There is nothing Scottish about the Green party.

The Greens are not a nationalist party. It is worth repeating the Greens are not a nationalist, they are an independent Green party based in Scotland. The only policy they have on Scotland is that they support a referendum - that's it. There is absolutely nothing Scottish about the Green party.

The Greens have said repeatedly that they favour an independent Scotland, Callum. Harvie is on record saying it.

One thing Maxwell glosses over is the SNP's green agenda, which the Greens support. Don't forget the facts in future please, James.

Aberdare's comment is a good example of what is, to me, the main problem with the Scottish Greens contribution to the constitutional debate at the moment.

Don't get me wrong, I am glad there is a pro-Independence party that doesn't agree with everything the SNP say. But so far, really all we seem to have heard from the Greens is "Alex Salmond wants to do this, and we don't like that" or "The SNP have said they will do this and it's dreadful."

That's fine. Make that point. But then follow it up with a positive statement about what your party would do differently. That's what Independence is supposed to be about. It's not supposed to be set in stone by the SNP right now.

Amongst the voices that are for Independence, bitter sniping at each other over their exact policy for a post Independence era makes it less likely that era will ever arrive. A united front needs to be presented. It needs to be made clear that yes, you disagree with each other on the details, but that on the principle you have complete agreement - the best future for Scotland lies in the ability to make all our own decisions and define for ourselves the direction and character of our nation.

Afaulds, healthy debate is *needed* both between the Yes and No sides and within. If Alex Salmond and the SNP are making policy pronouncements regarding an independent Scotland what are we supposed to do?

Quote, Aberdare, "If Alex Salmond and the SNP are making policy pronouncements regarding an independent Scotland what are we supposed to do?"

You do nothing, the Greens are not a nationalist party.

The only other nationalist party in Scotland is the Scottish Socialist Party.

Solidarity like the Greens only promised a referendum on independence.

Some people are missing the point of independence. Once achieved, it will be for the Scottish people to decide future Scottish Government direction through independent Scottish Parliamentary elections. The SNP will take us there, with the support of others, but afterwards, it's up to the people, as it should be.

@Dougie

Exactly Dougie.After independence the SNP would presumably be the party of government,just to begin with,but other parties would poll strongly.A separate Labour party in an independent Scotland would do well.So regular,progressive SNP/Labour coalition governments would be a real possibilty.Whereas at the moment we're ruled by a party with 5 MSPs in partnership with a party that has 1 Scottish MP.

Callum - you are WRONG! Go get yourself a Scottish Green Party manifesto from their website. You'll see a commitment to Scottish independence as subsidiarists. The Greens don't have to be nationalists to support independence. The Nats don't own that concept, which is proved by the number of people who supported the SNP at the last Scottish Parliament election but who don't actually support independence. Look at the figures. Get your facts right. Stop talking pish.

Aberdare; I thought I had made it clear in my comment that it was quite right the Greens criticise the SNP where necessary, but that in doing so they need to present an alternative. So far, a lot of what we have seen has been 'Ugh, the SNP want to do this, that's not the kind of vision we support.' That doesn't sound very pro-Indy! It just sounds like another opponent.

Why not take an approach like 'The SNP want to do X when we become Independent. We absolutely disagree with X, because Y. Instead, the Scottish Greens would use the powers gained with Independence to do Z instead, as a fairer and greener alternative.' I'm not saying you don't do this already, just that more of it needs to be done!

Stuart Eels, why are you such a twat? OK chaps, playtime over. Anything to say?

Fergus, if you are going to be a twat and take the piss at least get it right, it's deep fried mars bars and it's also an urban myth. I have never met anyone ever who has tried one, or would want to try one.

Who cares? Luddites like Harvie are an irrelevance beyond a small coterie of self-righteous middle class hand-wringers.

Given that the Pro-independence camp is a broad grouping from across the political spectrum it is not surprising that they don't agree on everything. Just the main point, that Scotland be independent.

With regards to the SNP its exactly the same, views from left to right are all quite happy in the same party because they agree on the main point, the most important point, that Scotland determine its own future. In a post independence Scotland many different and varying views will emerge from people who share the same platform at the moment

If publications such as the New Statesman are STILL getting confused about simple things likethis then I do wonder how they will cope when the actual debate begins