The Scottish Referendum campaign finally came to an end last Thursday with a vote of 55% ?
45% in favour of remaining part of the UK. ---- Half the country is in mourning while the
other half are sighing with relief. ---- So where do we go from here? Is that the end of
the road or are people still willing to fight for change? ---- Although we are opposed to
nationalism of any kind we can appreciate the enormous effort that went into the campaign
for Scottish Independence; the thousands of people who gave up countless hours of their
time manning stalls, knocking on doors and above all engaging in discussion about the
Scotland they would like to see. ---- But more than this we respect some of the reasons
that drove these people in their campaigning; protecting the NHS, reversing brutal welfare
reforms, alleviating poverty for those on minimum wage and addressing the chronic shortage
of social housing to name a few.
Whether or not independence for Scotland could have delivered these gains the fact is now
that route is closed. We must look to what else can be done.
Over the past few years a resurgent ruling class has speeded up the process of dismantling
the hard fought gains that working people have won. Wages have fallen significantly,
public services have suffered widespread privatisation, welfare reforms have driven
families to food banks and forced unemployed people to work for free.
We have struggled against all these attacks on working class people and at times it feels
like a losing battle. In Edinburgh a campaign against the privatisation of 70% of homecare
services by the then SNP / Lib Dem Council found little public support. Despite the fact
that elderly people were not being having their basic needs (such as food and medication)
met the campaign could not drum up significant support.
A small but hard working group of campaigners across Scotland has consistently fought
against benefit cuts and forced labour programmes with some success. However, each time we
meet or protest we see the same small group of dedicated familiar faces.
And yet thousands of ordinary people, some already involved in political campaigning, but
many that weren?t, have dedicated themselves to the struggle for Scottish independence
many of them citing privatisation, austerity and welfare reform as reasons for their campaign.
As for us we will continue in our fight to defend against attacks on working class people.
Had there been a Yes vote we would have continued this fight in an independent Scotland.
We did not believe the SNP?s argument that it would have suddenly become a progressive
force had Scotland become independent. We have seen their willingness to cut, to privatise
and to withhold support for vulnerable people for purposes of political gain.
We address this to all those people that campaigned for independence with the genuine aim
of creating a better, more equal society.
If even some of those people are prepared to summon just a little of the effort they have
shown they are capable of and throw their weight behind the fight against the brutal form
of right-wing capitalism that is attacking us all whether we live in Spain, Greece,
England or Scotland, then maybe we could begin to force our way out of the misery and
exploitation being imposed upon us.
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» (en) Britain, EDINBURGH ANARCHIST FEDERATION - Appeal to Yes Voters for Direct Action by Robert Lanark