Duncan HothersallNov 7, 2022
I've said since 2012 that if I could be persuaded that independence was in the best interests of the most people I'd back it. I suspect I'm not alone. It's remarkable how little effort is put into persuading us of that. It's almost as if deadlock is the desired outcome. #indyref2
Show threadSimon BrookeNov 7, 2022

@dhothersall the point about independence is that it's in the best interests not only of most people in Scotland, but more importantly of the people of the rest of the UK and of the world.

For the world, it breaks up the UK with its long tradition of foreign adventurism, and also probably means nuclear disarmament for the UK.

Show threadSimon BrookeNov 7, 2022

@dhothersall for Britain, it means a trigger for urgently needed constitutional reform - and I honestly don't see any party in the UK being willing and able to carry out major reform without a very powerful shock, such as independence would cause.

#scotpol

Show threadDuncan Hothersall
@simon_brooke Wasn't Brexit major (disastrous) reform?
Nov 7, 2022 at 11:17amWeb
Show threadJohn ChivallNov 7, 2022

@dhothersall @simon_brooke Brexit didn't change the electoral system or constitution beyond removing EUParl elections/representation. And in terms of voter attitudes it simply entrenched existing polarisations in England. It was less a major system shock than an evolution.

Of course the practical fall out has been pretty disastrous, as predicted, and I know several 2014 No voters who have moved to Yes because of Brexit consequences.

Show threadJohn ChivallNov 7, 2022
@dhothersall @simon_brooke So by analogy we might expect post a Yes vote for many moderate unionist Tories to move to Lib Dems or Labour in disgust at the way that the incumbents had allowed the UK to be broken up
Show threadJohn ChivallNov 7, 2022
@dhothersall @simon_brooke But I don't think that arguments for Scottish independence that are focused on the effect on rUK electoral politics or constitution are that relevant - the Yes campaigns are rightly based on the benefits for the people of Scotland, as it's only the people of Scotland that will make the decision
Show threadSimon BrookeNov 7, 2022

@dhothersall no, it really changed very little. There's no constitutional reform, no local government reform, no electoral system reform. It is, in fact, very like the SNP's feeble vision for Scotland – "yes, we'll win independence, but NOTHING ELSE AT ALL WILL CHANGE" – in which case, why bother?

#scotpol
#IndependenceThatChangesNothingIsWorthNothing