Clannasaor Manifesto

Policies

Version 4. Dated 27^th July 2002

Constitution

Clannasaor is a Social Democratic political party committed to a wholly Independent Scotland outside the European Union. Clannasaor intends to accomplish this by wholly democratic means through the ballot Box alone. By liberating the vitality and energy of the people of Scotland, Clannasaor intends to replace the ancient nation of Scotland back into the world of Modern Nation States. Scotland is a rich and prosperous nation, well endowed with plentiful resources and industrious as well as intelligent people.  We Scots will create a fair and just society for all citizens of Scotland, supporting the less well off and helping the disadvantaged to achieve their full potential.

AGRICULTURE.

Clannasaor leans positively towards Green Policies, and the cleaning up of our Countryside and its restoration for Wildlife will achieve this balance. Farming is to be encouraged to revert to the old fashioned yet workable mixed arable Organic type farming which should reach 45% Organic by 2020. This is a fact of life which must be grasped by the people of Scotland as the single most important threat to continued human habitation in Scotland. This policy will be linked to the Environment Department in a Partnership or 'Think Tank' of Farmers, Foresters, Estate Managers, Government Scientists and Wildlife Interest groups to restore the best features from the past and institute the best that the modern world can offer, such as Green Energy sources. By Organic, Clannasaor mean Crops grown in traditional Composts and manures rather than artificial fertilisers. Making sure Animal welfare standards are Rigorously enforced. The total ban on imported meat which has been reared on artificial growth hormones. Likewise a strict ban on the non Veterinary use of antibiotics as is illegally practised in the E.U. The Total ban on Genetically modified Plants and organisms without strictly controlled trials in isolation. Normal cross hybridization will be exempt as Farmers have been doing this for 6000 years.

Farming Communities have suffered badly in the past, especially the Crofting communities by the continual neglect of their special requirements by Central Government and the European Union. Clannasaor intends to follow the Norwegian example by having a Minister responsible for Farming and Crofting affairs. The free market approach will have to be scrapped and a instead the setting up of Community Markets and or Credit Unions which have worked successfully in the past, to guarantee fair prices for farmers and producers, not the greedy wholesalers and Supermarket buyers as at present. Any decision which would affect Rural communities, such as the closure of a primary school, will be referred to the Minister who can then institute co-operation with other Ministries to regenerate that particular area.

Clannasaor policy will be proactive to build up our Farming and Crofting so that the fragile infrastructure which depends on them can grow stronger and make its contribution by employing more People. To this end, there will be financial bias in favour of rural areas of 5% above the population level to encourage small business start-up (thus reducing rural unemployment) and growth allied to cooperatives as have proven to work so well in the Inner Hebrides, (Case point Islay Cheese and Butter) and in the Northern Norwegian Islands. They will provide the necessary infrastructure to encourage Tourism and reduce Transport and Living Costs through Post Code Excise Duty and Rates Rebates. The Ultimate aim being to double the Rural population by 2020 which would be broadly in line with the Population levels of 1920. Once this level is reached, it is anticipated that the population would become stable and self sustaining as Older people Die off, Children are born and the inevitable movement of some young people to the Urban areas. The Highlands and islands are a special case and the Government will set up Abattoirs and freezing plants on each major Island to allow the Crofting communities to market their livestock without a long and very expensive ferry journey.

(Back to Top)

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL.

(Back to Top)

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

(1) An outright Republic with an elected President, and Vice President elected for a fixed period of 4 years and may not serve more than two consecutive terms in Office. The Office of President or Aird Righ will commence the day they are sworn into Office or crowned. The President and Vice President will be Figureheads only in the sense of a constitutional monarchy. The Executive powers will be held by the Toiseach (Prime Minister) with a cabinet from the Senate or Dail (Parliament)

(1a) A Republic with Directly elected President and Vice president on the US model who hold executive power. It should be noted that Clannasaor is not in favour of this model due to the many abuses seen in US Politics and the models susceptibility to corruption as only the seriously wealthy individuals can afford to run for President and running mate.

(2) A Constitutional Monarchy based on the primogeniture model as practised in England. If this form of constitutional Monarchy is chosen then a choice will have to be made between the present incumbent, one of Her Children or some other person.

