THE Scottish Independence Convention (SIC) has announced the much-anticipated line-up for its largest conference to date.
Taking place in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on Saturday, November 4, and entitled Build: Bridges to Indy, the conference will focus on what the independence movement needs to do in the next few years to persuade Scots to back independence.
Following on from a packed conference in Glasgow in January, organisers say next month’s event has an even more sharpened focus than the previous Build, which brought the independence movement back together for the first time since 2014.
Among the confirmed speakers are leading Catalan independence activist Anna Arque, former First Minister Alex Salmond, cabinet minister Jeane Freeman, co-convenor of the Scottish Green Party Maggie Chapman, and a senior researcher from Oxfam GB, Katherine Trebeck, who is speaking in a personal capacity.
Around 1000 tickets have already been snapped up for the conference, with the ground floor almost sold out, persuading the organisers to open up the upper levels of Usher Hall.
On the conference’s purpose, SIC vice-convener Lesley Riddoch said: “This is a vital time for Yessers to come together and explore how the movement can make a co-ordinated and effective case for independence, which doesn’t ebb and flow with the electoral cycle but builds trust, confidence, local knowledge and ambition within the movement.
“There will be issues of funding, organisation, strategy and capacity to consider -- my impression is that activists are more than ready to help the SIC take it on.”
Robin McAlpine, director of the pro-independence think tank Common Weal said: “While it may feel to some that this is a time when independence isn’t on the front pages all the time, that is exactly when it is important to do the really core work of building and developing. There’s no point waiting until everything is right upon us again. So this conference is about some of the crucial things we need to be doing now to get to independence.
“I expect that some of the material in this conference will turn out to be absolutely invaluable to people.”
The conference will play host to some big names and speakers who are familiar to the independence movement, but the programme also reveals others, such as Dr Iain Black, Marsha Scott and Liam Stevenson, who could be the up-and-coming voices of the next indy campaign. On the importance of the SIC to the movement going forward, Stevenson, co-founder of the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) Campaign, said: “Politicians won’t win Scottish indep-endence for us – ordinary people will.
“We must engage those within our communities who are apathetic, and show them that we can build a better society – one that works for all of us. The SIC is the place where we can begin the process of engagement and providing platform for new voices with new ideas.”
Poet and performer Alan Bissett will also make an appearance, while Eddi Reader and Capercaillie will add some musical entertainment. The day is due to be followed by an official after-party organised by Edinburgh Yes Hub, supported by SIC.
Event passes are on sale on the Usher Hall website for £15, with concession prices of £8 (and £5.50 on the upper circle).
SIC has also announced that 60 free tickets have been made available for unwaged people who need a helping hand to get to the conference. To claim them please email Shona at info@theconvention.scot with the subject line “Free Tickets”.
Tickets can be purchased at:
www.usherhall.co.uk/whats-on/build-bridges-indy
#Build2Indy
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel