Three inspiring speeches from Òran Mòr
Lesley Riddoch, Phil Boswell and Jim Sillars.
There have been times in the last 12 years or so when supporting Scottish Independence has led to heartbreak and disappointment. However, the event last week in Òran Mòr, Glasgow, was not one such occasion, on the contrary, the positivity and hope for the future were palpable throughout the day.
Two organisations, Yes United and Independence Forum Scotland, came together to organise this event and the two teams worked brilliantly together. The format was so successful that we are now looking to collaborate again in the future and also work more closely with other parts of the movement. Bringing the Independence movement together and working more closely is vital for restoring Scotland’s status as an Independent Nation. We call on all individuals and organisations in the movement to find common ground and, as Phil Boswell said in his speech below, leave egos at the door. The division and splintering must end and each of us has a responsibility to work with others for the greater cause of Independence.
Returning to the Òran Mòr event, from the very beginning, the quality of the speeches was evident and the interactions during the world cafè session showed a depth of thought and consideration which the yes movement has not seen for quite some time, except in silos here and there. It was acknowledged that we must keep learning as a movement and we are all responsible for this, “be the change you want to see”.
The one and only Lesley Riddoch was our first speaker and she suggested we start behaving as if we live in an Independent country already, so we are prepared in advance before it becomes a reality. How many of us are taking part in our local community council, how many of us run a co-operative, how many of us have a boat? Drawing on her knowledge of the Nordic Countries, she gave us much to consider.
Lesley Riddoch 14th March 2026
Phil Boswell, who is an authoritative speaker and whose resume is hugely impressive, spoke about the disgrace of 1 in 4 children living in poverty in an energy-rich country such as Scotland. Why is there no investment in our own people and our energy infrastructure? Where are the jobs? Scottish people care about one another, and yet we still have 1 in 4 children living in poverty. Scottish food is found all around the world, food of quality and purity, due to the lack of pollution. The assets of our country are great and varied, and yet, disgracefully, we are being stripped bare.
Phil Boswell 14th March 2026
Our very own Jim Sillars delivered a wonderful speech finishing with a heartfelt plea to younger generations (was there a dry eye in the house?) and he received a spontaneous standing ovation. Jim is a national treasure with a wealth of wisdom and knowledge. His book “The New Case for Optimism” is available here The New Case for Optimism: Amazon.co.uk: Sillars, Jim: 9781913212421: Books
Jim Sillars 14th March 2026
The world cafe part of the event will be discussed at a later date, but so many good ideas and thoughts were captured at the tables as everyone participated in the discussions.
All of this was followed by an Evening of Music and Poetry which was truly outstanding, the hall was full, the atmosphere filled with hope. We will again discuss this and share more from this evening in later posts. The spirit of the National Collective of 2014 was evident throughout the evening. It is vital that our artists and our culture play a big role in our campaign for Scotland’s future, as they did in 2014.
Big thanks to IndyLive and The Scotland Channel who recorded the day for us and to everyone who came along and contributed to this unforgettable day.