Autumn Convention 2025 - Lively Exchanges on Routes To Independence
Independence Forum Scotland held its 2025 Autumn Convention at Adelaide Place, 188 Pitt Street, Glasgow on Saturday 8 November. The principal theme for this over-subscribed event was Routes to Independence, which began with a review of the legal position by Professor Aileen McHarg of the University of Durham.
Professor McHarg’s central point was that while many advocates of independence might seek legal routes to that goal, this must always be led by the clearly expressed political will of the nation. She confirmed that secession from the UK is legally permissible, but added that the Scottish Parliament cannot legislate unilaterally to increase its powers to encompass the constitution, and therefore secession/independence can only happen legally with UK Government agreement.
Professor McHarg also addressed the international dimension, stating that whilst secession is possible within international law, to be effective it requires recognition by other states and United Nations membership, which might not be a straightforward process.
This analysis was one of the main areas of contention in a subsequent discussion panel, chaired by National Editor Laura Webster, in which Professor McHarg herself participated, along with senior lawyer Ewan Kennedy, Substack blogger Leah Gunn Barrett, and former Scottish Government minister Alex Neil. Here Ewan Kennedy put forward the argument that Scotland could indeed pursue its right to self-determination via the UN and international courts through various routes.
The panel also conducted lively exchanges on the opportunities and challenges of respective approaches, including a call for the Scottish Government to use its devolved powers to enact the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Professor McHarg maintained that this would inevitably run counter to the Scotland Act (1998), leading to a further challenge in the Supreme Court.
The panel was unanimous around the point repeatedly expressed by Alex Neil that a sustainable independence campaign must aim for a clear, distinct and indisputable majority, which would require a united movement out on the streets explaining the benefits of independence.
Earlier in the afternoon we had heard an update from former UK Ambassador Craig Murray on Liberation Scotland’s efforts to achieve independence through a decolonisation process at the UN, entailing definition of Scotland as a ‘non-self-governing territory’ – effectively a colony. This initiative, which is complementary to the political campaign to increase independence support, continues to make progress.
Greg McCarra spoke of Scotland’s inalienable right to decide her future, a view that holds favour beyond pro-independence supporters and parties, and thus provides a strong foundation for building consensus. Peter A Bell outlined his detailed route to independence, popular with the audience, based on a joint Manifesto for Independence and a Scottish UDI.
As has become the standard for IFS Conventions, the day’s proceedings got underway with a cultural presentation, a thoughtful and poetic contribution from Scotland’s Makar, Pàdraig MacAoidh (Peter Mackay), on ‘What’s It Like To Be a Scot Today?’. In his gentle but impactful manner, he made the theme personal, discussing the contrasting light and dark aspects of his experience of being a Scot, a bilingual Scot (Gaelic and English) brought up on the west coast of Lewis, with little concept of Scotland the nation. He stressed the importance of stories and shared memories, though not nostalgia, and also painted a picture of an imagined future Scotland.
Another important element of our Conventions is a focus on the practical aspects of how Scotland will operate once independent. Addressing pension provision, a key issue in the 2014 referendum, Jim Osborne of the Scottish Currency Group set out proposals for the establishment of a National Pension Fund to manage all pensions in Scotland, and to direct its investments to projects within Scotland, rather than everywhere else but Scotland.
He explained the transition to this new more generous pension structure, and underlined its affordability. Tim Rideout, the session chair, added the simple observation that Scotland’s National Insurance contributions continue to exceed withdrawals for state pension.
The unenviable task of summarising proceedings fell to Yes United’s Simon Forrest, who sent delegates home with the positive message that all of the routes to independence had merits, as they all contributed energy to the independence movement. He emphasised a number of important points:
- All of the political heavy lifting on independence planning is happening in the movement, outwith the political parties
- There is no legal panacea that will gain independence
- Political power is the key to opening the door towards independence
- International approaches may support the political process, and can do no harm
- Diverse approaches may help in achieving our goal. Campaigning on the right to decide may be particularly important
- We need to plan future statehood
IFS Convener Ian Grant ended Saturday’s lively and informative event by looking forward to our Spring Convention in March 2026, when we hope to see groups coming together in the run-up to the 2026 elections, and taking the drive for independence to a new level.
A version of this article by Ian Grant and John Proctor appeared in The National on 13 November 2025.
