How does independence make progressive policies more likely?

Richie wrote about delivering "a fundamental and irreversible redistribution of power and wealth in favour of working people, their families and communities" without making any actual proposals as to how these laudable aims are to be realised.

He insists Trade Unionists for Independence (TUFI) will be based on principles of social justice, equality, wealth redistribution and internationalism, yet omits to mention that the British (and Irish) trade union movements already stand for these values.

As for "supporting those fighting austerity, in England, Ireland or Wales," I fail to see how detaching Scotland from political engagement with the rest of Britain and those of us arguing the alternative to neo-liberalism does that.

Part of Richie's agenda is criticising the Labour Party for not repealing anti-union laws and tackling social inequality, but the missing piece of the jigsaw is how the politics of this is addressed.

Where is TUFI's socialist political organisation capable of both supplanting Labour and winning the necessary votes to deliver its aims?

Aspiring to set the agenda about the Scotland we all want to see is not enough.

Without tangible ideas how to deliver and concrete reasons why independence makes progressive policies more likely to be achieved, I see no case for the left to support Scottish independence.

Stephen Smith

Redditch