Let’s shift the dial
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To win independence we need to persuade more voters. Research shows conclusively that one of the biggest barriers for those voters is that they don't think we have a properly worked-out plan for what happens if they vote YES. We do not have this prospectus – and we need it.
A serious and credible but concise and readable prospectus document that answers the questions people have will be an essential tool in taking the next step towards independence. That is what this project will deliver.
Common Weal is the only independent organisation with the breadth of experience and the networks of expertise to deliver this. There is serious work that has been done. We covered much relevant material in How To Start a New Country, The Scottish Currency Group has produced expert material, the Scottish Independence Convention produced the Transition Papers, Scottish CND is working on the employment implications of a new security approach.
Yes, Common Weal is a left wing think tank, but we took a stance we described as 'policy neutral' when we prepared How To Start A New Country. We set a rule that we were focussing only on the process of establishing technical systems, not how they would be used once they are in place.
Our aim is to produce a prospectus which can be supported by the whole independence movement. Where we think there may be multiple credible solutions and differences of views, we will include two or more options. Where it can make firm commitments it will do so; where final outcomes can't be stated because they will rely on the outcome of negotiations, we will set out a negotiating stance.
We believe that it is possible to produce a prospectus which creates unity around a purpose and we believe we can deliver it within a year.
What will we do with your support?
We will establish a Scottish Independence Commission to oversee and quality-assure this project, coordinated by a paid law graduate part-time for a year to identify and succinctly and seriously answer legitimate questions about what would happen after a Yes vote. Read more about our expert Commissioners here.
The project will deliver a completed audience-ready prospectus for establishing Scotland as an independent nation state, answering all of the key questions people have that can be answered and doing so by setting out clear commitments and explicit plans. We know there is a diversity of view on some issues in the movement and that the political parties have their own positions and policy commitments. This project will focus on the technical underpinning that is necessary for future policy stances.
We will then produce an extended briefing for independence activists to help them use the prospectus in campaigning, to support people in answering key questions and to explain the rationale behind various decisions.
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Please note: Money raised from the crowdfunder will enter into our general funding but will be directed towards funding this specific project… we don’t have any plans to buy a campervan.
Please bear with us as we manually update the progress tracker.
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