What does it look like?
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Instruction for Independence
Independence is on the ballot.
What is the Instruction for Independence?
In a word: democracy. Putting choice of candidate, party and Scottish Independence, firmly in the hands of voters.
Every party at every election can place a description alongside their name. At every Westminster and every Holyrood Regional List Election we would add a party description to give voters a choice. You may recall previous ones: "Nicola Sturgeon for First Minster" or "Ruth Davidson for a Strong Opposition". We intend to utilise the description box on the ballot text to provide a clear instruction on independence, to assert;
"Scotland should be Independent".
What does it look like?
Why does it matter?
The Electoral Commission of the United Kingdom oversee the Holyrood and Westminster General Elections as the certification authority of the electoral process. An election overseen by them is recognised internationally to be a legitimate expression of the democratic wishes of the electorate. It places the result beyond doubt.
By including the statement Scotland should be Independent - an instruction is made by the electorate to begin independence negotiations. As it is clearly stated on the ballot paper, it cannot be argued that the electorate do not know what they are voting for in an election. It bypasses the need for Westminster consent for a referendum and returns democracy back to the people of Scotland.
The votes cast in an election with the statement will be counted in the same manner as the party vote. The count will be certified by the returning officer as valid and announced to the international community. There has never been an election result overseen by the Electoral Commission contested by the UK Government.
Is this allowed?
In the words of the Electoral Commission: "Descriptions are identity marks that can be used instead of, or alongside, a party name depending on the election.
At Scottish Parliamentary elections, the rules differ for regional and constituency ballot papers. For regional ballot papers, a party must use their name and can also use a description alongside if they wish. For constituency ballot papers, a party must use their party name.
At all other elections in the UK, a party can use either a description or a party name on ballot papers – it is for parties to decide which they use in this case."
We asked them by email and uploaded the transcript.
Why would a party support this rather than their own method?
The Instruction for Independence is able to be used in addition to whatever democratic method each party uses to show support for independence. It adds another tool to the box in the demonstration of Scotland's desire for independence. This method has the unique benefit that it does not require any consent or agreement - each party is free to adopt it at their leisure and in line with the desires of their membership. It does not have an organisation controlling it or requiring co-operation. It's an open-source public domain project (CC0).
What if the UK Government say no?
It's a theoretical possibility that a UK Government could simply ignore the Instruction for Independence however there are six pillars that ensure its success:
Precedent is already set.
““It is agreed that nothing in this report prevents Scotland becoming an independent country in the future should the people of Scotland so choose” – The Smith Commission
Countries to vote on leaving Britain: Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Granada, India, Israel, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Mauritius, Nauru, Nigeria, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Tanganyika, Bahamas, Gambia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, UAE, Zambia, Australia, Canada, Newfoundland, South Africa, New Zealand.
Britain has negotiated 100% of the time, eventually.
Previous Election results show it can be done:
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