Westminster certainly knows how to hold on to stolen goods. Today the Stone of Destiny wasreturned over Coldstream Bridge to Scotland, seven hundred years after Edward I reportedlystole it, however the theft of Scottish resources still goes on.

For over twenty years, successive Westminster governments have filched Scotland's oil andgas revenues, and given none back. Since 1979, £120,000 million of Scottish North searevenues have been taken to London and squandered by an anti-Scottish Tory government. TheWestminster system is bleeding Scotland dry and offering back an ill-gotten symbol inreturn.

But, the fact that the Stone is being returned at all shows that Westminster now understandsthat the Scottish people want change. But in trying to meet that demand with a stone, theTories are simply highlighting their failure to understand that Scots want real change, notjust the return of a stolen symbol.

If the Tories think that they can palm Scots off with a symbol, then they have another thinkcoming. The Stone is not a Tory plaything - it is a symbol of Scottish freedom. The Stoneof Destiny will be Scotland's 'rolling stone', driving forward the demand of the Scottishpeople for real change with a real Parliament.

Like the Stone of Destiny, Scotland has outgrown Westminster. The Stone is of enormoussymbolic significance to Scotland, representing both the freedom and the unity of ournation. And just as its theft marked the loss of Scottish sovereignty, so its return ispart of the process of restoring freedom to Scotland.

But we need to move beyond symbols, and regain possession of decision-making powers with anindependent Parliament. Only with the symbols and substance of power can we speak stronglyfor Scotland in Europe, use our own resources wisely, create new jobs and social justice,and develop the best future for all the people of Scotland.

Scots want the substance of nationhood, not just the symbolism. That is the positive messagewhich the SNP will be campaigning on in the run-up to and beyond St Andrew's Day on 30November.

The SNP's special campaign on the return of the Stone will be positive and upbeat and ourmessage to the Scottish people is 'Build on the Stone', and restore both the substance andsymbols of power to Scotland with an independent Parliament.

The SNP's campaign activities which will "Build on the Stone" include:

* On 21 November, an SNP Party Political Broadcast which will focus on the return of theStone will be screened;

* On 29 November, the SNP will hold a Torchlight Rally on Calton Hill in Edinburgh, the siteof the Scottish Parliament Building, commencing at 7.30 pm.

* After the Rally, SNP members will participate in a meeting hosted by the Scottish Centrefor Economic and Social Research "think tank", in Edinburgh's New Parliament Building -where a real Scottish Parliament should be.

Roseanna Cunningham MP
SNP Justice and Equality Spokesperson
Scottish National Party


Roseanna Cunningham is the Member of Parliament for Perth and Kinross, she is also the Home Affairs Spokeperson for the Scottish National Party.

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If you would like to know more about the SNP and HELP SCOTLAND contact snp.hq@snp.org.uk or visit the official the Scottish National Party web site.

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