Former First Minister Alex Salmond has told an independence rally in Inverurie that the UK Government has “sat on a thistle”.
Fourteen rallies took place across the country, including in Aberdeen and Inverness, after the Supreme Court ruled that the authority to hold a referendum on Scottish independence lies with Westminster and not Holyrood.
Speaking in front of Inverurie Town Hall in front of about 30 to 40 pro-independence supporters, the leader of the Alba Party told them that “action should be born in Scotland to take Scotland’s future back into Scotland’s hands”.
As well as this, he called for four things to happen:
- The immediate convening of an independence convention composed of all Scotland’s politicians and civic society.
- That today’s demonstrations should be carried forward on a regular basis.
- The convention should consider a referendum legislated for by the Scottish Parliament which would be within competence, for example one proposing to vary the powers of the parliament to include an independence referendum.
- That any recourse to a plebiscite poll, either at Westminster or Holyrood, should be fought as “Scotland United for Independence”, not in a normal party political way.
Speaking to The Press and Journal about the turnout, Mr Salmond said: “I think it’s absolutely fantastic, I mean, hardly any notice at all and not a great night, but a great turnout.
“I think what people want to know is this is part of a movement right across Scotland, so it’s Inverurie’s contribution to a mass demonstration taking place across the country.”
UK Government ‘have overplayed their hand’
In a message to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the UK Government, Mr Salmond added: “They’ve overplayed their hand, they must be sitting laughing up their sleeves saying they’ve put Scotland back in its box.
“But as with other arrogant people like Rishi Sunak and his Tory government, they underrate Scotland’s resolve. What they’ve done in their judgment today, and in celebrating that judgment today, is they’ve sat on a thistle and that’s not a comfortable place to sit.”
People united by their ‘disappointment’
In Aberdeen, dozens of supporters turned up to the Aberdeen rally outside the St Nicholas Centre in the centre of the city.
The event was organised by Aberdeen Independence Movement (Aim) and as councillors and campaigners took to the microphone, people cheered, clapped and chanted along in support.
People of all ages gathered in the square, united by their “disappointment” at the Supreme Court ruling and feelings of frustration at being “controlled” and “forced” by the union.
Bryan Cunningham explained he was there to “protest” the decision of the Supreme Court, with the 52-year-old saying: “Basically, that’s just told us we’re nothing but a colony of England.”
Meanwhile Keith Alexander said: “I’m just looking for a fairer, freer country. I’m sick of being controlled and then after what the Supreme Court said it just shows it’s not a union of equals – it’s not voluntary, it feels forced.”
Steve Smart from Newmachar explained that although the turnout was good, he wishes more Scots would show their feelings, adding: “I came along to show my disappointment with the UK Government and the shortage of democracy that we saw.
“It was a law decision today, but it’s a UK act of parliament they were commenting on.”
‘Scotland isn’t really in a voluntary union anymore’
Co-founder of Aim, Josh Mennie explained that the rally was organised because it was important for people to be able to come together in a display of support for Scotland’s right to choose.
He said: “We’re here in a display of support of Scotland’s democracy after the UK Government has denied Scotland time and time again for having an independence referendum.
“Today, the Supreme Court confirmed that Scotland isn’t really in a voluntary union anymore if the UK Government so choose. We’re now investigating what route Scotland can take for a democratic way of becoming independent or having a choice on independence.”
Pro-union politicians urge Scottish Government to ‘get on with the job’
Elsewhere, pro-union politicians in the north-east expressed their delight at the decision made by the Supreme court.
Conservative north-east MSP, Maurice Golden tweeted: “The SNP wanted the Supreme Court to decide and they have. They said no. Now, the SNP must respect the court’s unanimous decision. They must also finally respect the outcome of the 2014 referendum. It’s time Scotland was allowed to move on from nationalism and division.”
Aberdeen Labour councillor, Ross Grant, who is the party’s deputy leader on the council said in a tweet: “As our NHS is in paralysis, our teachers and nurses about to go on strike, our citizens facing extreme and rising rates of poverty and council services facing obliteration, Nicola Sturgeon and her Scottish Government should be spending every waking moment getting on with the day job.”
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