By popular demand, the text of the speech of Party Leader, David McHutchon to AUOB Stirling, given on 22 June 2024.
Allow me to express my appreciation
to the organising committee
and all those involved
in facilitating today’s march.
And thank you for demonstrating
that far from being extinguished
the cause of Independence
burns today like a fire
in the hearts
of the Scottish people.
Compatriots,
on 17 February 2008,
the Assembly of Kosovo
declared independence
unilaterally
from the Republic of Serbia.
The declaration began with these words:
We, the democratically elected leaders of our people, hereby declare Kosovo to be an independent and sovereign state.
Now, you or I may have
no particularly strong feelings
about Kosovan Independence.
You will be forgiven for not
having given it much thought.
But there was one party,
the British Government,
had been giving it lots of thought.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown,
notorious secessionist that he is,
had previously counselled Serbia
to accommodate “the legitimate desire
of the Kosovan people” for independence.
The day after the Declaration
Britain’s top diplomat in Pristina
met with the Kosovan President
Fatmir Sejdiu and
Prime Minister Hashim Thaci
to offer his backing.
It had took the UK
one day
to complete the “essential processes”
involved in recognising
Kosovo
as an independent state.
And just two days later,
the British Government
had appointed an ambassador.
Well the UK wasn’t finished!
In the years that followed
it would argue before the International Court of Justice that
“international law contains
no prohibition against
declarations of independence as such”
It averred
that international law condemns
neither rebellion nor secession.
It contended that
that renunciation of sovereignty
by a parent state
has never been regarded
as a condition for
the recognition of secession.
And it reminded the Hague
that declarations of independence
are the main method by which
new states
have come into existence.
If the British state holds
Unilateral Declarations of Independence
in such high regard
then I ask you, my friends
‘Who are we to disagree?’
But perhaps you’re thinking
this was a Labour Government,
Surely the Tories don’t hold
self-determination in such high esteem.
It seems that we are mistaken.
Just a few months ago
a junior Tory minister
told the Commons
that the UK Government
will always protect and promote
the right of self-determination
of the Falkland Islanders.
Another junior minister
vowed
to protect the right
of the people of Gibraltar
to determine their own political future.
Meanwhile, while a Tory peer,
has stated that
the right to self-determination,
may be counted among
the UK’s fundamental values.
But if, you are standing here today,
and you remain unconvinced that UDI is the way to go,
there’s one person who I know that whose words cannot help but to dissuade you.
I am talking of course about Margaret Thatcher.
For it was she who wrote in the Downing Street Years,
the following words.
“I’m standing up for the right of self-determination.
I’m standing up for our territory.
I’m standing up for our people.
I’m standing up for international law.
I’m standing up for all those territories—those small territories and peoples the world over”.
If UK Governments believe in self-determination,
and in unilateral declarations of independence,
then who, my friends, are we to disagree.
Now,
we have been critical of the SNP
for going cap-in-hand
to the UK Government
and to the UK Supreme Court,
scrounging for our ancient liberties, but
Being repeatedly told ‘no’ is not a strategy.
But I will say this for the SNP’s approach,
At least we now know where we stand!
For it is now clear to all
that there is no parliamentary or judicial route
to Independence
that runs through streets of Westminster.
With the UK Government,
we affirm that nations possess
an inalienable right to self-determination.
But I ask you one final question.
Since when was self-determination something
we expected others to do for us?
Surely the time has come
for Scotland
to take matters into her own hands.
Now there is much that our forebearers have done
To keep Scottish culture and tradition
In the face of beltings for speaking the Gaelic in schools
And the ethnic cleansing of the Scottish Highlands.
Continue to keep our history and heritage alive!
Play your part in forming
resilient Scottish neighbourhoods and homes,
and if you are able,
bring future generations of young Scots
into this world!
But if we hold our legacy
in right regard
may it be said of us
that we despised no adversity
so that future generations
might live in freedom.
Independence is the proper inheritance of a righteous people!
May we counted worthy to attain it!