Independence—Thousands demonstrate in Edinburgh

Protester demands independence (Picture: Gary Knight)

Around 7,000 people took part in a march for independence last Saturday in Edinburgh, under the theme of “our right to decide”. This was the biggest demonstration by Scottish independence supporters since the start of the pandemic in early 2020.

At the rally after the march, the loudest cheers were reserved for speakers who attacked Liz Truss and the Tories—and supported strikes. There was also backing for calls on the Scottish government to take radical and decisive action to win a second independence referendum.

Few of those present, if any, believed that Nicola Sturgeon’s strategy of appealing to the UK Supreme Court to achieve a vote for independence was likely to succeed.  It must be recognised that the mobilisation was light years away from the 200,000 who marched through Edinburgh in autumn 2019, and the 90,000 who took to the streets in Glasgow in January 2020.

Recent polls show support for the SNP is holding on to support at 44 percent. Labour has doubled its score to 36 percent and the Tory and Liberal Democrat vote seems to be collapsing.

Support for independence in Scotland remains strong. But Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has ruled out even considering the possibility of Scotland having another vote on independence.

Bob Fotheringham

Welsh indy movement assembles

Around 10,000 people marched for Welsh independence in Cardiff on Saturday. The event was organised by YesCymru and All Under One Banner Cymru. It attracted those desperate to see an end to Tory rule.

Socialists should not defend the British state and if Welsh people want to vote to break it up, they should have the right to make the decision.

But independence still has only minority support. Polls vary in their findings, but generally just a quarter to a third of people back the break.

Student Mirain Owen, 17, attended the march and said, “I don’t think the current situation is working for Wales and I think we definitely need to see some change as recent events in Westminster have shown.”

But the strongest challenge to Tory rule in Wales comes from the strikes and mass protests, not the “all classes together” independence movement.

Charlie Kimber