Protesters have vowed to take to the streets of Aberdeen today -ahead of Britain exiting the European Union.
A number of studies have predicted the north-east region will be among the worst hit by Brexit.
While Prime Minister Boris Johnson has planned a light show at Downing Street to mark the precise moment Britain leaves the EU at 11pm, it will be a rather more low key affair for councils in the north-east who are treating the day very much as “business as usual”.
But pro-independence group ‘Aye Aberdeen’ said protesters will demonstrate at “multiple locations” across the city centre today in a show of opposition to Brexit.
Protesters have been asked to gather at the Robert the Bruce statue outside Marischal College on Broad Street at 1pm today.
Giant banners will be on display with around 2,000 flyers expected to be handed out during the course of the afternoon.
The group will also host a second protest at the statue from 10.30pm, titled ‘Leave a Light on for Scotland’ as part of a series of similar events organised across Scotland.
Those who wish to attend have been asked to bring candles and torches for the protest ahead of Britain officially leaving the EU at 11pm.
‘A grim day for our city’
Kevin Stewart, SNP MSP for Aberdeen Central, laments the decision to leave the political and economic union, claiming the region will face “huge difficulties”.
He said: “Let’s not beat about the bush, this is a grim day for our city – we know Aberdeen has been singled out to be the hardest hit city in the entire UK because of this Brexit mess.
“As a city and as a country, we voted overwhelmingly to remain in Europe, yet we are being dragged out against our will by the Tories.
“We are an international city that relies on an international workforce, so undoubtedly the north-east is going to face huge difficulties.
“The people of Scotland must be offered a choice over their future to allow us to escape Brexit and become an internationalist, independent country within Europe.”
‘Focus on the day job’
However, Scottish Conservative north-east MSP Peter Chapman accused the SNP of creating “constitutional grievance” as a diversion from domestic policy.
He added: “Kevin Stewart just can’t help himself. His party would tear Scotland apart from the UK which is by far our biggest trading partner and worth more than three times our trade with the EU, against the settled will of the majority of Scots.
“The Brexit deal in place is the best available for jobs and the economy across the whole of the UK, allowing us to honour the referendum and realise the opportunities to come.
“Mr Stewart and the SNP need to acknowledge they have a day job. But instead of fixing the mess they have made of Scotland, they create constitutional grievance as a diversion.
“Instead of schools, hospitals and drug deaths, the SNP only want to talk flags, pretend vistas and divisive referendums.”
BREXIT DAY: How EU referendum result crashed through the political establishment and set us all on an uncharted course
BREXIT DAY: Why Lord Menzies Campbell believes ‘Leaving the EU is completely against our better interests’
Ahead of today’s demonstration, Aye Aberdeen penned an open letter to the EU which says they will demonstrate in the streets to show their “desire” to remain citizens of the political and economic union.
The open letter, signed by the group’s Brian Allan, said: “We, who are currently citizens of the European Union ask that the 27 other member states support Scotland, a country that voted with a 62% majority to remain in the EU which is being ignored by Westminster against our democratic will.
“When the UK leaves on the 31st January it will not be because a majority voted for it in Scotland, quite the reverse.
“The majority in Scotland wishes to remain in the European Union and we are being forced out of our partnership by the actions of a dysfunctional UK.
“In addition, we do not want to lose our European cousins who reside here and choose to share this country with us.”
