ALL across Scotland Yes groups are starting or re-launching and many of them are doing so with a discussion on where the Yes side went wrong last time.
Typical of the messages we are getting at the Yes DIY hub at The National was a recent missive from Yes Kirkcaldy in Fife who are set to re-launch with a debate in the town next Thursday, March 29.
In March 2013, Yes Kirkcaldy was set up as a group to help campaign for an independent Scotland in the referendum in 2014. It was launched with a public event in the Philp Hall, Kirkcaldy, that was attended by almost 200 people.
According to Marie Penman of Yes Kirkcaldy: “This kicked off a hectic 18 months of canvassing, street stalls and debates as Yes supporters attempted to persuade local voters to put their trust in an independent Scotland.”
Now, exactly five years to the day since that first event, Yes Kirkcaldy is relaunching with an evening of discussion and debate about what the future of Scotland should look like.
The most important questions they will be asking is what did the Yes campaign do wrong in 2014 that caused them to lose the vote, with 45 per cent to the No side’s 55 per cent?
Marie Penman asks: “Were you part of that first campaign? Did you vote Yes in September 2014? Did you vote No and then change your mind afterwards?
“Whatever your thoughts or views, Yes Kirkcaldy invite you to join them at the St Clair Tavern on Thursday, March 29 at 7pm, to discuss the failings and successes of that first campaign, and to think about what might be done differently next time.
The event will be chaired by Penman, who helped run the last campaign. She told The National: “Although no date has been set for a second referendum on Scottish independence, Yes Kirkcaldy want to be sure that when it is announced, we’re ready to go again.
“We need to build on the foundations of the great team we had last time, and make it even better. Obviously, we need to persuade more people to believe that Scotland can succeed as an independent country. The only way to do this is through thoughtful, reasoned, fact-based discussion – not through online arguing, name-calling or nastiness aimed at ‘the other side’.”
The event is free and open to all, with full details on Eventbrite at https://t.co/5IStwGLix6
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