James Foley - Yes: The Radical Case for Scottish Independence

YES

Yes asks some of the uncomfortable questions that need answering: about the limits of traditional politics, who has power and why, and the direction of the UK. Whatever your views on independence these are some of the key issues which need debating and which Foley and Ramand have made an important contribution to aiding.

Gerry Hassan, writer and academic
Author of Caledonian Dreaming: The Quest for a Different Scotland

There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that independence is Scotlands chance to break from the neoliberal consensus. This book puts forward that case in a lucid and accessible manner, and is essential reading for all of us that associate with a radical vision of an empowered, better Scotland.

Jean Urquhart MSP

The constitutional debate in Scotland has brought to the fore a new generation of young Scottish activists, writers and thinkers, the authors of this book among them. It is greatly encouraging for our future to hear these fresh voices and the quality and depth of the analysis they bring.

Robin McAlpine, director, Jimmy Reid Foundation
and editor, Scottish Left Review

Another Scotland is not only possible, but increasingly probable. If you dont believe that read this book. If you want to believe it and dont know how an independent Scotland could work read this book. If you want to be inspired read this book.

Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, former Irish republican MP

The push for independence is the most powerful grassroots movement Scotland has ever seen and this book constitutes its gleaming edge. Clear, lucid, and under no illusions about either the British state or the SNP, it details where the points on the moral compass must now fall. A new, transformative path for ordinary Scots lies within these pages, if we can but trust ourselves to walk it.

Alan Bissett, author and playwright

This book deserves to turn the referendum campaign on its head. It convincingly makes the case that the real risks for the people of Scotland lie in continuing to be part of the UK. In the process, it exposes how the Yes campaign has fundamentally weakened its position by implicitly accepting that change for Scotland equals danger.

Jim and Margaret Cuthbert, economists

Yes is the product of a youthful, dynamic and energising movement in Scotland that has successfully filled the vacuum created by traditional party political defined debates. In bravely and boldly setting out a radical vision for Scotlands future, the authors provide us with an invaluable basis for challenging the norm and subsequently transforming our economic institutions to better meet the needs of all of the people and not just a select few. Anyone with an interest in shaping Scotlands future should read this book.

Ailsa McKay, Professor of Economics, Glasgow Caledonian University

I am delighted about the publication of Yes: The Radical Case for Scottish Independence. It is a vital contribution to the debate, showing what independence can bring to Scotland and how vital it can be for all of us.

Stuart Braithwaite, Mogwai

The independence referendum is about more than Scotland. It is a vote on British nationalism, forged by Empire. Foley and Ramand vividly argue for a new beginning and set out their vision of a radically different, independent Scotland.

Niki Seth Smith, OpenDemocracy

For anyone interested in humanity, social justice, equality and peace, this book is a must. It strips away the lies to reveal the truth behind the Big Stitch Up for which we all pay such a terrible price. Another Scotland is Possible and James Foley and Pete Ramands book is an important contribution to the debate on how to achieve it.

David Hayman, actor

As incisive and accessible an account of the UKs social, economic and political decline as anyone could ask for. Voters looking for an alternative to the SNPs continuity nationalism will find it in Yes.

James Maxwell, New Statesman

This is the voice of a new generation who look beyond short term scaremongering and petty point-scoring to ask searching questions about the Scotland we live in today and the Scotland we could live in tomorrow. An incisive and well-researched contribution which deserves to be read widely on both sides of the independence debate and even more so, among those who have yet to make up their minds.

Alan McCombes, co-author of Imagine: A Socialist Vision for the 21st Century

A bold vision of an Independent Scotland you may not agree with everything written here, but this book is certainly a landmark on the Road to Independence: it is refreshing, radical and full of passion everything we need to win the referendum in September 2014 (and beyond!).

Aamer Anwar, Lawyer and Human Rights Campaigner

Whether or not you embrace all of this books conclusions, it brings a welcome breath of fresh thinking to a sterile debate, and reminds us that social values and justice need not go out of fashion.

Ruth Wishart, journalist and broadcaster, former assistant editor of the Sunday Mail, Scotsman and Sunday Standard

Non-nationalist arguments for Scottish independence have been all too rare in the current debates about the nations future. We should be grateful then that James Foley and Pete Ramand have written a book which puts the case squarely in terms of the crisis of British capitalism, neoliberalism, and the struggle for social justice. This book is essential reading for everyone interested in the left-wing case for Scottish independence.

Neil Davidson, University of Glasgow, author of Discovering the Scottish Revolution

YES

The Radical Case for
Scottish Independence

James Foley & Pete Ramand

First published 2014 by Pluto Press
345 Archway Road, London N6 5AA

www.plutobooks.com

Distributed in the United States of America exclusively by
Palgrave Macmillan, a division of St. Martins Press LLC,
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010

Copyright James Foley and Pete Ramand 2014

The right of James Foley and Pete Ramand to be identified as the authors of this
work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978 0 7453 3475 2 Paperback

ISBN 978 1 7837 1132 1 PDF eBook

ISBN 978 1 7837 1134 5 Kindle eBook

ISBN 978 1 7837 1133 8 EPUB eBook

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data applied for

This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental standards of the country of origin.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Typeset from disk by Stanford DTP Services, Northampton, England Text design by Melanie Patrick

Simultaneously printed digitally by CPI Antony Rowe, Chippenham, UK and Edwards Bros in the United States of America

For Linda and Anne

Contents

List of Figures

Acknowledgements

Two years ago, journalist David Torrance released a biography of Alex Salmond, predicting that the 2007-11 government would be his last. History thumped Torrances forecast in the face; but we feel he deserves our sympathy. We are also writing about history on the move. We hope readers will forgive our miscalculations in this book, which was written in the eight weeks of September and October 2013. Things may change; if our predictions fail, we promise to accept our errors with good cheer.