PLANS are in place for a national campaigning organisation which will push for independence, with elections being held this week for an inaugural committee.

A total of 45 people are standing for election to the 15-strong committee which will then be responsible for getting the organisation up and running by January.

“It is an ambitious target to get that going but it is important to have it in place quickly as 2021 is going to be a crucial year for independence,” said Andrew Wilson of All Under One Banner (AUOB) which is spearheading the plans.

“The intention is that the inaugural committee will develop systems, structures and a constitution before further elections about a more permanent set of arrangements.”

The new organisation’s purpose will be twofold – to give a voice to the grassroots of the independence movement and also allow a campaign to be mobilised quickly.

The plan to set up a national campaigning organisation was backed by the majority of the 1200 people who signed up for the AUOB online assembly this month.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, who took part in a question-and-answer session at the assembly, also appeared to support the move.

Asked if he approved, Blackford said: “We are going to require a Yes movement to be in existence to fight a referendum and the earlier people start to think about that and how they wish to contribute, the better.

“I am very happy about an organic expression of support for independence and the movement coming together and providing the infrastructure for that.”

Questioned further, he said: “I am happy to work with the entire movement and the party is committed to working with the movement to make sure we deliver the result we all want.”

While there are various nationwide independence organisations already in existence, AUOB said the new one will fill a gap in the array of organisations in the movement.

“The Scottish Independence Convention (SIC) is an affiliation organisation so ordinary people can’t join up,” said Wilson. “Voices for Scotland is the child of SIC and again you can’t join it, although it is doing great work arranging discussions and events.”

He added that the new national Yes network which is currently being set up was about connecting and networking rather than campaigning while the main purpose of AUOB’s new national membership organisation would be to campaign.

“It will be open to all and allow people to join campaigns like marches in an organised way,” said Wilson. “In this time of Covid online activities are becoming more important than ever so we would hope this organisation has the means to secure the skills necessary for effective online campaigning too.”

Independence supporters backing the new organisation include Alan Thomson of Edinburgh who said it would provide a way of unifying the “proliferation of independence-minded groups”.

“It gives focus to the common purpose and demonstrates the breadth of support across people of all backgrounds, whatever their particular special interest might be,” he said. “Membership is a tangible record, a demonstrable indication of my support.”