Let's go for it!

AS WE move into the final days of the referendum campaign, it’s worthwhile reflecting briefly on what has been an exciting and largely respectful debate which has engaged a wide range of people in constructive discussions about the future of Scotland.

A debate that has increasingly focused not just on our constitutional arrangements, but on the kind of Scotland we want to build. A debate that has re-energised civic engagement

and re-connected many people to politics, not in the narrow, partyfocused sense of the word, but in its original meaning "of, for, or relating to citizens", of engaging with others to

discuss issues affecting us all.

Whatever the result of the referendum, let’s build on this broader approach to politics and make sure we all remain engaged in discussions about our common future.

It will be far easier to achieve this if we continue the process of bringing power closer to the people which started with devolution.

Independence is a further step towards re-localising democracy, a further step towards giving us more influence over the decisions which affect us.

The debate has revealed that, beyond the differences of opinion aboutour future constitutional arrangements, there is much we all agree on.

For example, there is general agreement that an independent Scotland would: have enough resources to be a prosperous country; be a member of the European Union; retain close ties with England and the rest of the United Kingdom.

As most of us agree, Scotland could be successful as an independent country, our vote on the 18th of September will be on whether Scotland should be an independent country. And the reasons for deciding we should be independent are overwhelming.

The most fundamental reason is that, for 15 hours on the 18th of September, we will have complete control over our own future. On that day we can choose to hand that control back to Westminster, letting governments elected by others take crucial decisions on our behalf.

Or we can choose to keep that control in Scotland, so that we can take those decisions ourselves. Keeping that control will enable us to continue the process of bringing power closer to the people which started with devolution. A process that can continue beyond the move of powers from Westminster to Edinburgh to renew local democracy and give power back to local communities.

Keeping that control will also enable an independent Scotland to work for a peaceful, fair and sustainable future. We will be able to take action on a whole range of issues, from finding better uses for 100 billion pounds than spending it on obscene weapons of mass destruction like Trident, to focusing on building a fairer and more just society, helping rather than victimising the poor and the vulnerable.

We have all the resources we need to be a successful nation, regardless of the currency we use. Independence will give us the opportunity to use our resources for the common good. Let’s go for it!