(3) A return to the Ancient law of tanistry whereby an elected constitutional Monarch known as the 'Aird Righ' and a 'Righ' to deputize are elected by the People of Scotland for a fixed period of Four Years. No Aird Righ can serve for more than two consecutive terms. The Aird Righ will be supported by a council of 20 Mormaors to act as a second house and reforming chamber elected by the people of Scotland by proportional Representation. The Aird Righ would have no executive powers. This is a serious proposition from the Tourism point of view. The pageantry and ceremony of 'Royal' occasions would be a boost to the tourist Industry and also maintain the link of Scotland being the oldest Kingdom in Europe.

In addition Clannasaor will introduce a written bill of rights on the USA and Swiss models and a written constitution to safeguard and underpin the Human Rights, Civil rights and liberties of the Scottish Nation. Many issues which are contentious will be subject to compulsory Referenda. Items like the re-introduction of Capital Punishment for certain Crimes, membership of NATO or the EU will be decided by the Scottish People who will then have a direct democratic say in the direction of Scottish affairs.

There will be a full Freedom of Information Act written into the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of Scotland, to ensure that secrecy is kept to an utter minimum and that the people of Scotland have the right to know what has been decided in their name. Civil servants will be held fully accountable to the Senate (Aird Comhairle) for their actions and decisions and will not be able, as at present, to hide behind the official Secrets Act.

All Elections will be by Proportional Representation to ensure the Senate (Aird Comhairle) is truly representative of the wishes of the Scottish People. It is the purpose of Clannasaor to make national Politics Exciting and worthwhile of support. The Electorate are enfranchised to vote unless in Prison or Mental institution and Clannasaor will explore using alternative methods of voting by Post, Electronically, or by proxy.

Freedom of Religion is a right to practice a religion of their choice is to be enjoyed by all Scottish Citizens without any other person or group seeking to overthrow or subjugate their religion. All Connections between Church and State will be severed and there will be no State support for any Schools which preach Hatred and intolerance ( Present Denominational Schools, whilst they have the continued support of the Parents, will continue as before with the ultimate aim in the distant future of making them unnecessary) which only perpetuates Sectarianism amongst the youngest and most impressionable of our children. Only in this way will the terrible open sores caused by the past 500 years of sectarian in fighting be cured for all time.

(Back to Top)

CURRENCY UNIT.

(Back to Top)

DEFENCE AND DEFENCE INFRASTRUCTURE.

In addition there will be a voluntary Observer Corps which would be responsible for backing up the Air Defence radars by reporting aircraft well inland. Coast watching for enemy or criminal infiltration, and the plotting of Nuclear or biological weapons fallout. (Similar in function to the Defunct UK Royal Observer Corps) Scotland has a choice of three possible postures. (1) Armed Neutrality, with NO Nuclear weapons or WMD (Weapons of Mass destruction) which is Clannasaor's preferred option. (2) Non Nuclear Membership of NATO which has American and British Nuclear weapons at its disposal, and also has the advantage of being able to offer hardware to its smaller members at reduced cost and also makes a contribution to the costs of Infrastructure or (3) Membership of the European Armed forces which will be French led and dominated by French Nuclear weapons and WMD.

The Scottish Defence Forces should be prepared for anything, however unlikely, in a world where international conflicts and Terrorism are commonplace. The Greatest threat is posed by international Terrorism and the Scottish Defence Forces must be ready and prepared to defend the Scottish People and Assets. The use by terrorists of Chemical and Biological weapons (WMD. Weapons of Mass Destruction) and conceivably, Nuclear weapons, could lead to massive casualties not seen since the barbarism of mass poisonings of medieval populations in the dark ages. Even though Scotland is neutral, this may NOT deter some fanatical extremist group if they perceive Scotland to be a soft target as the means for striking at the western world. In such an event, there must be a defence infrastructure made up of Specialists, Equipment and a back up tail which could cope with the aftermath of such an attack. Such forces would also be available to render assistance to a friendly foreign power that had been attacked. A Hypothetical case would be a Nuclear bomb detonated in Teesport in Northern England which is a huge urban conurbation, causing millions of casualties and overloading the emergency services in the area. No one could deny assistance to the victims and the presence of Scottish heavy rescue and emergency medical services could save a great many lives.

