A SECOND campaign for independence is to be launched this autumn with a mass mail drop and social media push presenting a new case to voters created in the wake of the European Union referendum turmoil.
The Scottish Greens are behind the ambitious initiative, drawn up under the banner of Green Yes2, which is being planned ahead of talks between the party leadership and the First Minister in Edinburgh.
Leaflets, posters and social media graphics to be deployed are being designed with the key focus on “the democratic deficit” existing in the UK and the lack of stability Britain faces following the Brexit vote on 23 June.
“We are still considering the precise issues on the leaflet, but certainly the core democratic argument in favour of independence will be highlighted. We will be making it quite clear that whether you voted Leave or Remain in June, the referendum clearly illustrated that Scotland’s voice in the UK can be easily ignored,” a senior insider involved told The National.
“We also want to highlight that in 2014 the No campaign continually insisted it was acting for the stability and security of the UK. Well, staying in the UK is not the safe and stable option anymore.”
The campaign’s purpose is to prepare the groundwork in the battle to persuade more people to back independence in advance of a second referendum, which the First Minister has said is “highly likely” following the result of the EU ballot in which Scotland voted to stay in the bloc by 62 per cent to 38 per cent, while the UK as a whole voted to leave.
A separate “late summer” SNP independence push, delayed because of the shock Leave result, is also expected to be announced over the coming weeks, targeting pensioners, EU nationals and Remain voters.
“Regardless of what the SNP is doing, plans for Green Yes2 are being worked on. There is a real distinction between campaigning for independence and calling for a second referendum. You have to campaign for independence first. When we call for a second referendum we should be in a position where we are fairly confident of winning,” the source added.
“Social media graphics will start going out urging people to attend events, we will be producing new leaflets for local groups and street stalls. Our branches and Yes groups are keen to do mail drops, street stalls and other events.”
He said they expected to print around 100,000 leaflets which would be available to around 30 Scottish Green party branches around the country, as well as a network of Yes groups which were becoming active again as a new fight for independence gears up.
“Yes groups have been contacting us to say they want to start campaigning but have no material to give out. We will be producing more material with the number of leaflets published probably in the low six figures,” he said.
Last month the First Minister said independence could now offer Scots “stability and certainly” as Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, triggering a complicated two-year process to remove the UK from the EU.
She has set out five key Brexit demands: that Scotland’s democratic interests are protected; that access to the single market and free movement of Labour remains; that workers and human rights are protected; that Scotland’s solidarity and security are safeguarded; and that its interest in having influence to make the rules over the single market is guaranteed.
Following the Brexit result one of the most high-profile opponents of the Yes side conceded supporters of independence had a “golden opportunity” to recast their economic case following the Brexit vote.
Sir Nicolas Macpherson, permanent secretary to the Treasury during the 2014 referendum, said that Nicola Sturgeon had bolstered the Scottish Government’s “fiscal credibility” since she took charge and that the UK’s decision to leave the EU “changes terms of debate north of the Border”.
A spokesman for the Scottish Greens said: “Ahead of our conference in October we will be announcing to our members proposals for relaunching the Green Yes campaign.
“Greens played a key role in the 2014 independence referendum and we will play a leading role in any forthcoming decision on independence. Our new campaign material will inevitably include the reasons why Scotland should remain a member of the European Union and what currency we should have post-independence. We look forward to discussing these ideas with other pro-independence parties and the wider Yes movement.”
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