A MAJOR boost for White Rose Day at the end of this month has come from All Under One Banner, organisers of the successful nationwide marches and rallies for independence, who have pledged to support the day’s events to mark the death of Scottish democracy as we crash out of the European Union.

Brainchild of Dumfries and Galloway Pensioners for Independence (DGP4I) and backed by The National, on Saturday, March 30, Yes activists and those who are just sickened by Brexit are being asked to wear the white rose of Scotland – or any other white flower, for that matter – to mark Scotland’s first day out of the EU, a deplorable occurrence happening totally against the democratic will of this nation’s people.

White Rose Day will go ahead on March 30 regardless of whether Brexit has actually occurred as it is supposed to the previous night at 11pm – that timing itself an obvious tactic by the UK Government to silence opponents of Brexit.

The white rose, a symbol both of mourning and hope, was chosen because of its long association with Scottish causes and principally due to Hugh MacDiarmid’s superb short poem about the flower. Local Yes groups are already planning events and The National will be in touch to see what is going on around the country.

Get The National on Wednesday to find out how you can support White Rose Day on March 30.

Neil Mackay, of All Under One Banner (AUOB), told The National: “We have discussed it and think it’s a great idea. We want to get right behind it and we’ll let people know what we are doing as soon as we have a plan. We will certainly be using Facebook and other social media to publicise the day.”

Meanwhile the project’s originators Dumfries and Galloway Pensioners for Independence, joined with Yes Dumfries and English Scots for Yes to brighten up a dreich Saturday in Dumfries last weekend.

DGP4I told us: “We took over the Bakers Oven for a day of music, history, cartoons and chat – and, of course, cake.

“Ukes for Yes, Old Friends and the P4I house band entertained the public while local man, a certain Mr R Bruce, was happy to have his picture taken with passers by.

“All in all it was a successful day which DGP4I hope to replicate around the region. Contact us via our Facebook page if you have a venue you wish us to visit.”

We are delighted to confirm that Yes Moffat together with Dumfries and Galloway Pensioners for Independence will be delivering copies of The National in Moffat today.

Yes Moffat told us: “In June 2016 we re-formed and got a new lease of life last summer when we were offered premises rent-free to use as a Hub.”