The defence of our National land territory, Airspace and Maritime Areas, is a challenge which Scotland must face up to. Scottish Sovereign territory as currently defined is all the land, Sea Areas and Airspace subject to and within the jurisdiction of the statutes and competence of Scottish and International law. This covers our maritime zones and airspace in equal measure. Scottish National Territory encompasses the Orkney and Shetland archipelagoes as well as all western island groups offshore of the Atlantic Coastline. including St. Kilda and Rockall.

A Major issue which Scotland faces, is the shortage of facilities for accommodating Men and materiel as well as weapons and training areas. The UK Government used the 'Peace Dividend' to drastically reduce defence spending in Scotland. Bases and barracks were sold off for development, Training areas released back to the original owners, with the result that there is a serious shortfall in the facilities required for a Neutral Scotland, let alone a full member of NATO. It is envisaged that some Civilian facilities will also have to be shared with the military such as Scatsta Airfield in Shetland and as many of these facilities lay disused for many years after WWII, a great deal of work and Money will have to be spent on them to provide Flying surfaces and barrack blocks etc. It is envisaged that this will take upwards of TEN Years to fully implement and this timescale will also apply to the building up to full strength in the Scottish Defence Forces.

The tables that follow on the next few pages are for a NON NATO Defence force. If the people of Scotland decide on a NATO Stance then numbers and types of equipment will have to be changed. It should be noted that most of the equipment is old, but well proven in service and reliable. Much cheaper to purchase and maintain in front line service by a part time reserve force and by its simplicity, is highly suitable for upgrading the weapons systems well into the 21^st century.

It is Clannasaor's contention that IF the people of an Independent Scotland should decide that Scotland should be a full member of The NATO Defensive alliance There is one important proviso, There will be NO Nuclear, Biological or Chemical weapons of mass destruction, based in, or transiting through Scotland. Membership of NATO does have some financial merits. In that a large proportion of the Scottish Military Infrastructure costs will be borne by NATO thus saving the Scots Exchequer 1.2 Billion pounds per annum as well as ensuring supplies of military hardware and training at greatly reduced prices. Whether or Not NATO Membership is sought or Swiss type Neutrality is the chosen path, there must be built up a defence Infrastructure which will effect budget reductions in purchasing hardware and munitions. A Good case can be made for investing in military industrial infrastructure such as Shipyards to build and modify warships, an Aircraft Factory or assembly plant to carry out assembly work and modifications, (Such as Scottish Aerospace at Prestwick). Munitions Plant to Provide small arms ammunition, shells etc (Means reopening the Nobels plant), and heavy vehicle assembly units to assemble Armoured fighting vehicles and do upgrades etc.

There are some specific tasks and responsibilities of the Cabhlach nan Alba - Scottish Navy, which have to be addressed, such as: The protection of North Sea Oil Rigs, pipelines and Gas platforms, It should be noted, there are a high number of unstable Asian, middle Eastern and Eastern European nations which actively support Terrorism. Drug smuggling, Money laundering and arms sales are commonly used as a source of funds for these organisations. The Scottish Defence forces will in future be working closely with the Customs, Police, Exchequer to interrupt their sources of supply. Certain highly vulnerable installations such as gas plants on the Coastlines will require constant security 24 hrs day. The Scottish Navy will have the overall responsibility for Fisheries protection and policing. To borrow from the Fisheries portfolio, Coastguard vessels will be required to enforce the 'No Industrial Fishing' ban in Scottish waters and to police the Fishing grounds to intercept and investigate cases of illegal fishing or piracy

The following proposals are for the composition of the Scottish Navy.

Cabhlach nan Alba.

This is the most important Military Service, due to the protection of Oilfields, Fisheries, Inter Island ferry routes and Convoys. Other vessels may be required to fulfill NATO Northern Flank duties if the people of Scotland decide to be members of NATO.

Cabhlach nan Alba.

