CIVIC, faith, trade union and political leaders have all committed to "taking action to safeguard Scotland’s democracy" at an anti-far-right summit convened by John Swinney on Wednesday.
The First Minister described the pledge as demonstrating a "strength of unity".
Reform UK were not invited to the summit, although former Tory councillor Thomas Kerr – who defected to Farage’s party in January and was present at the protest – said he would not have attended.
Sarwar joined Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie and Scottish LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton at the summit, along with a host of civic and religious leaders.
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay refused to attend by saying he would only do so if the SNP changed their policy of supporting independence.
Across the day, there were discussions, moderated by civic leaders, on four key themes which are believed to be contributing to a breakdown in democratic trust, including:
- combating inequality and discrimination
- tackling disinformation and ensuring a trusted media environment
- enhancing trust in politics and boosting the accountability of political leaders and democratic institutions
- strengthening vigilance to electoral interference and encouraging more active democratic participation
Following discussions, participants considered a mission statement that seeks to provide a framework that can underpin specific actions and solutions to help tackle some of the issues identified.
The full statement reads:
Today, we reaffirm our commitment to safeguard Scotland's democracy.
We recognise many people in our country feel distant from politics or failed by society. They feel unheard and disempowered.
We recognise also that much of our public discourse has become polarised and soured.
Our starting point has been a recognition of that reality and, alongside this, a recognition also that the solutions, which will be manifold and complex, require a collective response.
We have a shared responsibility to map a way forward for Scotland, which is why we are committed to working together to ensure that our democratic structures evolve to meet our democratic ideals and are both trusted and robust.
There are certain fundamental principles and values that are already part of our understanding of Scottish democracy, rooted in the creation of the Scottish Parliament, that we believe should shape and guide our work.
These are:
- Participation and openness
- The sharing of power
- Accountability
- Equal opportunity
We stand together on these principles and values, recognising that they offer both a foundation on which to build and markers to guide this next stage of our nation’s democratic journey.
I pledge my support.
Speaking after the event, Swinney said: “Our discussion was incredibly powerful and equally inspiring. I am grateful to the many representatives from across Scottish society who shared their honest reflections on the challenges we face, alongside their absolute determination to work together to ensure we stand up for the values and principles we hold so dear.
“Today’s event is a pivotal moment for Scotland as we demonstrate our shared commitment to democracy but to make that a reality, we must now work at pace to ensure targeted action delivers results. By coming together, we have started that process, with all participants committed to developing actions that can address some of the root causes of the challenges facing our country.
"I pledge my government’s absolute support for that work, to ensure we leave no stone unturned in identifying solutions and empowering the disempowered who so often feel left behind.
“We can only protect the rights of each citizen, if we protect, strengthen and renew our democratic values. By reaffirming our commitment to safeguarding democracy in Scotland, we have demonstrated a strength of unity which will guide us in our actions.”
