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Today’s banner:
Rural Aberdeenshire: in honour of R F Mackenzie
Photograph
by
Islay McLeod
For a list of the current Friends of the Scottish Review, click here
The first Young
Scotland Programme
Sophie’s story part 1:
Jill Stephenson
Sophie’s story part 2:
Tessa Ransford
Catherine Czerkawska and others
As a Scot based in Barcelona, I have become used to meeting people for the first time and discussing the independence aspirations of our two nations. It’s an exciting time to be here.
On 11 September, the Catalan National Day, 1.5 million people gathered on the streets of Barcelona to express dissatisfaction with the political status quo. I was incredibly impressed by the scenes on the streets, in the newspaper and on television. Mind you, if you had been watching the main Spanish television news that evening, broadcast from Madrid, you’d have been forgiven for thinking that only a couple of dozen folks had gathered to wave a flag, shout a few slogans and then head down to the pub for some tapas and sangria, so far down the news headlines was this particular story.
So impressed was I by the scenes that I put pictures on my Facebook page and asked the question, ‘will we ever see anything like this on the streets of Scotland?’. I was underwhelmed by the response. The only one I got was a measly, ‘hopefully not’, from one of my friends, who happens to be English and lives very close to Carlisle.
It is clear that growing numbers of people in Catalonia want things to be different. They admire the way the Scottish and UK governments have worked together to map out the plan for the independence referendum and see that as the right way to do business. Sadly, the Spanish PM, Mariano Rajoy, seems to have a default position on all issues relating to Catalan independence, and that would be a resounding ‘no’.
Mr Rajoy and his supporters have responded, some might say typically, by using the agenda of fear. You won’t be able to stay in Europe, they say. Your economy will tank, they suggest. Your taxes will rise and your jobs will be lost, they cry. Sound familiar? Yes, to my surprise, the same old arguments are being trotted out here as we’ve seen back in Scotland. Clearly the ruling classes are going to do their best to keep the status quo.
In one of today’s papers, for the first time, the word ‘contagion’ is being used. The fear is that if the Catalan people decide to go hell for leather towards independence then other parts of Spain might do the same – and even other parts of Europe. Heaven forfend that ordinary people should decide how best to organise their own affairs.
Whatever happens here on Sunday, it is clear that things will never be the same. Wandering around the streets of downtown Barcelona, the independence flags are waving from many a window. This might not be the time, but like all good ideas, it will come round again and next time, if there has to be a next time, perhaps the Catalan people won’t need to push too hard to get what they want.
In the meantime, I’m sure Alex Salmond will be paying close attention to events this weekend. If Mr Mas wins an outright majority then he says he will move towards a referendum on independence, even though Mr Rajoy, the Spanish military and even the king are saying it can’t happen. Which will be the next new country in Europe? Catalonia? Scotland? Place your bets…
Steve Mallon is originally from Glasgow, is a former teacher and currently lives in Barcelona where is is a consultant, business coach and an occasional writer
