THIS week, the SNP marks its 90th birthday.

Around half of the people of Scotland are committed to independence, with others yet to be convinced.

The constitutional path is currently blocked but history shows that, in the early 1950s, two million signed a petition calling for devolution; decades later, 74 per cent voted to reconvene the Scottish Parliament.

In 2014, Scotland decided ‘not yet’ in the independence referendum, then, months later, gave the SNP a mandate with a near-clean-sweep of Westminster seats. The message? Keep trying.

Over 60 former colonial countries have gained independence from Britain and none has ever wanted to return to British rule.

Few would describe Professor Sir John Curtice as independence-promoting, but his respected Social Attitudes Surveys give insights into what Scotland thinks, as opposed to what independence opponents claim Scotland wants.

Just before the disruptive pandemic, the survey captured opinions: 94 per cent believed it was important to vote in Holyrood elections; 73 per cent of people thought the Scottish Government ought to have the most influence over how the country was run, compared with 15 per cent for the UK Government; only five per cent thought Holyrood weakened Scotland’s voice in the UK. A record 65 per cent were satisfied with how the NHS in Scotland was run.

I represent you in a Parliament that puts Scotland first. East Lothian fares better than other counties but poverty is still embedded, with much-needed safety nets including the child poverty payment, free bus travel, the ‘promise’ to care-experienced young people, and free university tuition.

Holyrood legislated for further measures, including mitigating the bedroom tax, the two-child limit and the rape clause. Nonetheless, Labour’s Gordon Brown contemplates failure to tackle poverty, resulting in Britain “sinking into a paralysing sense of despair”. Rather than compensating for non-existent global trade deals via closer European ties, Labour’s Lord Mandelson’s response to rejoining the EU was dismissive: “You’ve got to be joking.” Scotland is neither sinking into despair, nor joking about rejoining the EU, mapping instead a future other UK parties can’t even imagine, because England’s ‘Red Wall’ seats wouldn’t accept it.

What’s sure is an independent Scotland will apply to rejoin Europe on fair and beneficial terms; and proud Scottish sports associations will never re-colour the Saltire. Our iconic flag isn’t a “playful” gimmick: it symbolises unchanging national aspirations.