THE SNP are to unveil their keenly anticipated summer independence initiative before the end of the Holyrood recess.
Details of the push will be discussed by First Minister Nicola and the co-convener of the Scottish Greens, Patrick Harvie, when they meet before the new parliamentary session starting on Monday, September 5.
Harvie’s party are preparing campaign material under the Green Yes2 banner, with leaflets, posters and social media graphics being designed ahead of its new drive, to be launched at its autumn conference.
The Scottish Greens are expected to print about 100,000 Green Yes2 leaflets, which will then be made available to about 30 of the party’s branches across the country, as well as a network of Yes groups that are becoming active again.
An SNP spokesman said: “The plans for the SNP’s new initiative on independence have had to take account of the EU referendum outcome. However, our campaign will be launched before the end of the summer recess and we look forward to working with others across the Yes movement to build majority support for independence."
Last night, Tommy Sheppard, a key figure in the Yes campaign ahead of the 2014 referendum, and who was elected the SNP MP for Edinburgh East in May last year, welcomed the announcement and the news the initiative would seek to reach out to the wide-ranging Yes movement. He also urged it not to forget Labour and Liberal Democrat members who may be changing their minds on independence following the Brexit result.
“I am keen to hear what my political opponents are thinking. I have written to local Labour and Lib Dem branches in my area asking if I can come along to speak to their members and listen, to hear what they have to say,” he said.
“I haven’t had a response yet, but we can also go to community organisations, tenants’ groups, trade unions and churches, and use all the tentacles of civic Scotland to get a dialogue going.”
Sturgeon yesterday dismissed suggestions from one of her former ministers that Scottish independence could lead to the creation of a “hard border” between Scotland and England.
She said there was no reason for anyone to suggest border posts are “inevitable” – particularly after Prime Minister Theresa May indicated she wants to maintain an open border with the Republic of Ireland.
SNP MSP Alex Neil, who retreated to the backbenches in May after five years in the Scottish cabinet, has said an open border between an independent Scotland and the remainder of the UK “is likely to be very difficult to achieve”.
But during a visit to a primary school in Hawick, the First Minister dismissed his argument.
She said: “I don’t want to see a hard border between Scotland and England any more than people in Ireland want to see a hard border between the north and south.
“We’ve heard the Prime Minister say she is not prepared to have a hard border with Ireland.
“If it can be avoided there then, regardless of what might or might not happen with Scotland’s future, there’s absolutely no reason for anybody to be suggesting that that is inevitable here either.”
Writing in Holyrood magazine last week, Neil said: “It would prove particularly difficult to win majority support if there is any suggestion independence could lead to the creation of a ‘hard border’ between Scotland and the rest of the UK.
“However, if independence is defined as Scotland becoming a full member of the EU, keeping an open border with the rest of the UK is likely to be very difficult to achieve.”
Sturgeon has said another independence referendum is “highly likely” after Scots voted to remain in the European Union while the UK as a whole voted to leave, but has insisted she is working to fight for Scotland’s interests on the continent.
Yesterday, Sturgeon confirmed ministers are “exploring all options” to keep Scotland in the EU.
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