THE full line-up of speakers has been announced for the upcoming Believe in Scotland rally to mark 10 years since the first independence referendum.
The rally is set to take place outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Wednesday from 7pm, with several other locations also set to tune in to the event remotely.
It will feature videos, musical performances and speeches from several key figures in the grassroots Yes movement in 2014, including Richard Walker, founder of The National.
See the full list of speakers below.
- Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, founder of Believe in Scotland and Business for Scotland
- Lesley Riddoch, broadcaster, author and campaigner
- Richard Walker, founder of The National and former editor of the Sunday Herald
- Andrew Barr, co-founder of National Collective campaign
The rally will also include musical performances from Aileen Carr and Graham Brown.
The event is non-party political, meaning there will be no politicians speaking at the rally.
Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp (below), founder of Believe in Scotland, told The National that the rally “marks the beginning of a new grassroots-led era of independence campaigning”.
He said: “Our momentum towards Scottish independence will be regained when we have a grassroots movement rising to the challenge of championing the cause of Scotland’s independence alongside a competent and indy-focused political arm of the movement. So change is required.
“We've waited too long for progress and waited too long for the pro-indy political parties to deliver. When people ask me how long independence will take, all I can do is ask them how hard are you prepared to work for it.
“The true champions of independence are not the ones that shout into the social media echo chamber but those that engage the public outside of the influence of party politics and the tribalism that goes with it.”
He added that Believe in Scotland was set up in 2019 in response to requests from Yes Groups across the country for a central body that supports grassroots engagement, adding that the movement is focused “not on party politics but on championing our inclusive, progressive and shared vision of a better future for Scotland”.
“That is what moved the polls in 2014 and it’s what will move them again,” he said.
At the rally, organisers plan to go live to various events in Aberdeen, Dumfries and Orkney via an onstage video screen.
There are also other events happening across the country on Wednesday, including in Inverness and Stirling.
