INDEPENDENCE campaigners gathered outside of Holyrood for a rally after MSPs backed John Swinney’s request for a Section 30 order from Westminster.
The rally, organised by Time for Scotland, saw scores of Saltire clad activists meet outside of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday evening.
Organisers had called on supporters to join the event to show support for the independence cause after the Holyrood vote, and so that Saltires could be viewed in the background of any televised broadcasts from outside the Scottish Parliament.
Around half an hour after the vote passed in Holyrood with 72 votes in favour, to 55 against, the UK Government rejected the call for an independence referendum.
Lesley Riddoch, broadcaster and columnist for The National, told the crowd: “Thanks everybody for turning out, this is brilliant. In case you didn’t know the vote inside: 72 that’s going for a section 30 order for indyref2, 55 against.”
After cheering from the crowd, she continued: “Now I know a lot of people will think that’s a done deal, no surprises there etc, but come on!
“The Scots have voted. It’s only not a surprise because we keep voting in independence majorities to that building behind us. That has got to mean something.
“I know people will say what can the SNP, what can the Scottish Government do? If that’s really where we are over and over and over again, what is this Union really about? I mean it’s demonstrating precisely why we want to leave.
“What we need to see now I hope is something that includes the movement in what happens next with the party politicians, so that we can do something in a more concerted way from here on in, even if that means going down to London to push this vote as far as we can.”
Riddoch added that there won’t be many chances so independence supporters “need to grab them”.
“We’ve got this far and it’s a massive step forward because we have at least got some of the broadcasters lined up with all of you guys in the background again because we’re determined to show anyone who’s watching when the cameras are here, we need to be here, because we need to look like we care,” she added.
“I’ll tell you as somebody who started today at 5.15am in Stromness, Orkney, I care.”
Newly elected Scottish Greens MSP Kate Nevens celebrated her party doubling its number of MSPs in Holyrood, adding: “We have the largest majority for independence in the Scottish Parliament than we have ever had. That means we have a mandate for independence.
“I just heard that Westminster have already rejected our call for a Section 30 order.”
This was met with loud boos and groans from the crowd.
Nevens continued: “We knew they would, but how can they call this a voluntary Union if there are no pathways to even discuss leaving with the Scottish people?
“This is not democracy.
“We will keep building this movement and through this movement we will build a fairer and greener Scotland, we will get that referendum and we will win.
“I look forward to working with you all in the coming months and years to make that dream a reality.”
Despite a number of calls for any SNP politicians to come forward and speak, none did so.
The Independence Choir kicked off the event with a rendition of a gospel song written by Rev. Cleophus Robinson Jr, Hold On (Just a Little While Longer).
“Fight on, just a little while longer,” they sang.
Bikers for Yes revved their engines, while bagpipers and other musicians performed for the crowd.
Sheila, a member of the independence choir, told the crowd that “far too many people were scared off”, noting that the No campaign had targeted pensioners.
She told the crowd: “We were the ones who were targeted the last time, they said to us what about your pension?
“Well dinnae be feart this time because your pension’s safe.
“I’ll tell ye this, I refuse to go until we get independence.”
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