Our Scotland - www.our-scotland.org

Dave Coull · Independentista Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 806

Holebender wrote "Just to clear up a possible misunderstanding, I believe 30 is the real target to aim for, not that anyone should make a public proclamation which could become a hostage to fortune".

This is a public forum. You have just made a public proclamation. Of course you can say, oh, but that doesn't count, I'm nobody. But a unionist wanting to use this could say, actually, from other things that I have read here on this Our Scotland forum, it appears "Holebender" is the former Convenor of Independence First, the campaign for a referendum on independence for Scotland; and also, from other things he has said here on this Our Scotland forum, it looks like he is a member of the SNP. Maybe he's not quite such a nobody after all. Maybe he speaks for quite a lot of other SNP members when he says that 30 MPs is the real target.

"I don't think the SNP should be going around saying they intend to have 30+ MPs after the next election, but I do believe 30+ is the real prize".

YOU are going around saying it.

I think this is a mistake, both on tactical grounds and on grounds of principle.

Tactically, you yourself acknowledge it's a mistake to "go around saying this" - even as you go around saying it! Furthermore, it is a mistake to tie independence too closely to the fortunes of a particular political party, and to particular politicians. As Harold Wilson observed, a week is a long time in politics. The fortunes of political parties, and of the politicians who are their leaders, can fluctuate for all sorts of reasons not connected with the question of independence.

On grounds of principle, the real test of support for independence is a referendum. In a referendum, voting "yes" to independence doesn't mean you think the North East of Scotland should be turned into a huge golf park, it doesn't mean you think a local income tax is the best invention since sliced bread, and it doesn't mean you fancy Nicola but not Wendy. It just means you're in favour of independence, that's all. Getting a referendum, and winning that referendum, remains "the real prize".