A SCOTTISH independence campaign group has been urged to reschedule an event marking the 10th anniversary of the referendum as it clashes with planned rallies across the country.
Believe in Scotland (Bis) founder Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp has called on Now Scotland to change its plans after they arranged an event for the evening of Wednesday September 18.
In an update sent to their mailing list, Now Scotland said they would not hold a physical meeting as had been planned, but would instead host a Zoom event at 7.30pm.
The email stated: “Many members have helpfully expressed their willingness to attend [a physical event] but, in consensus, have raised the issue of the recent announcements of several indyref-related events, programmes, and local meetings being held throughout September.
READ MORE: MSPs to debate independence motion on 10th anniversary of 2014 referendum
“They have highlighted their concern about financial costs and time constraints possibly coming into conflict with attendance at our members event.
“Therefore we have decided to ensure that we continue in our mission to fully support our movement by disavowing any conflict of dates and adapting to host an online discussion space instead. This will be on Wednesday the 18th of September at 7.30pm.”
However, BiS founder MacIntyre-Kemp has urged Now Scotland to rethink their plans, as his organisation is planning rallies across Scotland from 6pm and 7pm on the same date.
The campaign group will be hosting in-person rallies in Dumfries, Orkney, Aberdeen and Edinburgh on the 18th, marking 10 years since the 2014 referendum.
MacIntyre-Kemp said: “We have received quite a few emails from concerned members letting us know about Now Scotland moving their event to clash with the Believe in Scotland event.
“It doesn’t make any sense, the day before or the day after would be fine, so it's quite unbelievable that they chose a date that will have the biggest indy event between the 10th anniversary and the end of the year.
“It's hard to see how any organisation that was active within the indy movement would not be aware of the Believe in Scotland 10th Anniversary ‘Still Yes’ event, not least as it was covered on the front page of The National.”
READ MORE: Share your 2014 independence referendum photos – 10 years on from historic vote
He went on: “I personally had tried to contact them over the last few years, whilst they were inactive, and again this year to ask if we could help, I sent emails, used the contact form on their site and also reached out through mutual acquaintances to the remaining directors but we didn't receive any response.
“We remain open to talking to them but as of right now we don't even know who is running it.”
The National reached out to Now Scotland through its website but did not receive a response.
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