• Coastguard Cutter US Naval Design.12 Off. First 6 bought off shelf, 6 self build. First Crews trained in USA, then home trained after 8 Coastguard vessels are operational. Fisheries and Oilfield protection duties. Carries one Helicopter and Marine detachment for boarding as well as two 40mm Bofors guns and smaller Oerlikon 20mm Cannon and 7.62mm GPMG's
  

• Fast Inshore patrol craft 14 Off. 4 Taken over ex RN, 10 Built in small shipyards on Vosper Thorneycroft MTB Design To be used mostly for Training reservists. Giving Sea Cadets Sea time and training and to be allocated to Scottish Coastal waters and areas for Anti Submarine and convoy escorts in time of tension.



• Modified type 42 Destroyers. 6 Off All Built in Clyde yards. To replace 6 Older ships Taken over from R.N. Designed for Convoy escort, Anti submarine and anti Aircraft duties. Convoy Protection. Ground Support (bombardment) duties.
  

• Diesel Electric conventional Submarines.(U. Boats) 10 Off 2 purchased Germania yard Bremen, rest Clyde built under license. Purpose Anti Submarine, convoy protection and Enemy shipping interdiction. Armed with 8 Torpedo Tubes plus SAM Missiles and short range Surface to Surface Missiles such as Exocet.



• Mine Countermeasures sweepers. 8 Off. 3 Taken over, ex RN and 5 built in Clyde yards. Part Reserve fleet 4 vessels used for training.



• Assault ships / Harrier/ Helicopter Carrier.2 Off Clyde Built modified HMS Ocean Design to take marine landing Craft and provide Air support .for ground troops. Also Convoy Escort and protection.



• Macdonnell Douglas AV8B Harriers 24 Off. First 6 bought off shelf, 18 assembled at the Prestwick Facility from kits of parts with manufacturing offsets. This will provide the Navy with Fighter and Surface shipping attack capabilities

• Lockheed Orion Maritime patrol A/c 20 Off All ex USN bought & refurbished ex USA. It would not be cost effective to take over Nimrod Aircraft from the RAF due to the inherent unserviceability problems which keeps half the current fleet grounded. The Orion is reliable, economical and highly efficient



• Blackhawk Helicopters for Assault /Anti/submarine and Search & Rescue 32 Off first two bought from USA rest self assembly with some local manufacturing offsets. plus reserve aircraft in kit form for rapid assembly to replace casualties from Aerospace suppliers such as Westland of England.



• Ocean going trawlers fitted for Minesweeping and Anti submarine warfare 6 Off. For reserve fleet and reservist training purposes. Also to give Sea cadet units sea time. In wartime would form the nucleus of a 50 strong force taken up from the fishing fleet.



• Conversion of Civilian Trawlers with basic fittings for minesweeping and Anti Submarine duties. It is envisaged that some 50 will be so modified to provide an immediate war reserve



• Fleet Oilers and Supply ships 16 Off Taken over from RN on Independence. To include at least two Ocean going tugs, two Survey/Hospital ships and four Accommodation/cross channel ferry types.



• Sail training ships 3 Off. For Sea cadet training and Citizenship training for Scottish young people and youth groups such as Scouts and Boys and Girls Brigades.



• Sea Cadet Units. 12 Off. Existing units taken over from the UK Sea Cadet Corps, and incorporated as pre service training for Young People with an active interest in the Navy and maritime life in the merchant marine service.

Scottish Air Force. Armailt nan Adhar (Army of the Sky)

• F16 Fighter Aircraft. 20 Off First 4 Bought Ex USA, rest Prestwick built. For day interception duties in two squadrons. Can also be used for ground attack..



• F15 Fighter Bomber FAW 30 Off 10 From USA rest Prestwick built. For all weather fighter and ground attack duties in three squadrons.



• Macdonnell Douglas AV8B Harriers 24 Off all self build under licence. To be used for dispersed Army support from damaged or rudimentary airstrips



• Boeing A3 AWACS 3 Off Bought from Boeing as ex NATO or USAF Stocks fully refurbished to as new condition.

• DC10 or Tristar Tanker / Transports. 6 Off Ex Civilian aircraft. Conversions by Marshall's of Cambridge to provide best value for money as opposed to dedicated Transports and Air to Air Refuellers.



• Lockheed Hercules Transports 12 Off. Ex RAF Stocks refurbished stretched version with strengthened floors Parachute Training school...
• Lockheed Heavy lifter Transport 6 Off. First 6 from Lockheed, with Prestwick Offsets.



