My Road to Sovereignty: Why I Believe in an Independent Scotland

Scotland's essence is not just a part of my being, it is my being. It resonates within me, shaping my voice, values, and vision of what is possible.

Scotland has shaped my voice, values, and vision of what is possible, not just as a birthplace but as a deep spiritual calling. Her rivers run through my blood, and her wildness mirrors my own. From the coal-stained stories of my ancestors in Ayr to the fresh winds that sweep across the highlands, Scotland has shaped my voice, values, and vision of what is possible.

But somewhere along the way, between government cuts and broken promises, austerity and inaction. I began to feel the disconnect more clearly. The realisation crept in slowly, then all at once:

Scotland is not free. And if we want to become who we’re meant to be, we must be.

This Is Personal

Our journey towards supporting an independent Scotland is not just a political stance; it’s deeply personal. It’s about witnessing schools grappling for basic resources. It’s about caring for neurodiverse children in a system stripped by decisions made miles away. It’s about community groups running on fumes, doing the work the government was supposed to do. It’s about recognising our potential and seeing that potential eroded year after year.

As a mother, I’ve felt the heartbreak of watching a system fail our young people. As a woman, I’ve seen the toll of poverty, isolation, and disempowerment. As a community leader, I’ve seen the strength of grassroots action and the limits placed on it by top-down control.

Time and again, I’ve asked: Why are we waiting for permission? Why should Scotland beg for justice from those who profit from our silence?

Westminster Is Not Working for Us

We’ve tried partnership, voted in good faith, and contributed more than our share. But Westminster continues to tighten the chains of economics, society, and spirituality.

They tell us we can’t afford to leave, while they strip our resources. They talk of unity while undermining our national will. They pretend devolution is enough, while making decisions that cut to the core of who we are.

The UK is not a union of equals. It is a structure of control. Scotland is rich in talent, vision, and natural wealth and is being held back by a government that neither sees nor serves her.

Enough.

Sovereignty Means Wholeness

I’m not just speaking of flags or referenda when discussing Scottish independence.

I’m speaking of sovereignty, not just political, but personal. The right to live with dignity. The right to govern ourselves. The right to dream and build our future.

To me, sovereignty means wellbeing over profit, communities over corporations, listening over lecturing, and our children growing up in a country where decisions are made with care, compassion, and courage, not calculation.

It means healing from the centuries of extraction, colonisation, and containment. It means no longer being told who we are or what we’re worth.

It means remembering and reclaiming Scotland beyond the headlines—the one found in ceilidh halls and community kitchens, land reform campaigns and language revival, folk songs and fire circles.

The Scotland of soul.

We Are Ready

Scotland doesn’t need permission to be free. We only need to remember who we are.

From John Maclean to the Kenmure Street protestors, from the crofters of Sutherland to the climate youth of today, from the women of the rent strikes to the mothers of Maryhill, from Hamza Yassin dancing with joy to Bashir Ahmad making history, from Highland clearances to housing justice campaigns in Govanhill, From James Connolly’s legacy to the workers of Grangemouth, we have always been a people of fierce compassion and fearless resistance. We have always imagined better.

And now, we must claim it.

We live in a turning point—a sacred pause before the shift. I see it in our young people, who are awake and brave. I see it in our elders, who know the value of land and legacy. I see it in working-class communities rising from struggle, building gardens, holding vigils, and creating care networks where none were provided.

This is not the end of something — it’s the beginning.

We are ready for a Scotland that leads with values, that places people, planet, and purpose above the politics of fear, and that refuses to be ruled by those who neither understand nor stand with us.

Why I’m Standing — And Why I’ll Keep Speaking

I’m not here to play by the old rules. I’m not here to echo party slogans. I’m here as a mother, a neighbour, and a truth-teller who can no longer be silent.

I am standing in the Scottish Parliament elections in 2026 because I believe we need leaders rooted in community, integrity, and vision — not career politicians, but real people with real stories and deep stakes in the future of this land.

Scotland doesn’t need more managed decline. We need soul-rooted renewal.

We need to walk forward, not with bitterness, but with bravery, not against others, but for ourselves.

My name is Denise Sommerville, and I stand for a sovereign, Independent Scotland.

Because sovereignty is not just about borders — it’s about belonging. And Scotland belongs to us.

Ready to walk the road of freedom with us? Your voice, actions, and commitment are crucial in shaping the Scotland we know is possible. Sign up for updates, join our community vision circles, and let's start building an independent Scotland together. Sign up for updates, join our community vision circles where we discuss and shape our collective vision for an independent Scotland, and let’s start shaping the Scotland we know is possible.