IT is “unbelievable” The National is still the only pro-independence newspaper in Scotland, Keith Brown has said, as he hailed the one million pro-yes paper push.
The depute SNP leader made the comments during his speech opening the 87th annual conference on Friday, which is again being held virtually.
The Justice Secretary said that the party knows that the key to winning a second independence referendum is to reach out to undecided voters, and praised the combined efforts of The National, the SNP and Believe in Scotland which brought the paper together.
We told how the eight-page publication is one of the biggest newspaper printing operations in Scotland’s history and includes exclusive pieces from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, and Greens minister for circular economy Lorna Slater.
READ MORE: Kate Forbes dismantles GERS argument against independence on the BBC
And during his speech, Brown commended the special edition paper as part of a “bold initiative” to reach undecided voters.
Brown said: “The last time I addressed conference, I urged everyone to ‘reach out for indy’.
“We know that to win a referendum on independence we must reach out to undecided voters.
“And we are strengthening relationships with others in the Yes movement to unite behind our campaign.
“That is why this month we embarked on the first of a series of bold initiatives to deliver our message to those yet to be convinced.
Yes groups have been busy distributing the one million pro-yes papers across Scotland
“The SNP teamed up with our Green Party allies in government, the organisation Believe in Scotland and The National - unbelievably still the only newspaper in Scotland to support independence.
"Together we produced, printed and distributed our own newspaper to help build the case for independence.
“By St Andrew’s Day this coming Tuesday, that newspaper will have been delivered to one million homes across Scotland.
“Our ambition is only surpassed by the commitment of you, our members and activists, whose hard-work pounding the streets is making our ambition a reality - letterbox by letterbox by letterbox.”
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon slams 'daft headlines' around her tenure as First Minister
Believe in Scotland founder Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp previously said that the publication “fires the starting gun on indyref2” but also sets out how the campaign will be different from 2014.
With Brexit, chaos at Westminster, spiralling allegations of Tory sleaze and Covid lockdowns completely changing the political landscape compared to just seven years ago.
The one million newspapers are being delivered to homes across the country by activists from Yes groups and SNP branches.
We told earlier how Brown used his speech to tell delegates that the independence campaign is “well under way”.
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