Women for independence event, Perth

Cicely Gill sends us this report

The keynote speaker was Elaine C. Smith, who said the Yes campaign ‘did not do enough to make women less afraid’. Others agreed. A 23-year-old Yes convert from Paisley Labour Party suggested ‘we need our own mainstream media for balance’. Others underlined the usefulness of Facebook, especially for engaging young people and the disabled. There was a call for for more local groups to nurture the ability of the disabled to make their voices heard.

Elaine C. Smith encouraged us to criticize every television panel that is not gender-balanced, pointing out that even Channel 4 has a 25% public subsidy and is thereby accountable to us. She urged that all the different organisations that have sprung up should keep going. Jeanne Freeman called on everyone to engage with the Smith Commission and tell it what issues should be devolved. See here for more.

Margaret Cuthbert, macro-economist, offered to do training lectures for any woman interested in learning how to discuss economics in the home or at the supermarket. To boost the Scottish economy, it was suggested that large companies should sell more Scottish products and the £11 billion allotted to pay for school meals and such like should go to Scottish providers.

A school student said there had not been enough campaigning in schools and the Ullapool MSP backed her up, citing examples of debates being cancelled because a ‘balance of speakers’ could not be found.

The mood at Perth was about contemplating a future for everyone, not just those who voted Yes. We now face the question of Devo max. It was agreed that all women needed to consider what that would mean for them and how they could find a way to make their voices heard.