Referendum: Timeline needed for nation-building

For immediate release 31 May 2012

Speaking in the debate on Scotland's future in the Scottish Parliament, Greens have called for a clear timeline for a written constitution to be set out in next year's White Paper. Greens will be putting the case for an inspirational plan to 'crowdsource' the constitution, with the process truly in the hands of the Scottish people. This approach has recently been completed with great success in Iceland, where thousands of people took part in shaping and amending a new constitution following its financial crash.

Greens MSPs will vote to support the Scottish Government's motion on independence, but continue to argue that to win the referendum, the Yes campaign needs to set out a compelling vision of an independent country with social and environmental justice at its core.

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

"Everyone in Scotland is going to get very bored over the next two years unless those involved present exciting ideas on how we're going to do things differently as an independent country. Last year, the people of Iceland completed an inspiring process of putting together a new constitution with great use of online participation.

“I think it's very clear that as a modern independent state, Scotland will need a written constitution but I want to see it genuinely written by the people, rather than by haggling between Scottish and UK Ministers. It's my hope that we can lay out a clear timeline before the referendum that will show Scots how they will have the chance to design the new rules we’ll need for a transformed country."