• Hawk Trainers24 Off Ex RAF Stocks for Flying Training and reserve pilot refresher trainer for Hawk fighters below.



• Hawk Fighters/GA 24 Off New build under licence for Reserve Air Force for use as fighter/Ground attack and reconnaissance.


• Shorts Tucano Intermediate trainer 8 Off. Ex RAF Stocks refurbished by manufacturer.
  
• Slingsby Basic trainers. 18 Off Basic trainers and Cadet Air Experience.
  
• Jetstream Twin engined navigation trainers and light transports. 8 Off. Ex RAF Stocks refurbished to as new standard.
  
• Westland Sea King Air Sea Rescue helicopters 10 Off. Ex RAF/RN stocks refurbished to as new standard.
  
• Mountain Rescue Teams. 2 Off. Small cadre of permanent staff supplemented by volunteers.
  
• Air Force Regiment. 3 Field and 6 Air defence (Rapier Missiles and anti-aircraft guns) Squadrons, split up into three flights each. I full time flight plus two reserve flights. Fully mechanised with AFV's and air transportable. Field Squadrons to be parachute trained.
  
• Medical and Nursing services hospital which can be used in peacetime as an auxiliary service to the Scottish Health Service Hospitals for times like Flu epidemics when Hospitals become overloaded with patients.(This will be merged into a Joint services Medical service)
  
• Technical Training School for Airframes and Avionics apprentices, to provide training in all Aircraft trades for the three services in a central location, say East Fortune. The school will also house a maintenance unit for the acceptance and overhaul of aircraft for all three services
  
• Radar Stations.(3 Fixed, 2 Mobile) 5 OffTaken over from RAF as Early Warning Stations
  
• Air Cadet Gliding Schools. 3 Off EX RAF/ATC equipment taken over.
  
• Air Cadet Units ( 107) taken over from Air Training Corps as pre service training units for Air minded young people wanting to Join the Armailt nan Adhar or civil air service.
  

Scottish Army. Armailt nan Alba. (Army of Scotland.)

• Leopard Heavy Tanks 60 Off Ex German Army stock refurbished. With 120mm Challenger II gun. Selected for its reliability as opposed to taking over ex British Army Challenger tanks with their long history of Powerplant failures, poor maintenance and unserviceability. To Equip one Full time and one reserve Regiment To have backup of 15 Tank transporters.
  

• 155mm SP Artillery Guns. 16 Off. Bought from Israel or South Africa probably the most efficient 155mm Gun in the world with a greater range than the standard NATO Guns



• 105mm Artillery guns 80 Off Italian design air transportable. Very rugged and reliable. First 20 bought from Italy and the remainder built under license.

• Steyr AUG 5.56mm Infantry Rifle 400,000Off Austrian Design manufactured under licence. This is a well proven, rugged and reliable weapon as opposed to the equipment used by the present British Forces. The standard British SA80 Rifle is highly unpopular with its users, unreliable, prone to jamming unless field stripped and oiled every 50 rounds or so. Poor plastic construction quality.



• Warrior Light Tanks with 30mm Cannon. 50 Off Good performance over boggy terrain for infantry support and forward air control.



• Armoured Personnel Carriers. 200 Off for Infantry transport in cases of rapid mobilization being required.
  

• Soft skinned vehicles of the Landrover / Three tonne truck types for general movement and reconnaissance. Around 220 of both types will be required. Other transport needs would be met by the hire of Civilian Coaches and HGV's.



• Blackhawk Battlefield helicopters 30 Off. All built under license from Westland Helicopters of Yeovil England.

• Apache Strike helicopters 30 Off. First 10 bought ex US Army stocks and the remainder built under license. Provided the current problems caused by firing missiles are resolved. Note all Pilot training of Army Aircrew will be carried out in the USA until a future joint Service Helicopter Flying training school can be established.



• Full Strength Highland Battalion 'Cameron Highlanders' Based in Inverness with Six Reserve Training Battalions at 'An Garasdan' (Fort William), Oban, Aviemore, Dingwall, Ullapool, Kirkwall and Lerwick



• Full Strength Airborne (Parachute) Highland Battalion 'Seaforth Highlanders' Based in Fort George near Inverness with Three reserve training Battalions at Wick, Elgin and Forres.



