Forget about the 45, let's focus on the 85

I’ve spent the past few weeks very much looking forward to this weekend. Throughout history one of the biggest problems faced by the left is our tendency to split, argue with each other and our complete inability to put aside differences and focus on the common good. The past two years has seen this occur in Scotland. We’ve been split amongst Yes voters and No voters, between those who believe Independence was the best way to enact social change, and those who believe that change through the Union is the better course. Whatever your views are on this issue (and mine, I fully admit, are strong), the referendum has happened and the decision has effectively been made for us. Any change that is going to come will have to take place in the Union. I looked forward to this weekend because I, perhaps naively, believed that whatever the outcome, that those of us on the left would reunite and fight for social justice. I believed we would have done so in a newly independent Scotland, and I believed we would do so if we remained in the Union.

I’m starting to wonder if I was incorrect. Facebook and twitter are now focusing on ‘The 45’ (whether this is a deliberate reference to the Jacobites I’m not yet sure of), referring to the 45% of people who voted Yes on Thursday. The aims seem to be basically that we should use the voice people believe the Yes campaign gave them, and turn it into a long-term movement. But this is focusing on division, on difference, on what has separated us for the past two years. I don’t think this is wise, like it or not, we democratically rejected independence, but that does not mean we have rejected change or social justice. I want to fight alongside my comrades again, no matter what their views on constitutional change is. 

I was flicking through my photos last week, and found this one below:

It is of me during the student protests against the raise in tuition fees. I fought alongside my comrades, and whilst we may not have succeeded in our aims, our voices were heard and I felt heartened that so many people could come together to fight for something. Now I worry, however, as I realise how split we all seem to be now. People I fought alongside with are on the other ‘side’ of the independence referendum, but when we agree on so much why should our views on which parliament governs us matter? We should fight together again.

This is a plea. Throw out your referendum badges, be they ‘Yes’ or ‘No Thanks’, and reject this horrid, divisiveness that we have had over the past two years, reject ‘The 45’, and embrace the 85%, the fantastic, wonderful 85% of us who voted and have been engaged in political debate. Let us work together to enact change, and let this debate about independence be settled for the time being.