Today, Scots are celebrating the first victory in the football World Cup in 36 years and we would like to share an important update from us:
On 23 June – the tenth anniversary of Brexit – Europe for Scotland and Yes for EU will be in Brussels, hosting an event in the European Parliament. We’ll tell you more below. First, some context.
Much has happened in the UK since voters elected progressive nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales and sent shockwaves through Westminster, following Labour’s bad showing in Scotland, their catastrophic defeat in Wales, and their poor results in England’s local elections.
UK news over the past few weeks have centred on three topics: the imminent end of Keir Starmer’s premiership, his refusal to accept that his party, voters and members of his government have lost confidence in him, and the machinations of those that seem poised to succeed Starmer, most notably Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting. Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, will likely win a by-election on Thursday that was triggered in order to return him to Parliament so that he could challenge Starmer. In the event that he does win, it is highly likely that he will be the next UK Prime Minister before the end of the year. Should, however, Farage defeat Burnham, all bets are off.
The BBC announcement of the Scottish Parliament vote for a new independence referendum
Although Burnham has weighed in on several matters of UK and international politics, he has not been asked to comment on the new request for an independence referendum, which passed in the Scottish Parliament a few weeks ago. It is to be hoped that he would not deny Scottish democracy as categorically as the past five UK Prime Ministers, yet given Westminster’s institutional dysfunctionality, there is little room for optimism.
It’s important to stress that the Scottish Parliament voted to request a new independence referendum for the third time since Brexit – something that should have been momentous and should indeed prompt fresh thinking in London and Brussels.
The vote however, was overshadowed by the announcement, on the same day, that Peter Murrell, former SNP chief executive and ex husband of the former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, had pleaded guilty to the embezzlement of huge amounts of party funds. His conviction casts a shadow on the political management of the SNP during the Sturgeon administration, even though Sturgeon, who ended her marriage with Murrell after his arrest, has been cleared of wrongdoing on a personal level.
Among opponents of Scottish independence in Westminster and the UK media, the news of Murrell’s crimes was welcomed with glee. If the SNP can’t run their own party, then how are they fit to run an independent country – many have said – forgetting that by that logic the UK itself should have long ceased to be an independent country, too.
The question of Scottish self-determination is so much bigger than individual politicians, no matter how powerful these politicians are. It is a question that matters to millions of Scots, but also to people across the world and especially in Europe, who want to see Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England thrive and who understand that the current undemocratic stalemate is preventing a better future for all four nations.
Due to a very unfortunate coincidence, Peter Murrell will be sentenced on June 23rd, the tenth anniversary of Brexit. We’ve been working hard for months to ensure that on this day, European media won’t just reflect on the anniversary through the lens of England and London, but that Scotland will be foremost on their minds. We are determined not to let that coincidence define the day.
For that reason, we will be in Brussels, at the European Parliament, where we will be hosting an event entitled “Ten Years On: Time To End Brexit? Can Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland lead England back into the EU?” We’re very honoured that three distinctive speakers have accepted our invitations. They are the founder of Open Democracy (and Europe for Scotland!) Anthony Barnett, the first person to speak Welsh in the EU Parliament, long-term MEP for Plaid Cymru Jill Evans, and a politician that will be familiar to many in Scotland, Dr. Philippa Whitford, former Westminster MP who used to be the SNP’s spokesperson for Europe. They will be joined on stage by Lynn Boylan, a Member of the European Parliament for Sinn Féin and other MEPs. All four nations of the UK represented – in the European Parliament – on the anniversary of the vote that was imposed on all of them.
This event is powered entirely by volunteers. If you’d like to support it, a donation to our fundraiser will help cover travel costs for the team that has spent months making this happen – and ensure the day is recorded and shared with you afterwards. Every contribution helps.
Thank you very much and viva Scotland in Europe!