24.10.11
SNP independence campaign launched
The SNP has officially launched the campaign for Scottish independence, to be decided through a referendum, which will be held near the end of the five-year parliament.
Campaign chief Angus Robertson told his party's conference yesterday: “Today, we are announcing that the independence referendum campaign is starting.
“We will work as hard as possible in an unprecedented national campaign to secure the majority ‘yes’ vote for a sovereign independent Scotland. Fellow nationalists – this is it. It’s starting.
“This is the roadmap to independence – the biggest ever campaign in our history, reaching every household, every voter in Scotland. We will speak with as many voters as possible – supporters, waverers and people who have yet to be convinced.
“This campaign is not for the SNP – it is a campaign for Scotland. This is a campaign for everyone who lives in this country, regardless of where you come from.
“This is a campaign to secure the best for our communities. This is a campaign to secure the best for our families and society. This campaign is for everyone, regardless of which party you have voted for.”
The Scottish leader Alex Salmond told the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1: “In my heart, in my head, I think Scotland will become an independent country within the European community, with a friendly, co-operative relationship with our partners in these islands.”
Speaking at the conference, Salmond gave more detail about the referendum. He said the first question would be “a straight yes-no question [on] independence”. Alongside this would be “a second question, in the same way as we did in 1997, in which we'd offer a fiscal autonomy option”.
He explained: “I'm not for limiting the choices of the Scottish people, I leave that to Westminster.”
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