Manifesto for an independent Scotland

All of us in favour of an independent Scotland have differing views of what we would like the future of Scotland to look like.

I have to admit that as I get older and maybe wiser I seem to move more to the left, or is it that the world has moved to the right?

So here is my personal manifesto for what I would like to see in an Independent Scotland.  I must stress this is my personal view and not that of any political party.

1.       A Written constitution

2.       Education

A.      Access to Education guarantee, free from nursery to university for all citizens.

B.      Encourage Educators to move away from “academic skills are the only skills that matter” mind set to encouraging children to develop skills that suit their aptitude and their future wishes for life, be that in Academic,  Trade Apprentice,  Professional training or the Arts and creative, Education must train for the country’s needs but also the wishes and desires of the Pupils for the future

3.       Housing.

A.      A free market in the private housing sector,

B.      Social housing at an affordable price for those that need it.

4.       Environment and Green Policy’s

A.      Encourage recycling and reuse schemes

B.      More green energy with government support for research into wave power

C.      Local councils to add solar power to social housing stock, this will reduce energy bills of poorest households and increase amount of green generation.

D.      Government to fund improvements to insulation standards of general housing stock via improved loft and wall insulation and upgrade of windows to triple glazing, banning installation of single or double glazing.

5.       Nationalisation

A.      Water, Energy, and public transport to be nationalised as they are essential public services which should be protected for the common good.

6.       Defence and armed forces

A.      Armed forces should be for defence only and not used for any other purpose apart from humanitarian rescue and relief operations,  unless under the command of United Nations.

B.      No Nuclear weapons on Scottish soil

7.       Foreign Relations

A.      Ethical foreign policy

B.      Membership of UN

C.      Membership of EU

D.      Membership of NATO

E.       Membership of commonwealth

F.       Membership of any alliance that it is in Scottish interests

8.       Health Service

A.      No privatisation of NHS and no sub-contracting of services with the NHS unless unable to be provided at reasonable cost in house

9.       Justice

A.      Return of double jeopardy protection and corroboration in criminal trials in general

B.      A review lead by legal experts to decide if a lesser burden of proof is needed to ensure justice for victims of crimes where corroboration is not possible due to the nature of the crime.

10.   Employment

A.      A Decent minimum wage, this should be tied to match the best in EU so that all workers in Scotland get a decent level of income

B.      Repeal of the worst anti trade union laws and a constructional Guarantee of the right to belong to a trade union and the right to strike

C.      Outlaw zero hours contracts

D.      Decent employment protections laws

E.       Genuine training schemes for all, no matter age or skill level, meaning that those leaving school can get apprenticeship’s or other skills training and those who wish to change existing career or trade can do so at any time during working life.

11.   Immigration

A.      The system of immigration controls should be examined and a fair and equitable system introduced, with the emphasis on taking a humane view and treating each case on merit not on fixed inflexible rules

12.   Broadcasting

A.       Keep the system of public service and commercial broadcasting as at present with a Scottish Broadcasting Corporation to replace the BBC, and as far as possible and as is in the interests of SBC put in place a partnership with BBC to share resources.

B.      Make provision for more community broadcast companies with less of a financial commitment required to obtain licence to broadcast so that like many parts of the world small local broadcasters can air programs that are non-commercial but not of national importance so would be lost if left to SBC or commercial broadcasters.

13.    Agriculture and Fisheries

A.      Fight for an EU fishing policy that protects and grows the Scottish fishing fleet as it has been for decades run down by EU in favour of southern European fleets.

B.      Ban on seed companies who use anti-competitive and unfair practises to monopolise seed market.

C.      Laws to protect agriculture from imports of diseased plants or animals which could endanger the industry and bio diversity, emphasis should be on the importer to prove imports are safe and all importers have to carry insurance to cover cost of repairing any damage and compensating those affected by any product they import

D.      An end to putting wildlife before all else, biodiversity is desirable in the countryside but the balance is currently skewed towards wildlife over agriculture this must be addressed.

E.       Set up marine national parks in consultation with fishing industry while avoiding damage to marine life is important any such plans much ensure those who make a living from the sea can still do so

14.   Tourism

A.      Continue to encourage tourism with a renewed and invigorated Visit Scotland

B.      Reduce or Abolish air passenger duty

15.   Benefits

A.      Move to a system of benefits that ensure those in need such as Unemployed, Elderly, Sick, & Disabled are taken care of in a humane system and that those receiving benefits are helped as far as possible to move back into work, but not punished where this is not possible.

These are just some of the things that are important to me, there are lots of issues that I am sure are not included here and on which I will most likely have a view. Some of my views will be controversial to some and agreed with by others, I would love to hear what others think as I am one of those who like to hear and debate ideas and I am open to reviewing my ideas in the light of compelling argument.