SENIOR figures from political parties and civic organisations have come together for the first time since the 2014 referendum to prepare to win a new campaign on Scottish independence.
As speculation mounts that Nicola Sturgeon is weeks away from calling a second plebiscite – possibly to be held in May or September next year – politicians in the SNP, the Scottish Greens, Labour for Independence and the Scottish Socialist Party held talks to develop a successful strategy.
Activists from Yes2, Women for Independence, Radical Independence, the Common Weal and Business for Scotland also took part in the discussions, which followed a gathering of 800 people at the Scottish Independence Convention in Glasgow last month.
The SNP’s Tommy Sheppard MSP, his party colleague Ivan McKee MSP, Maggie Chapman, co-convener of the Scottish Greens, and Ross Greer, the Scottish Greens MSP, were among the senior politicians who attended the private meeting on Saturday.
A statement from the Scottish Independence Convention released yesterday said it was the first meeting of “many more yet to come” and that the groups and politicians had gathered under the convention’s umbrella. It went on to say the event was organised with the purpose “to prepare for the work that is to come and is necessary to win Scottish independence”.
Elaine C Smith, convener of the Scottish Independence Convention, said: “We had a great meeting with intelligent, thoughtful and wise contributions and to agree the constitution of the group and discussion about the way forward – [there is] a long way to go but [this has been] a good start.”
McKee added: “Saturday’s meeting was an important milestone in getting the Yes movement ready to win the next independence referendum, whenever that may be.”
Chapman also acknowledged that the Scottish Greens was committed to working together with “the broad independence movement to build the case for a more equal and more democratic Scotland”.
She added: “It is important that we reach out to those with questions about how an independent Scotland will work.
“It is more important than ever that we keep the positive, inclusive and internationalist movement for independence we grew in 2014 and that we build a Scotland for all our children.”
The key meeting came to light as former Labour cabinet minister Peter Mandelson said yesterday in a television interview that Brexit had “strengthened the argument” for Scottish independence.
His comment on the Andrew Marr show on the BBC came days after his ally and former Prime Minister Tony Blair acknowledged that independence had become “more credible” following last year’s EU referendum in which Scotland voted to remain, while the UK as a whole voted to leave.
It also emerged yesterday that a prominent Scottish independence campaign group has launched a new fundraising drive as it expects a second referendum to be held in May or September next year.
Business for Scotland, which focused on the economic case for independence, said it is getting “back in full campaign mode” for a vote in 2018.
Group founder Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, a columnist for The National, emailed members to say “we are only weeks away” from a second referendum being called, according to the Sunday Herald.
A Yes vote in a future referendum is now the favourite with bookmakers – with William Hill offering odds of 8/11 on Scotland becoming independent by 2024.
In his message to supporters, MacIntyre-Kemp said: “Business for Scotland was a vital contributor to the growth of the Yes vote in 2014. We need your help to renew the business and economic case for independence and drive Yes support to the levels required to call and win Indyref2.
“We didn’t go away, instead we have kept on campaigning for independence and we also campaigned for a Remain vote in the EU referendum. We are getting ready for Indyref2 in May or September 2018 and so we are back in full campaign mode. Please back us.”
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