ALL Under One Banner have written to The National and posted on Twitter to refute allegations made in a letter published by this newspaper.
In that letter, the organisation was accused of attacking the SNP and told to change its name to "Only Some Under One Banner". You can read it in full here, and AUOB's response below:
ALL Under One Banner has never attacked the SNP. There is a big difference between being critical of the party in respect of lack of action on independence to attacking the party. Anyone who claims AUOB has attacked the SNP, please show evidence.
ATTACKING AUOB MUST STOP
— All Under One Banner (@AUOBNOW) August 4, 2021
ANTI-AUOB IS ANTI-YES
1/ AUOB has never attacked the SNP. There is a big difference between being critical of the party in respect of lack of action on Independence to attacking the party. Anyone who claims AUOB has attacked the SNP please show evidence. pic.twitter.com/rQ35OTuQWb
Only that which has been published on our official accounts can be attributed to this organisation. If you claim AUOB has "attacked" the SNP then show your evidence.
The turnout at #AUOBDundee last was small because: A) Knock-on effects of the lack of an official independence campaign by party leadership, B) the effects of 18 months of lockdown/restrictions and ongoing concerns over safety, C) the effects of the so-called SNP "civil war".
READ MORE: All Under One Banner? More like Only Some Under One Banner
The complainer (Letters, August 4) does not understand the meaning of the phrase "All Under One Banner", which pertains to the Yes movement itself, in that everyone who supports independence is under the one banner of independence. The banner is not the organisation AUOB, but independence itself.
AUOB the organisation speaks for independence now, whereas there are many gradualists who are pro-independence who want different, but on the AUOB marches everyone is on the level and so it’s the singular point of independence which unites us and upon which we gather together.
We are now in a situation where some SNP parliamentarians and members are actively discouraging people from attending AUOB demos with anti-Yes movement rhetoric. This is highly divisive, completely self-defeating and shows the rampant sectarianism being regurgitated by some.
Therefore attacking AUOB must stop, people need to remember where we have all been over the last seven years and where we are going, remember what they are part of and that the one common goal of independence is what matters.
Infighting will not bring us any further forward.
All Under One Banner
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 hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel