GRASSROOTS independence campaigners plan to picket the Supreme Court on day one of the indyref2 legal showdown between the Scottish Government and Westminster.
Activists from the Radical Independence Campaign (RIC) are set to demonstrate outside the court in the heart of London on Tuesday, October 11.
The group, which has existed for more than a decade, campaigns for a “democratic, secular, socially just and environmentally sustainable Scottish republic”.
The case, scheduled to last two days with a verdict expected at an unspecified date in the future, will hear arguments from the Scottish Government and the UK Government, with the SNP allowed to intervene by submitting written arguments.
If the court sides with the Scottish Government and the SNP, plans for a second independence vote will go ahead on October 19 next year.
READ MORE: Top independent Scottish cinemas and film festival SHUT with immediate effect
If not, Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to fight the next General Election on the sole issue of independence, saying that if 51% of the popular vote goes to pro-Yes parties, the Scottish Government has a mandate for independence.
A RIC spokesperson said the group expected a small number of its supporters to travel down to London for the protest and that the organisation is in touch with Irish, Welsh and Scottish people sympathetic to the movement living in England, who they expect to turn up.
Robert Fox, a RIC activist in West Lothian, said: “The United Kingdom declares before the world that it is a democracy and respects and defends democratic rights. We challenge this.
“The Scottish movement for self-determination, of which we are part, is a movement for the development and expansion of democracy in which the people living in Scotland decide the nature of our government and our relationship with the other people of these islands.
READ MORE: Scottish hotel named best in UK in prestigious travel awards
“As part of this we wish to organise, amongst ourselves, a referendum to determine whether or not we wish to remain part of the United Kingdom. This is our democratic right.
“The United Kingdom currently boasts an unelected head of state, King Charles, and a Conservative government led by a leader, Liz Truss, elected to this position by Conservative Party members representing a tiny fraction of the UK electorate.
“This government is attempting to impose on people in the UK a programme that has not been placed before the people in an election but simply invented by a small number of Tory MPs.
“Meanwhile, a Supreme Court made up of unelected judges drawn from the privileged and monied classes will decide whether Scotland should be allowed to vote on independence.
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