SCVO, STUC, NUS Scotland joint #indyref statement: People must lead what comes next

SCVO – STUC – NUS Scotland - joint media statement 19 September 2014  The citizens of Scotland have made their decision and they must take the lead in shaping Scotland’s future Today the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) and the National Union of Students Scotland (NUS Scotland) came together to call for a citizen-led process as Scotland unites to define its future after yesterday’s No vote. In a letter to Alistair Carmichael the organisations which represent Scotland’s workplaces, communities and students called on them to embrace Scotland’s renewed civic engagement and put in place a system which ensure genuine ownership of the process by people. As well as opportunities, Scotland faces significant challenges in the months and years ahead. Those challenges will be easier to face if citizens feel genuinely empowered to make a difference and civil society has a key role championing their involvement in negotiating greater (or more) devolved powers. Martin Sime, Chief Executive, SCVO, said: “We want to see a citizen-led process that works to form Scotland’s new constitutional settlement – a new way of doing democracy and making decisions in Scotland, that puts people first. The hard work begins in earnest today, tapping into this re-engagement with the political process and ensuring promises are delivered on.” Grahame Smith, General Secretary, STUC, said: “Only by harnessing this unprecedented upsurge in civil engagement and by genuinely empowering people will we deliver the truly democratic institutions, economy and services we seek and need in a new Scotland.” Kirsty Haigh, Vice President Communities NUS Scotland, said: “During the campaign people took power back into their own hands, and away from politicians, to debate and decide their future. The government must ensure this continues, and, as we start to consider the future of Scotland, that power stays in the hands of Scottish society, through a process led by Scottish society.” All three organisation’s recognise that “the momentum for change is here but the people of Scotland must have ownership of and the biggest voice in the more powers process” and offered their support in making it happen. ENDS Notes to editors:

1. The full letter to Alistair Carmichael is copied below.
2. The letter was copied to Lord Smith of Kelvin, Johann Lamont MSP, Willie Rennie MSP and Ruth Davidson MSP. The group has also written to Alex Salmond on the same issue.
3. Available for interview and comment: John Downie, Director of Public Affairs, SCVO, 07530542263 Dave Moxham, Deputy General Secretary, STUC, 07891026870 Russell Gunson, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, NUS Scotland, 07811 370 623

SCVO – STUC – NUS: Secretary of State for Scotland Letter Dear Secretary of State A New Politics, a New Democracy and a New Scotland Congratulations on the result of the Referendum campaign. The debate over the two and a half years has been exciting and has engaged people in unprecedented numbers. It has also offered a vision of how a more just and equal society might be created provided the Scottish people can work together to achieve those ends. The result will hopefully act as the catalyst we need for people, communities, and organisations across all sectors – third, public and private - to work together in a new way to create real change in a new Scotland. SCVO, STUC and NUS Scotland strongly believe that to deliver fundamental change in Scotland we need to significantly change the way we do things. We want to see a citizen-led process that works to form Scotland’s new constitutional settlement - a new way of doing democracy and making decisions in Scotland, that puts the people first. This must go beyond the existing model where government consults with communities and involve genuine ownership of the process by the people. Such a process should, of course, include civil society organisations such as our own which represent those in workplaces, communities and students. But it also requires a commitment to new ways of engaging citizens and small communities of interest more directly. As well as shaping Scotland’s new constitutional arrangement, this process must consider other aspects of accountability and community empowerment. It would also provide the foundation for the building of a successful social partnership model, similar to those which exist in many successful small countries in Europe. Our organisations, and the millions of people in Scotland that we represent, need to know and trust that the people will not be locked out of what happens following this referendum. We are therefore writing to you to ask you to endorse a citizen-led process to ensure the people decide the next steps for Scotland. This citizen-led process, rather than one led by politicians alone, would have two elements – firstly, consideration of more powers for the parliament and, secondly, consideration of how we empower our people over the decisions that affect their lives:

1. The citizen-led process looking at powers would potentially keep to the timeline proposed by Gordon Brown, but crucially, it would take the powers offered by the three main unionist parties in the campaign as a starting point and have a mandate to look beyond them.
2. The second element of the citizen-led process would look beyond constitutional powers, to how we can empower communities and citizens in the decisions that affect their lives. This would likely have a longer timetable, perhaps in time for the Scottish Parliament elections in 2016.

The benefits of a citizen-led approach is that we will show that we wish to start as we wish to go on, genuinely changing how we make decisions in Scotland, empowering the people of Scotland over the decisions that affect their lives. The SCVO, STUC and NUS Scotland hope that you will agree to an initial meeting with us, to agree the basis for the citizen-led process we describe and as the start of a process involving a wider range of civil society organisations. We all recognise that as well as opportunities, Scotland faces significant challenges in the months and years ahead. Those challenges will be easier to face if citizens feel genuinely empowered to make a difference. We hope you will agree and we offer you the support of our organisations and our members to make this happen. Best Regards. Martin Sime: Chief Executive, SCVO Grahame Smith: General Secretary, STUC Gordon Maloney: President, NUS Scotland CC: Lord Smith of Kelvin Johann Lamont MSP, Leader Scottish Labour Party Willie Rennie MSP, Leader Scottish Liberal-Democrats Ruth Davidson MSP, Leader Scottish Conservative Party​