• Full Strength Highland Battalion 'Frieceadan Dubh (Black Watch) Highlanders' Based in Perth with Four reserve training Battalions at Stirling, Forfar, Dundee and Dunfermline.



• Full Strength Highland Battalion 'Gordon Highlanders' Based in Bridge of Don (Aberdeen) with Six reserve training Battalions at Huntly, Keith, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Stonehaven and Inverurie



• Full Strength Highland Battalion Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders' Based in Glasgow with two reserve training Battalions at Ayr and Greenock.

Scottish Army. Armailt nan Alba. (Army of Scotland.)

• Full Strength Airborne (Parachute) Lowland Battalion 'The Scottish Borderers' Based in Edinburgh (Dreghorn) with Six reserve training Battalions at Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, Lockerbie, Jedburgh, Kelso and Berwick on Tweed after negotiations after a negotiated return to Scotland.



• The Highland Fusileers, equipped with Warriors and armoured personnel carriers as a mechanised infantry unit based in Glasgow.



• The Scots Greys armoured Regiment comprising of Leopard Tanks and warrior light tanks. In two battalions, one full time and one reserve. Based in Stirling and Kelso.



• I full time Engineering Battalion at Stirling with five reserve Battalions at Kinloss, Lossiemouth, Leuchars, Prestwick and East Fortune.
  

• I full time Electrical and Mechanical Engineers unit at Stirling (Main Maintenance Unit for vehicles with one reserve Unit in Glasgow and smaller detachments at all the major barracks, Ports and Airfields.
  

• Medical and Nursing services hospital which can be used in peacetime as an auxiliary service to the Scottish Health Service Hospitals for times like Flu epidemics when Hospitals become overloaded with patients.(This will be merged into a Joint services Medical service)



• Army Cadet Units ( 93) taken over from Army Cadet Force as pre service training units for Army minded young people wanting to Join the Armailt nan Alba

Marine Corps. Armailt gu Mara. (Army of the Sea)

Marine Commando, Parachute, Arctic Warfare and Small boat trained with reserve Commando at Arbroath and detachments at Scapa Flow and Scatsta in Shetland. Primary task, Oil and Gas field protection with detachments to Coastguard Fisheries vessels for policing Fishing vessels. Some ceremonial duties. Specialist personnel such as Naval Gunfire Officers, Helicopter Pilots for the Scottish Navy and forward observers will be drawn from the ranks of the marines to give a small force an interesting and versatile career profile.

NOTES.

As stated earlier, the standing army concept has no place in an Independent Scotland. There will be regular cadres in each Battalion which will be composed mostly of National Servicemen. These conscripts will in addition to weekend and evening duties have to give One months service each year as a reservist when the reserve Battalions are fully activated. Each Reservist will have his personal weapon and will draw ammunition from the armoury in times of national emergency. Scotland's fledgling democracy has nothing to fear from arming its citizens unlike some of our near neighbours. It has worked well in Switzerland for 300 years and Clannasaor is convinced that strict armed neutrality is the only way forward. Clannasaor Has decided that Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun's discourse on Militias (1698) makes an ideal basis for this concept.

Infrastructure and Equipment.

The reader will note that Infrastructure and facilities have been spread out across the length and breadth of Scotland. This has a threefold purpose. (1) To Provide Employment in sparsely populated areas as well as providing extra services such as Air Travel from service airfields. (2) To act as Economic 'Nodal Points' to regenerate local economies, by increased spending on wages, services and supplies. (3) To disperse vulnerable installations and make it more difficult for a prospective enemy to mount a successful pre-emptive strike.

It will take at least Ten full fiscal years to build the Scottish Defence forces up to their planned levels and this will also help build up and on the strategic Industrial front as Scotland builds up her Shipbuilding, Aircraft Factories, Armaments Factories, Munitions factories. Well over 97% of our southern neighbours spending on defence is spent in the South of England. Scottish Facilities and Units have been run down badly to the detriment of the economy of Scotland. There is a lot of rebuilding to take place and all this has been budgeted for in the provisional Financial Planner for 2005 to 2015.

Personnel and manning.

