Some follow up thoughts on a great piece by Andrew Tickell: How Scots have learned to love independence in 2020 https://www.thenational.scot/news/18970919.scots-learned-2020-independence-feels-good/?ref=twtrec

Andrew says; “Now, the idea of independence in the lead and the Union in retreat is a banal fact of Scottish life.” As others have pointed out this has parallels with where we were with #devolution post the 1992 General election.

But then, Scotland had to wait for Westminster to catch up with us before we got devolution. 5 years passed before a party that supported devolution came to power at Westminster and held a referendum

That won’t happen this time because Labour are as hostile to #indyref2 as the Tories. I want a legitimate internationally recognised #independence vote because without that #indy won’t be delivered but it is risky to peril all on Westminster’s say so

We’re also in a very different situation from 2012 because Cameron would never have signed the Edinburgh Agreement with @AlexSalmond if he thought Yes had a hope of winning & the fact that nevertheless Yes did so well alarmed the unionist establishment

The big difference now from ‘92 is that we have our own parliament albeit with limited powers. All these factors influence me & others to think a fallback position would be prudent. So I’m glad @theSNP National Assembly will discuss this in January

I would be over the moon if Westminster made it easy for us to hold a second #indyref the outcome of which would be internationally recognised but I fear they won’t that’s why I’ve argued for a fallback position in the event of no section 30 agreement

The last time this PM tried to defy democracy with the unlawful #prorogation we defeated him. Parliamentary democracy was protected by the actions of Scottish politicians through Scotland’s courts. With the right circumstances this could happen again

So yes let’s look forward with optimism but let’s learn from the past whilst acknowledging that things are rather different now. And, as always, let’s acknowledge that debate, discussion & forward planning are good things