HUNDREDS of Yes supporters turned out in Edinburgh on the 10th anniversary of the independence referendum to show Westminster that “this is not over”.
But there was also a message from the SNP, historically the primary political vehicle of the Yes movement, from the activists who gathered outside the Scottish parliament on Wednesday.
Organised by the grassroots umbrella organisation Believe in Scotland, rallies were held across Scotland in places including Orkney, Aberdeen, Dumfries, and Inverness to mark 10 years since the independence referendum.
Activists who attended the rally said they hoped that the 10th anniversary could mark a turning point for Yes, away from the SNP being the driving force and towards a united movement led by the grassroots.
“Where is the growl?” speaker Lesley Riddoch asked of the party First Minister John Swinney leads. “If the SNP doesn't pay attention, this movement has the capacity to act, so be warned.”
“Let’s put aside all that’s happened,” he said. “Let’s put aside the turf wars. Let’s put aside all the slights, real or imagined.”
MacIntyre-Kemp had opened by saying: “We've got to understand that 10 years ago Scotland gave one last chance to the Union. But boy, did they mess that up.
“They've messed it up so completely that the powers that be are actually terrified of a second independence referendum – because they have come to understand what we already know. That is, if there was another referendum, we would not lose again.”
The Believe in Scotland chief then recalled his experience of the night of the 2014 referendum, which for him was life changing.
“When I finally got home around about six o'clock in the morning, I poured myself a double whisky – it might have been a quadruple – I took my socks and shoes off and I looked at my blistered and bleeding feet and I started smiling, started laughing, and I shouted at the top of my voice ‘this is not over!’
“I hadn't intended to dedicate my life to independence, but that was the moment I realised that I was not going to stop until we were independent, and I know that every one of you feels exactly the same way.”
The feeling that the independence movement is in something of a lull pervaded the rally, which was picked up on by Riddoch, a columnist for The National, as she delivered a witty and considered address.
Reflecting on her experience in 2014, Riddoch told the crowd an anecdote about one of Scotland’s most famous Yessers: Brian Cox.
“I'd managed to keep it going all the way through those interviews, but when I saw that friendly face, I started to greet. I'll never forget Brian's response because it's kept me going over the last 10 years.
“He put his hands on my arms, looked me dead in the eyes with that, should we just say arresting Logan Roy kind of look, and said Lesley, the issues are not resolved.
“He was totally right then and he's absolutely right now. Because 10 years on all the problems with Westminster remain with knobs on.
“Courtesy of Westminster, we have a massive energy theft. Check. We have chronic fuel poverty. Check. We have an economy ruined by Brexit. Check. We have EU citizenship gone, despite promises to the contrary. Check.
“We are still using first-past-the-post alone in Europe – with Belarus. Check. We are still hosting nuclear weapons on an unwilling Clyde. Check. We are still unable to put democracy first and back a ceasefire in Gaza. Check.”
Carr sang a version of Sae Will We Yet, introducing it by saying: “The people of Scotland should have the freedom to make the choices that we feel are right for us in Scotland.
“I believe that we should be able to use Scotland's resources to enrich the people and the lives of people in Scotland. And I also believe that we should build on the progress that we've made towards a fairer and a more inclusive society.
“And while we're not there yet, I believe the best way to do that is through independence. And in the words of this song, sae, will we yet.”
