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Yes Dundee’s first Independence Café, on Saturday, threw up over 90 minutes of questions on independence from
local people to SNP MSP Shona Robison and former Labour MP & MSP John
McAllion, now with the Scottish Socialist Party.
After chats over coffee and home baking, Shona and John took questions and
comments from a busy hall. Subjects covered were Scotland’s economy, the
European Union, the media, and what happens if Scotland votes No. A lively
debate round one table concluded that an independent Scotland could be a
country of new ideas and that Dundee was the City of Discovery. They said we
needed to get that positive, confident message out more effectively.
Shona Robison responded by setting out the Yes Dundee vision for a strong, confident
Scotland, prosperous, business friendly, bringing new jobs to Dundee in the
knowledge economy and renewables, taking care to look after those who could not
work, and taking all the important decisions in Scotland for the benefit of
Scotland.
Former SNP leader Gordon Wilson, from the floor, warned that voting 'No' did
not mean that nothing would change. He said Westminster would “take its
revenge”. “The Scottish budget - the Barnett Formula - will come under attack,”
said Mr Wilson, “and if you are complaining of cuts now, just wait until two
years after the referendum and you will find the teeth of the tiger are very
sharp.”
John McAllion agreed, saying the only reason Scotland is getting extra
attention from Westminster is the threat of independence; if people voted 'No'
this time they would never get another chance. “Don’t look forward to winning a
second referendum,” he said, “There won’t be one.” Mr McAllion also said
significant numbers of Labour voters were ready to ignore their Party’s official
line, and vote for independence.
Shona wound up the meeting by saying this would be the first of several
Independence Cafés, and asked the audience to keep an eye on the newly launched
YesDundee.net website for details.
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