IT was a small but optimistic crowd that gathered in Glasgow's George Square last night to celebrate Nicola Sturgeon’s plans for a new vote on independence.
The first people The National spoke to were two French students who had come along to lend their support to the activists.
Proudly wrapping herself in a Yes2 flag, 20-year-old Mathilde Bonvin, from Lyon, said she was registered to vote and would be supporting independence.
“I’m not sure if I would have before the European Union referendum, but Brexit changed everything and I will definitely be voting for indy,” she said.
“I love Scotland and I believe it should be independent.”
Her friend Romain Cussonneau, 24, from Nantes, said he too would also be voting for independence.
Colette Whelan, 53, from Blantyre, was also among the gathering along with fellow townsfolk Mari Gray and Brian Stevenson, both 65. Whelan, a former Labour voter, said she believed the Yes campaign would be positive and optimistic and stand a strong chance of success.
“I was overwhelmed by the First Minister’s announcement. I was so pleased I cried,” she said.
“It was so well-timed, it’s given Theresa May a big shock. There’s no doubt it absolutely called her bluff. “Theresa May ignored the wishes of 62 per cent of the Scottish people and Scotland has been ignored long enough.”
She added: “I have no doubt that more people will come over to the independence side over the next 18 months or so.
"I believe our answers will be more convincing this time around and people won’t be so taken in by the No campaign and all its broken promises.”
Gray added: “There is not going to be anything negative about the new Yes campaign. No doubt the No side will throw it all at us, but we won’t give it back.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here