Articles in The National such as that proclaiming REVEALED: The number of civil servants working on independence referendum planning are like the bell Pavlov used to elicit a predictable response from his laboratory animals. The SNP loyalists will clap and cheer and never for even the briefest moment pause to question any of it. They will descend like demented Harpies on any who express the slightest misgiving or reservation. They are the worst of all possible independence supporters and as much of an impediment to an effective campaign as their bitter rivals in the Alba tribe.
More thoughtful Yes activists will examine this and similar articles and wonder where is the substance. The SNP’s “prospectus” is more party manifesto than any part of the campaign to restore Scotland’s independence. And what planning is needed for a referendum if the whole thing is to be done in the same way as the 2014 referendum – as Sturgeon seems set upon? Why, after more than seven years. have the practicalities not been worked out?
Anyone who is concerned about Scotland has to be worried about the SNP leadership’s lackadaisical attitude to the single most important thing they have been tasked with by the party members and Scotland’s voters. The dearth of anything resembling preparedness at what political aware people recognise as being very late in the day must be disturbing for anyone who is anxious the Scotland be rescued from the British Nationalist onslaught that is already well underway and proceeding at an accelerating pace totally unhindered by the SNP+SGP/Scottish Government.
While the claque of Sturgeon/SNP loyalists applaud every article such as this as if it proclaimed the most significant development in Scotland’s constitutional struggle since the SNP first came to power ALMOST FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, more reflective individuals will note the litter of qualifiers such as “legitimate and constitutional” and want to know exactly what the SNP means by them. What Sturgeon considers “legitimate and constitutional” is almost certainly very different from what others – including myself – think. We know, for example that Sturgeon remains inexplicably wedded to the Section 30 process while those of us who regard the sovereignty of Scotland’s people as non-negotiable consider an abomination anything which compromises that sovereignty.
We know, to the admittedly very limited extent that even party members are informed about such matters, that Sturgeon’s ‘plan’ is to run a Yes campaign identical in all its fundamentals to the Yes campaign for the 2014 referendum. Neither Sturgeon nor any of her inner circle show any indication of having ever asked themselves whether this is the best approach. Nobody else in the party has been permitted to ask such questions. Debating possible alternative approaches is strictly prohibited and anyone who tries is promptly crushed. Questions and concerns and suggestions and ideas and constructive criticism from outwith the party are steadfastly ignored by the leadership and shouted down by the screeching mob of mindless party loyalists.
Nothing is clarified by articles such as this other than how woefully little progress Scotland’s cause has made under Sturgeon’s leadership. Nothing is more important or urgent than the restoration of Scotland’s independence. Those who gave the SNP the power to do this have a right to expect that it will be done. We have a right to know why it hasn’t been done. We have a right to some assurance that it not only will be done but that it will be done in timely fashion and in a way that affords the best possible chance of success WITHOUT compromising the sovereignty of Scotland’s people or vitiating the democratic legitimacy of the Scottish Parliament.
Sturgeon/SNP loyalists are easily bought off by whatever baubles the party leadership tosses there way through the pages of The National. Others decline to sell their support so cheaply. We are NOT CONTENT!
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Peter A Bell 
The very obvious reason why the “SNP’s “prospectus” is more party manifesto than any part of the campaign to restore Scotland’s independence” is that there the local authority elections are now on the horizon and their are votes to be garnered.
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“if the whole thing is to be done in the same way as the 2014 referendum – as Sturgeon seems set upon?”
IndyRef1 failed, didn’t it? The whole world saw that
So why repeat the exercise the same way?
With the risk of failure even higher than the first time round because people know this strategy has already failed
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The 2014 Yes campaign didn’t fail. It just didn’t achieve the success that it might. The great tragedy for Scotland’s cause is that those who have been given responsibility for it refuse to learn any lessons from that earlier campaign.
The main reason – by far – for a fresh approach is not that the first campaign failed but that changed circumstances make such a campaign irrelevant and ineffective.
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Many member of the SNP are keen to see the continuation of the party and the policies beyond independence and so are only likely to pursue that goal on their own terms. In other words the continuation of the party is more important than the original reason it was set up. There will be no other course of action until that is either abandoned or a better solution comes along which guarantees SNP dominance, post independence.
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Indeed; Pournelle’s ‘Iron Law’ in operation:
This states that in any bureaucratic organisation there will be two kinds of people:
1. Those who work to further the actual goals of the organisation, and
2. Those who work for the organisation itself.
The Iron Law states that in all cases, the second type of person will always gain control of the organisation, and will always write the rules under which the organisation functions.
Examples in education would be teachers who work and sacrifice to teach children, vs. union representative who work to protect any teacher, including the most incompetent.
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Which I frequently state as organisations having an inherent tendency to serve themselves rather than the purpose for which they were formed. Management’s primary function is to counter this tendency.
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“Nothing is more important or urgent than the restoration of Scotland’s independence”
You’re in a small minority on that, Peter. Language is important, and there are quite a few things that are more important than the restoration of Scotland’s independence.
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None of which can be properly addressed unless and until Scotland’s independence is restored. Duh!
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I live in the here and now.
I have taken part in campaigns that were important to me, and they worked. Some haven’t, yet. ?
Language is imporatant and ‘duh’ makes you look like a totalitarian nationalistic right-wing odd-ball for whom nothing but changing flags is of more importance. You are obsessed – there is no doubt about that, good on you for your fervour. But when you say that “nothing is more important or urgent than the restoration of Scotland’s independence”, you really in a small minority on that, Peter, and you have to recognise that. Take the time to consider the things that are more important.
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That is hilarious! Reading all of that into the expression “Duh!”! Apparently in all seriousness! It really started my day with a laugh.
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Reblogged this on Ramblings of a now 60+ Female.
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First off I think the contrary view is very neccessary. and particularly one which is neither Alba nor SNP, nor of course Unionist. I do it more and more, with a lot of criticism of the Scottish Gvoernment, and get accused of being a Unionist, Alba or blocked from websites where I disagree. If I dared to criticise Alba i am of course an SNP cultist (spelt with an “n” I think). Oh well. It’s actually quite rare there being a place where you can post truthfully these days if you’re over-sensitive. *laughs*
OK, it’s worth looking at the background where Civil Service resources are being used by the Scottish Government – and that is Scottish Government, NOT the SNP. Political parties can’t use civil servants unless specifically allowed, such as a need to get information for the work of Parliament – such as the Opposition mght need. And thaty’s as MSPs not as politicians. From the Scotgov page:
“The civil service helps the government of the day develop and implement its policies as well as deliver public services. Civil servants are accountable to ministers, who in turn are accountable to Parliament.
The Permanent Secretary is the most senior civil servant in Scotland and leads more than 7000 staff within the core Scottish Government and has oversight of around 125 agencies.
The government is structured into a number of directorates and their related public bodies. Directorates and agencies are managed by directors-general.“.
https://www.gov.scot/about/how-government-is-run/civil-service/
It seems to me the team of 11 co-ordinators will be primarily of this directorate with Angus Robertson as the Minister:
https://www.gov.scot/about/how-government-is-run/civil-service/director-general-constitution-external-affairs/
and there is budget for this, though not specifically. If Covid returns badly, that budget might no longer be available, but £27 million is quite a lot, frankly.
Other civil servants from other directorates WILL be used of course, so those 11 civil servants are the starter, not the whole picture.
Civli service resources can’t be engaged on a whim, and generally speaking, can’t be wasted for political purposes either.
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