Tak!

Scotland and Poland have had a long, friendly and fruitful relationship, running through the centuries. In the 1600s, there were an estimated 30,000 Scots living in Poland. They came from Dundee, Aberdeen and elsewhere and settled in Krakow, Lublin and towns and cities throughout Poland. There were Episcopalians, Catholics, Calvinists. There were soldiers and traders. And they were welcomed by the Poles and allowed to thrive and prosper. King Stephen gave a Royal Grant in 1576 granting citizenship and assigning a district in Krakow to Scots immigrants. The evidence of the connection in the form of Polish surnames and place names is particularly poignant. Wanda Machlejd was a runner during the Warsaw Uprising; she was also the great- great- great- great- great- great- great- great- great granddaughter of a mercenary soldier called "MacLeod" who have arrived in Poland from Skye in the 1620s. 

Now, wind forward a few hundred years.


There were about 55,000 Polish-born people living in Scotland at the time of the 2011 census. By the time of the referendum it is possible the population will have almost doubled. More than 30,000 are registered to vote, excluding those in the Edinburgh area. I sincerely hope that their experience is that those of us born here are as welcoming, as generous and as supportive to them as their forebears were to ours. We bring shame on ourselves if we are not.

In any event, here's an interesting article about the support for independence within the Polish community. Polish Scots of course have the same hopes for, and questions about, independence as everyone else has. But research shows that those born outwith the UK are twice as likely to vote Yes as those born outside Scotland but within the UK. The actor Tomasz Borkowy has written:

"We Poles are a freedom loving nation. Only 25 years ago we reclaimed our full independence. We understand the need of a nation for self-determination and most of us will support it. I will vote YES because I strongly believe that Scotland is run by politicians with a social conscience and this is the best deal for the people. 

Scotland has more economic potential than most European countries which regained their independence in the last quarter of a century. Unlike the rest of the UK, which persistently is more inward looking, Scottish parties supporting independence are outward thinking. That is why an independent Scotland will provide Polish immigrants the security of an unprejudiced and broad-minded environment.

Scottish independence will open more self-development opportunities for Poles and the prospect of a balanced and enhanced life for them and a bright, enlightened future for their children. A YES vote is a vote for the possibilities for all people in Scotland, but especially for Poles, who left their country because they felt marginalised by Polish politics and politicians.

In Scotland they will be able to build their lives in a positive environment where they will be appreciated and rewarded according to their effort and work. A lot of us have succeeded here and many more will. Scotland gave us an opportunity, and we will repay our debt.

I urge all of my countrymen to vote YES and be involved in the social, cultural and political life of our adopted country."

Strong words and stirring stuff. And you have to wonder whether that support for Yes is likely only to have hardened since that article was written, following the UKIP victory in the EU election. After all, and apart from sentiment and leaving aside any economic consideration at all, what price our place within the EU if we voted No and placed our fate in the hands of the UK electorate in the In/Out referendum along 2017?

For more information, see the Poles for an Independent Scotland Facebook page and Twitter account, the Polish for Yes group and the factsheet here.