The likes of Boris Johnson are just another by-product of the broken Westminster system
In recent weeks, people across Scotland and the UK have been outraged at the reports, cover-ups, and lies about the Tories’ rule-breaking lockdown parties.
While far too many families had to say goodbye to loved ones over a video call, Boris Johnson and No. 10 were throwing parties – with suitcases of alcohol, DJs in the Downing Street basement, and the cheek to suggest these were “work events”.
While people stuck to the rules to keep others safe, those in the UK government who made the rules were breaking them.
What has come out in recent weeks would have been enough to trigger any Prime Minister’s immediate resignation.
And the sad truth is, nobody is surprised that Boris Johnson hasn’t yet resigned – because it’s not just the parties.
Boris Johnson has committed resignation offence after resignation offence.
But just as the Tory party has shown too often, they think it’s one rule for them, and another for the rest of us. They think they’re above everyone else – even the law.
They’ve unlawfully shut down parliament, misled Parliament several times, given peerages to Tory donors, used public money to give contracts to his mates, and sanctioned the use of Covid funding to conduct polling on the Union.
Boris Johnson’s position as Prime Minister is not just untenable. It is morally indefensible.
👎 It’s one rule for the Boris Johnson’s Westminster Government, and another for everyone else.
🏴 It’s time for Scotland to get rid of the broken and corrupt Westminster system with independence. https://t.co/bkLETL68v1 pic.twitter.com/BoC4X1Y5og
— Yes (@YesScot) December 9, 2021
But for Scotland, there is a more significant issue at hand:
The broken Westminster system enables a politician like Boris Johnson to become Prime Minister, no matter how out of touch with the Scottish people and values they might be, and regardless of whether or not the Scottish people voted for them.
Scotland hasn’t voted Tory since 1955 – yet we’ve been saddled with Tory governments for most of the period since, causing damage against our will.
It goes beyond the parties, the corruption or the disdain – Westminster is broken beyond repair because of the democratic deficit at its core.
And the undeniable truth is this – the only way for Scotland to always get the governments it votes for is to escape the Westminster system and choose independence.
🚨 Boris Johnson resigning isn’t enough to fix the UK’s democratic deficit – he’s just a result of a broken Westminster system.
🏴 With independence, we will always get the governments we vote for.
✏️ Agree? Sign the yes pledge at https://t.co/bkLETLnJTB pic.twitter.com/sQfwVq4LQv
— Yes (@YesScot) January 18, 2022
Scotland can, and will, do so much better as an independent country.
Independence in itself will not be a magic wand, and there will be tough challenges to be faced.
But crucially, it will give us the powers that independent countries like Ireland, Denmark and Norway use to build fairer, more prosperous societies than the UK’s.
The question is no longer whether Scotland could afford to be a prosperous independent country – the question now is whether we can afford not to be independent.
🏴 The people who live in Scotland should be the people who decide Scotland’s future.
🗳️ With independence, we’ll always get the governments we vote for – not Boris Johnson.
🤝 Pledge your support and help make it happen: https://t.co/bkLETLnJTB pic.twitter.com/duiU4o9QLK
— Yes (@YesScot) December 2, 2021
In the 2021 election, pro-independence parties got the highest number of votes and the largest vote share ever, and there is a majority pro-independence government at Holyrood.
There is a clear mandate for an independence referendum, and Scotland will have that choice.
Get involved and help to win Scotland’s independence.
Watch our latest film, setting out what the independence debate is and isn’t about – and why Scotland can do so much better free from Westminster rule.
🏴 The Scottish independence debate. What is it actually all about?
📺 Cut through the noise and share our latest film with 5 friends. #SNP21 pic.twitter.com/kJL0GPfZ8f
— Yes (@YesScot) November 28, 2021
Please share it with five friends and family and help reach hundreds of thousands of people across Scotland.
Sign the independence pledge to show your support if you haven’t already.
And check out all the informative resources on the News page, infographics, videos, as well as our 8-page leaflet, which you can download, print, and deliver to the doorsteps.