powers between the parliament and the executive, the franchise, the electoral system, freedom of speech, a free media, independence of the judiciary, how judges are appointed, the relationship between government, police and people, and the principles and values that self-describe us as the nation we want the international community to see and for Scottish citizens to experience.

• The written constitution starts from the principle that the people are sovereign, in keeping with the Scottish constitutional tradition and as such ALBA will propose to the consultation that, once the term of the much respected present monarch is over, Scotland should move to an elected head of state with similar powers to the Uachtarán na hÉireann..

Read the Wee ALBA Book, the new case for Independence⤵️

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