GLASGOW, June 9 (RIA Novosti), Mark Hirst – The prospect of an independent Scotland establishing a more “progressive, fair and democratic” immigration policy is a major reason African and Afro-Caribbean residents will vote yes in the Scottish independence referendum, an African pro-independence group has told RIA Novosti.
Graham Campbell, originally from Jamaica, is Chairman of the campaign group Africans for an Independent Scotland. He told RIA Novosti, “There are around 40,000 of us in Scotland. We will make a difference in terms of the narrowness of this vote.”
“Immigration and visa controls deeply affect us more than most other communities,” Campbell said. “The Home Office in London has been very cruel and nasty to us and many of our communities.”
“The prospect of changing the immigration policy to a more progressive, fair and democratic one is something that would be of great interest to us,” Campbell added.
The UK Government has insisted that a more open and progressive immigration policy following a Yes vote in Scotland would lead to the establishment of border controls between the two countries, something which the Scottish Government has dismissed.
UK Home Secretary, Theresa May, has warned that England “would not allow Scotland to become a convenient landing point for migration into the United Kingdom.”
But Campbell, who lived in London for many years, believes that most Africans in Scotland would not be looking to cross over the border following independence.
“I think Scots are more like African-Caribbeans in their attitudes and that is important to building a fairer society,” Campbell told RIA Novosti.
“Society in Scotland is a bit more egalitarian, more to my liking,” Campbell said. “Living in Glasgow I find them more friendly, more civil and social in their attitudes. That comes from a sense of social solidarity which is still very strong in Scotland.
“That is very different to England,” Campbell added.
Africans for an Independent Scotland will be focusing their activity to ensure their community is registered to vote in the referendum and believe their participation could determine the outcome.
“We understand why independence is important for our home countries and we understand why it is important for Scotland,” Campbell said.
Scotland goes to the poll on 18 September and will be asked onequestion: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”
