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THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE took to the streets of Edinburgh calling for a fresh referendum on Scottish independence just weeks out from the Brexit deadline.
The demonstrators, many carrying Scottish flags and some wearing kilts and playing musical instruments – including bagpipes – set off from Holyrood Park in the heart of the Scottish capital.
Among them was lawyer and Scottish Nationalist (SNP) lawmaker Joanna Cherry, who was behind one of the successful legal challenges to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament.
She was also one of main backers of a law passed last month forcing Johnson to ask the European Union for more time to avoid crashing out of the EU without a deal.
The group organising Saturday’s march, All Under One Banner, said it was hoping to get 100,000 people to attend.
Scotland voted against independence in a 2014 referendum by 55 percent.
But nationalists argue that the 2016 British referendum in favour of Brexit means another independence referendum is necessary — because Scotland voted by 62 percent to stay in the EU.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the SNP, has argued that Brexit will devastate the economy.
Nationalists also argue that some people voted against independence thinking it would guarantee their place inside the EU.
Sturgeon, who wants a second independence referendum in 2021, did not attend the march, but tweeted a message of support.
Some independence activists also joined the march, while a few pro-Union protesters carrying Union Jack flags staged a small counter-demonstration.
With reporting from AFP. - © AFP 2019
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Scotland the brave “be brave” !
@Nick: they dont have the balls
Here that?
It’s part of the UK as we know it cracking and preparing to fall away,
it might not happen this year but Scotlands treatment during brexit shows the Scottish how much Westminster really care.
Good to see. 66% of Scotland did vote Remain, so I am sure that would alter an Independence vote now. Maybe SF needs to backdoor SNP too, as well as Plaid Cymru, though they may find SNP a bit too conservative. All in all, demonstrates that Brexit is really Engxit.
@WoodlandBard: my sources tell me it was the english living in wales swung the vote there. Engxit i like it!
Never mind a hard border in Ireland imagine one between Scotland and England
@Cormac McKay Dublin: if Scotland were to break away from the UK, there might be no hard boarder as they would both be non EU countries and can make arrangements between each other. Though on the other hand, if they break away and reach a deal with the EU, then perhaps they would be required to have a hard boarder on the English side.
@Cormac McKay Dublin: plus a water border between Scotland and NI, and maybe an eventual bridge border. Ironic really as a lot of DUP seem to regard themselves of being of Scottish descent and celebrate their Scottish connection too.
@Kevin Fitzpatrick: Other than countries who can’t afford to monitor borders the only places with open borders are pretty much the Schengen Zone, and the CTA and Belarus’ Union State agreement with Russia. Open borders between countries is the exception not the rule. If Scotland were to leave and not join the EU (unlikely) then of course they could probably work with the CTA as a template, if the joined the EU then it would be a different story.
@Cormac McKay Dublin: Sure didn’t Hadrian already build it?
Arlene foster people are from scotland.what does she think of her cousins looking to break away from her beloved union meanwhile the DUP try and patranise us about northern ireland.she must be confused
Well Done to Scotland plan vote second referendum independence from uk someday
Scotland. Pretty much self sufficient in green renewable power, so much so that they are selling to the English grid. Most of the remaining North Sea oil is in Scottish waters. England better start listening to the likes of Bonnie Greer.
The times are changing indeed.
Didn’t they have a vote only a couple of years ago? Or is there one to be held every ten years now? You either want full independence or you don’t. You can’t pick and choose. I’d be delighted if they got their act together of course, but this type of nationalism when it suits annoys me
@Declan Edward: They were told if they left UK theyd be leaving EU so voted to remain in UK amd IN the EU. Now thats changed and they want to leave UK to remain IN the EU. Just like we changed our mind on Lisbon when changes were made. What could be more democratic than the right to choose when the circumstances change.
@Declan Edward: well the ironic thing is, one of the threats made to the Scots by the Tories was if they voted to leave the union they’d have to reapply for EU membership.
@Declan Edward: Like Leo’s and Coveney’s.
@sean: I do agree with your points, honestly, and with the chaps under your comment also. My point is that they would have to apply to rejoin the EU, something that Spain has suggested in the past that they could block. Nothing more democratic than the right to choose when circumstances change, agreed, but when their circumstances change again if they were to rejoin the EU and take the Euro on as their currency, will they have wholehearted support to vote to leave the EU if they so wished again? That’s the point I’m making
@Declan Edward: Spain would only block if independence was through a unilateral vote, given the implications for Catalonia and the Basque Country – they’ve already said they would accept Scotland in the EU once London allowed another referendum.
@Declan Edward: Did you read the article
from top to bottom. If you did you would have your answer. What is it with people like you these days that they can’t focus on anything long enough to identify what is and is not missing. You should be ashamed of yourself.
@Charles McCarthy: I did Charles, thanks for asking. Can you point out to me where the answer to the crux of my argument lies? Or will you just proffer another pointless post?
@Declan Edward: I can indeed.
It’s the bit about the nationalists wanting another vote due to 62% voting to remain in the EU. Membership of the EU was not part of the initial referendum. What codology are you on about having a vote every ten years and getting their act together. Unless you think it’s only a minor matter that Scotland’s economic livelyhood could be in stake for (incidentally) decades to come.
@Charles McCarthy: not at all, I’m all for them going for independence and hope they get it. However if you read my posts I’m arguing that rejoining the EU as well as dealing with a currency change could drastically affect their circumstances in the future also. If that comes about, my previous question of wholehearted support for a referendum if they then chose to leave the EU comes into focus.
Could cameron ever have predicted the bag of s..t this referendum was going to be. The man will be remembered as the chap who broke up the union!
Says a lot about the DUP when most of her electorate and her Scottish brethren want to remain within the EU.
Best of luck to them
Hahaha… like bagpipes… loud, noisy, annoying and at the end of it, just full of hot air
It will be difficult for the Scots to break away. Given that they have a land border and frictionless trade with England and Wales. Just look at the situation here with the border.
@declanhanley: the difference here is that the introduction of a hard border separates/splits the people of Ireland who identify as Irish. Whereas a border between England and Scotland does separate Scots from other Scots or separate English from other English
@declanhanley: Given that the remaining North Sea oil is theirs, and England would rather keep it and its benefits?
So if Scotland got their independence what kind of border would be put up between them and England?Will they be automatically allowed to join the EU ? Will they be part of NATO? What currency will they have ? If they join the EU they will be our competition for investment from multinationals as the only other English speaking country of course depending if the UK leaves the EU. Independence sounds lovely!
Bottlers
You had your chance. So get lost
@Con Veron: just one
@Con Veron: I suppose we should have given up in 1537 when Silken Thomas failed, or 1579 when the Desmon rebellions failed, or in 1603 when the Tyrone rebellion failed, 1608 O’Doherty rebellion, or when the rebellions of 1642, 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867 all failed? Should have just said oh well we had our chance, what’s the point of trying again in 1916.
Northern England didn’t have the balls for independence 5 years ago. They don’t want independence they want to stay subservient to Brussels
Welcome to The republic of ireland NI and scotland, right next to the not so united kingdom
If scotland gained independance and ireland united , will be a great business opening selling the new british flag without ni and scot removed off it mmm
Good luck to them. At least they won’t be wondering what not to wear ;-)
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