Initially it is anticipated that Scots servicemen and women presently serving in the UK Forces will be offered the opportunity to transfer over to the Scottish forces with no loss of pay or pension rights that they may have accrued. Some Scots may wish to fulfil the remainder of their service in the UK Forces and they will be free to do provided they pledge not to carry out orders that would compromise the safety and security of Scotland. Once their service has ended, they are then free to decide whether or not to accept Scottish Citizenship or become a Citizen of England. On return to Scottish jurisdiction, they will be liable for reserve service and annual training like all other Scots.

(Back to Top)

DIASPORAN SCOTS

In many respects their patriotism shows many of our native born Scots up in a poor light,. Anyone who loves our language, Culture, music and literature and wishes to help in the task of freeing our Country is welcome to join Clannasaor in the struggle for Independence and preserving our unique Scottish character and culture. what does matter is that we Scots are Brothers and Sisters of a very large extended family and that we Scots work TOGETHER for the benefit of all, so that eventually our extended family will have a FREE homeland once again. Clannasaor propose that any member of the diaspora who has actively worked for the cause of independence will be entitled to a Scottish Passport and an automatic right of residence in Scotland and Green Card.

(Back to Top)

DISABLED PEOPLE

(Back to Top)

EDUCATION AND FURTHER EDUCATION

Standards have slipped under the Tory and New Labour Governments. With the emphasis being solely on numbers gaining a qualification, this has led to the diminishing of excellence in the courses concerned. This will be tackled head on by a root and branch reform of the courses needed to obtain degree level qualifications. Full Maintenance Grants and Bursaries will be made available to impoverished students undertaking Socially Useful courses such as Medicine, Veterinary Science, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Forestry, Agriculture, Marine, Ocean sciences and similar courses.

Courses such as Law, Accountancy, Sociology and politics would not attract funding from general taxation at the time of application. However all university courses will be reviewed every three years to ensure changing National Needs and priorities are correctly addressed. Universities will be encouraged to give first choice to Students who reside in Scotland, in order to end discrimination on the basis of financial gain for the University concerned. It is recommended that not more than 15% of the Student body be from fee paying foreign Governments unless there is a shortfall in the number of Students taking up places. The Integrity of the Scottish 4 Year degree will be preserved to maintain its academic pre-eminence.

(Back to Top)

EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT

Local Councillors who will be independent of Party Politics will receive a stipend and expenses incurred and will be tasked with ensuring the locals area's priorities are properly known and catered for. They will have duties on the Police and Local School Boards as well. The Civil Service will be totally independent of the executive and subject to proper public scrutiny by means of an independent Civil Service Commission. All Civil servants will be recruited and trained by a central Authority at a College. The freedom of information act will ensure that the Civil service cannot hide its mistakes and wrongdoings behind a veil of secrecy as is current common policy amongst most European bureaucracies and is especially prevalent in the UK. This will ensure that anonymity and protection is given to 'Whistle Blowers.'

All Civil Servants will be trained in several disciplines instead of being specialized as at present and there will be a government Office in each Town and Large village to handle enquiries, problems and payments, thus ensuring that an Office is within easy reach of all the citizens. In addition Government departments will be dispersed to locations throughout Scotland which will have several tangible benefits. Local employment is enhanced, there are increased employment opportunities and the pressure of traffic in large conurbations will be thereby reduced. This concept is extremely viable in the light of modern telecommunications equipment Members of the Senate (Aird Comhairle) are prohibited from accepting any paid or unpaid remuneration from any Business organisation, firm or Corporation to prevent corruption and sleaze.

(Back to Top)

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

It can only be a matter of a few years before improvements in Photo Voltaic Cells, battery capacities and recharge rates make Electric vehicles a practical proposition (not to mention fuels such as LPG currently being used in the Islands), and to encourage their use Road fund duty will be kept at £10 per annum to cover administration costs whereas road fund duty for Fossil fuelled vehicles will be increased to £200 Per annum. Research and development grants will be made available to inventors and possibly a competition held for the first Electric car holding 4 adults to travel from John o' Groats to Gretna Green without needing to recharge. Gaining advances in this new technology could conceivably be the seed corn of a completely new industry. Research grants will be funnelled through the Universities and technical Colleges with individual grants to private inventors who have made significant advances in this field. Buses will be phased out in the towns and Cities to be replaced by Electric Trams and light railways. However, due to the sparsely populated rural areas, such a move to phase out buses and cars would be highly impracticable as they are often the only means of transporting people and goods.

