In Cameron’s referendum the people of Scotland would be deprived of the ability to choose an option acceptable to the majority of people, namely that Scotland should have radically extended devolved powers but should remain part of the United Kingdom.

The problem with the Westminster solution is that Scotland’s choice is not about righting an historical wrong and choosing statehood or UK membership, it is about having the right tools to significantly improve Scotland in a way which the current centralised organisation of the United Kingdom does not allow. That the people of Scotland should have the power to make a nuanced decision on how they are governed and by whom is the very essence of a healthy democracy. It is highly regrettable then that the current British government is unable to understand this, and it is just this mindset which creates an appetite for self determination. By holding a referendum on the status quo no problems will be solved and an awful lot of public money will be wasted on a piece of political spin.

The wording of any referendum should go to a committee of the Scottish Parliament and not be decided by the SNP, who lest we forget gained a narrow majority of seats with a narrow minority of votes, with all parties contributing. This referendum will be an opportunity for Scotland to look at itself and ask where it is going and what kind of country we want to be. It would be foolish to let Westminster’s failed and unrepresentative politics force many supporters of self determination into one corner or another.

DH.

The initial meeting will take place at 7pm in the Potterow Chaplaincy in Bristo Square. Afterwards the group will decamp to one of the nearby pubs for drinks.

The film, which documents the development of a multi-million pound golf resort on a pristine stretch of Aberdeenshire coastline by the flamboyant ‘Scottish-American’ Donald Trump, will be shown at the Glasgow Film Theatre on 30 September and the Edinburgh Filmhouse on October 2.

Following the development of Trump’s resort from 2005 to the present day, Anthony Baxter gathers evidence of police brutality, local corruption and big business influencing the Scottish National Party in a film which First Minister Alex Salmond has so far refused to view despite repeated invitations to do so. Included in the film is footage of Scottish Young Greens taking part in a protest against the golf course and interviews with people threatened with eviction from their homes by the Trump organisation. The soundtrack is composed by Icelandic sonngwriter Jonsi, lead singer in the post rock group Sigur Ros.

The Edinburgh and Glasgow screenings will be accompanied by a question and answer session with Anthony Baxter himself, whilst the Edinburgh screening will also feature a performance from stellar Scottish folk singer and Green Karine Polwart. The Edinburgh Young Greens will be organising a trip to watch the film, so look out for booking information. The full dates can be found here
Watch the trailer here