Involved, Energised and Excited

For over two years our country has spent extensive amounts of time on both sides of the Referendum trying to create a better Scotland. I congratulate both sides on their efforts in what has been achieved. With the votes now counted, our best course of action is to keep the momentum and move forward.

Last Thursday was a historic event as we saw one of the biggest turnouts in history. For democracy, it was indeed a day to be celebrated. Eighty-five per cent of voters in the Aberdeenshire Council area turned up to vote. Both sides gained many, many more votes than any party.

We also saw the younger generation given the chance to participate, as thousands of 16 and 17 year-olds put in their vote for the first time. With the successful turnout there is already talk of extending this right in further elections. They have proved that they are willing to vote and shape their future, and should have the opportunity to do so again.

This involvement is in large part why this marks such an important time for Scotland. The real opportunity and challenge we have now is to maintain the momentum. It is no longer a division of yes and no, but a pursuit to enable our country to reach its potential.

For either winning campaign, there was always going to be a lot of work to deliver on promises. All Scotland will now be watching and testing the delivery against the campaign rhetoric.

Despite a no vote, the Referendum brought an awareness of the disadvantages we currently have under the UK. There is still a strong need of EU representation for our fishing industry. We have a successful economy but there is still more we can achieve.

With a difficult road ahead the real test now will be what happens next. I hope that the immense involvement we have seen in the past two years continues. We have seen a huge increase political activism as more people are recognising the need for change.

Combining our efforts in the agreement of progress is essential to our future.

The significant turnout at the referendum reminded us that democracy is the property of the people not of politicians. This will have a great effect on the outcome in the upcoming elections.

I suspect this is only the tip of the iceberg of Scotland’s political activism. For two years now we have seen people get involved, energised and excited about their role in democracy. And it is not going to stop.