Full recycling of Household Refuse will be encouraged by reductions in the Council Tax for people who compost vegetable wastes (rather than leaving this to town and city areas), sort Papers into bundles and recycle Cans. Recycling of Chemicals and oils which can often be used in other processes could be licensed to commercial contractors. This includes the safe disposal of Toxic chemicals and materials. Manufacturers are to be encouraged to use Glass bottles and Jars as well as tins instead of plastics and paper packaging. This would reduce our dependence on Oil (for plastics) and also provide impecunious children with a new source of pocket money! The Safe long term disposal of Toxic wastes will need to be addressed as will the decommissioning of Nuclear Power installations. The Laid up Nuclear Submarine hulks presently rotting away in Rosyth Dockyard will have to be uplifted by the English Royal Navy and removed from Scottish waters immediately Independence is signed as Scotland refuses to become a dump for nuclear waste materiels.

(Back to Top)

EUROPEAN POLICY.

Clannasaor view with increasing alarm, the movement within the European Countries for full unification which means in effect, the days of the Nation State are numbered. Instead, Countries will be broken down into easily administered 'Regions' of the greater Europe or as we term it 'The United States of Europe.' Many people high up in the ranks of the SNP accuse us of paranoia and xenophobia and often laughingly dismiss us as 'Europhobes' or 'Eurosceptics' as if we were some offshoot of the Toraidh party. Despite the mocking and catcalling we believe that we have a case to make when we believe that a United States of Europe is coming into being.

To create a State one needs the following items to be in existence:

• A Government machinery to be in place.
• A Civil service to exist.
• A Ruling Executive to be in place.
• A Parliament Building for the executive.
• A Capital city.
• A Head of State to be appointed.
• A National Flag.
• A National Anthem.
• A Written Constitution and Bill of rights
• A Common Legal system including Consumer, safety and construction.
• A Common Police service
• A Common system of weights and measures
• A Common Currency.
• A Common Taxation policy.
• A National Bank
• A Common Foreign Policy
• An Armed Service comprising Army, Navy and Airforce.
• A Common Language or languages.
• A Common ownership of all former community owned assets.

Clannasaor contend that all these headings are either already in place, are being made ready at this time or are being planned for implementation in the near future. Europe is being run by the arch federalists namely Germany and France with close support from Belgium, Italy and Spain. The impetus within Europe to form a federal United States of Europe is growing more powerful each passing year and this is where Clannasaor and the SNP part company. The SNP believe in some dogmatic fiction called 'Independence in Europe'. This entails Joining the Euro with the complete loss of control of taxation and independent government spending. Handing over to the United States of Europe under the terms of 'Aquis Communitaire' ALL National assets such as Mineral rights (Including all Oil and Gas reserves) Forests, Land, Seabed rights, Airspace, Gold and Foreign currency reserves. Government investments and funds including pension funds containing Billions of pounds of hard earned workers life savings. This is not right and it is not the way for an Independent Scotland to travel. To simply go from being an impoverished English colony supporting the bottomless money pit of London, to being an equally impoverished tiny region of the United States of Europe supporting the obese bottomless money pit of Brussels. You will find several fact sheets on Europe in the articles files of this website.

(Back to Top)

• Agriculture.
• Air Traffic Control.
• Constitutional Matters
• Currency unit.
• Defence and defence infrastructure.
• Diasporan Scots
• Disabled People
• Education and Further Education
• Efficient Government
• Environmental Issues.
• Europe
• Financial Services Sector.
• Fishing and Conservation.
• Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• Forestry.
• Green Energy.
• Immigration
• Independence.
• Industry
• Law and Order
• Media
• Multinational Monopolies.
• Nuclear Power.
• Postal Services.
• Public Transport.
• Public, Private Partnerships.
• Public Utilities and Water.
• Rural Economy and depopulation.
• Scottish Health Service.
• Shipping & Safety at Sea.
• Social Policy
• Taxation.
• Tourism
• Women in Politics.