THE UK HAS GIVEN UP ON ME

03 - 07 - 2020 / Your Story

THE UK HAS GIVEN UP ON ME

Although I couldn't vote in the 2014 referendum, I probably would have voted no, because I was worried about Scotland losing its place in Europe and I had been brought up to believe that it was good to be part of the union with the UK.

Now look at where we are, being dragged out of the EU against our will, with my oldest daughter losing her rights to freedom of movement and to live, work or study with our nearest neighbours on the hardest Brexit terms, which were thought to be unthinkable in 2016.

For almost all my life, Scotland has been on a different political path compared to Westminster, and for all that time, I was prepared to believe that eventually the rest of the UK would become more progressive, and be the tolerant, outward looking, social justice-embracing country it has the potential to become.

The policies which have been implemented over the last 10 years, and the hard-right policies which are being enacted now, as well as the total disregard for the views of the constituent nations of the UK have made me realise that I haven't given up on the UK, but the UK has given up on me.

Also having lived and worked in the EU, I have experienced and seen what real cooperation between countries means, and the potential to achieve great things when you genuinely want to find a consensus to resolve different points of view and tackle common problems.

Why should Scotland be denied that possibility?

If I had the opportunity, I would now vote yes for an independent Scotland.

Rosemary from Aberdeen