25,000 people gather for independence rally in Edinburgh

author: FutureCar Staff    

Humza Yousaf led a march through Edinburgh with thousands of supporters, expressing his ambition to become the First Minister who achieves Scottish independence. The march began at Edinburgh Castle and ended outside the Scottish Parliament, where Yousaf addressed the crowd. Following the rally, Yousaf estimated that approximately 25,000 people attended the Believe In Scotland event.

During his speech outside Holyrood, Yousaf emphasized the "cost-of-union crisis" that Scotland is facing and advocated for Scotland's place in Europe through independence. He stated that the people of Scotland are not suffering from a cost-of-living crisis, but rather a cost-of-union crisis. Yousaf also criticized the UK Government's immigration policies and affirmed Scotland's commitment to being a welcoming place for all nationalities.

When asked if he can deliver on the goal of Scottish independence, Yousaf expressed his aim and hope to achieve it. He acknowledged that there is no shortcut to independence and highlighted the UK Government and UK parties' denial of Scotland's democratic mandate. Yousaf emphasized the need to mobilize the power of the people and create conditions that make it impossible for the UK Government to ignore the demand for independence. The SNP is set to decide on a concrete method for testing support for independence at its conference next month.

Government ministers Lorna Slater and Jamie Hepburn also delivered speeches at the rally. Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, criticized the conflict between the Scottish Government and Westminster, particularly the section 35 order of the Scotland Act that blocked controversial gender reforms. She expressed her commitment to making things fairer, ensuring a living wage for more people, and prioritizing climate action. Slater highlighted Westminster's pushback on devolved powers and its disregard for the Scottish Parliament's work on equality and the environment.

However, Donald Cameron, constitution spokesman for the Scottish Tories, criticized Humza Yousaf for prioritizing another divisive referendum over addressing the global cost-of-living crisis and improving essential services like the NHS and schools. Cameron argued that Yousaf should focus on being the First Minister for Scotland, not just for the SNP.

FutureCar Staff