New Scotland Party
The aim of New Scotland Party is to end the Union, restore Scotland’s status as an independent nation, and establish a modern democratic republic.
New Scotland Party was born out of the disappointment, frustration, and anger which has arisen across the independence movement in the ten years since the 2014 referendum. Feelings engendered by the Scottish Government’s failure to progress Scotland’s cause. But it is no knee-jerk reaction. It is, rather, the product of a growing realisation that Scotland’s political elite has been captured by the British political system. Our most senior and prominent politicians are immersed in and suffused with the British way of doing politics. I lately concluded that they are beyond redemption.
I am firmly persuaded that if we want better politics we have to start by creating better political parties. Scotland has a distinctive political culture. But this distinctive political culture is neither reflected in nor represented by the existing political parties. By starting afresh, and with the right attitude, my hope is that we can create a model demonstrating the kind of politics we might have with independence restored.
Building a new political party wholly owned, managed, and controlled by its members is a big job. I believe it is worth the effort. If you would like to help, there are a number of ways you can get involved. If you have a particular skill or expertise which you think might be relevant and would consider joining our NSP Working Group, please reach out to me using the contact form.
You can help by signing and sharing the Manifesto for Independence petition. Or simply by talking to people about New Scotland Party and encouraging them to visit this website. And, of course, we would be very grateful for cash donations to help cover our costs. You’ll find a button at the foot of this page.
Peter A Bell – Founder, New Scotland Party
New party
New Scotland Party aims to be genuinely different from existing political parties. Our constitution will ensure that ownership and control reside with members in perpetuity. Member representation at every level in the organisation is hard-baked into the party’s constitution. Members are expected to participate in every aspect of the party’s operation. To facilitate this, as much as possible of the party’s activities will be conducted online.
All executive and administrative roles within New Scotland Party are directly elected on a one-member-one-vote (OMOV) basis using an online voting system. The standard term of office is three years, with one-third of roles subject to election each year.
The default assumption is that all decisions are subject to a party-wide vote. Minor matters may be exempted to make administration more efficient. Any member may petition for a party-wide vote on any matter on condition the proposal is seconded by three other members, including one elected party officer. The petition is then put to the membership and will be granted if it is co-signed by no fewer than thirty members, at least three of whom must be elected party officers.
New thinking
New Scotland Party acknowledges the work done to secure the 2014 referendum and appreciates the effort expended on the campaign for a Yes vote. We must, however, recognise that much has changed since then, not least the wealth of our knowledge of Scotland’s historic constitution and our understanding of the true nature of the Union. We are firmly persuaded that this knowledge and understanding must be used to reframe the constitutional issue as a fight against the Union.
Whether Scotland is a colony of England-as-Britain or merely regarded and treated as such by the British state seems an exceedingly fine distinction. Scotland’s constitutional issue must be understood as a struggle for liberation from colonialism.
It follows that the British state must be regarded as our colonialist opponents in a struggle for liberation. From Scotland’s perspective, the British state is neither a friendly nor a benign power.
We are persuaded that when the people of Scotland are made aware of their subordinate status within a grotesquely asymmetric political union, they will reject this arrangement in favour of restoration of full independence.
New Scotland
In New Scotland Party we do not talk about ‘visions’ of what Scotland might become once our independence has been restored. We maintain that the liberation struggle is nothing if not a fight to secure for future generations the right and the power to choose the path taken by their nation.
What happens after independence is restored is entirely a matter for the sovereign people of Scotland. We cannot impose our ‘vision’ on them, and should not try.
This is not to say that members and supporters of NSP lack ideas or ambition for Scotland. We simply accept that the restoration of independence will mark the beginning of a new Scotland.
Our task is to help Scotland become a nation again in order that our children and their children may enjoy the advantages of being a nation once more.
You can help set us on a path to this new Scotland by signing and sharing the Manifesto for Independence petition. Or simply by talking to people about New Scotland party and encouraging them to visit this website.
©New Scotland Party Ltd Registered in Scotland SC825102 Flat I 3 South Street Perth PH2 8NJ | Tel: 07521 445234 | Email: contact@newscotlandparty.scot | Web: https://newscotlandparty.scot