MEDIA RELEASE: Tuesday, September 1, 2020.
This media release is issued by the Constitution for Scotland (CfS) – a registered charitable body (SCO 49193)
Have Your Say in the Future Governance of Scotland
A PUBLIC consultation, launched today (Tuesday, September 1, 2020), provides the first real opportunity for everyone interested in the future governance of Scotland, to contribute to the content of a draft written constitution for the future governance of Scotland.
This online consultation will be conducted via a fully independent and transparent website: www.constitutionforscotland.scot
A non-aligned Scottish charity – Constitution for Scotland (SCO 49193) – is providing an opportunity through an interactive, internet-based platform for a public consultation on a written constitution for Scotland in the event of regaining our independence.
A constitution is, in some ways, a job specification for parliamentarians, setting out the conditions under which the people of a nation agree to be governed.
The consultation has evolved from a decision taken some 11 years ago by a 22-strong group of Scots to draft a ‘model’ written constitution for Scotland rather than just talk about the need for one.
The model constitution has been formulated to stimulate debate on specific proposals rather than vague notions – but is not in itself prescriptive.
It is offered as the groundwork of a skeletal outline of the future fundamental law of Scotland – based on the concept of popular democracy. The document within the website contains a summary outlining the 15 articles that are set out into 174 sections within the ‘model’ constitution.
The interactive debate will provide choices, enabling participants to read either the summary or the full model constitution. You can choose to read the summary and then use a Quick vote facility, or, use the Links or Searchbox to locate a section of interest, and from that section another click will take you to the Vote, Amendment and Blog panels.
Then you may add your own ideas and comment on those of others. You will be able to return again and again to see the latest vote counts and rankings or update your own input and vote – right up to Independence Day.
When this consultation is concluded the politicians will know precisely what we want, and what we expect them to do about it, and that’s what a constitution is all about. And Scotland will have a constitution which truly represents a modern popular democracy.
The Constitution for Scotland (CfS), which was formally constituted as a Scottish charity in April 2019, advocates Scottish independence as a matter of community democracy and fundamentally exists to encourage consultation on a draft constitution. It is not aligned to any particular political party and all its activities are wholly financed by donations from supporters.
The charity, managed by four trustees, is chaired by Robert Ingram, a retired chartered marine engineer, who lives near Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. His three co-trustees are Ronald Morrison, Helensburgh, a retired accountant and entrepreneur; Lorraine Cowan, Uddingston, a senior college lecturer: and John Hutchison, a retired chartered civil engineer and community advocate, who lives near Fort William.
Robert Ingram explains: “It matters not whether you are for or against self-governance: we should all prepare for a positive outcome to a referendum that would enable Scotland to once again be a normal country making its own decisions. Being prepared is not just a good motto for Guides and Scouts. Everyone will benefit from looking ahead and considering the political nature of a Scotland in full control of its own affairs, economy and resources.
“That is the thinking behind this initiative to conduct a public consultation on a written Constitution for Scotland. For all these reasons, this is not a job just for politicians: it is for every citizen to have a say in how he or she is to be governed and to make their priorities crystal clear.
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NOTE: If you have any inquiries, please address them through:
info@constitutionforscotland.scot
There is also a contact form on our website: www.constitutionforscotland.scot
