WHILE many Yessers will be attending the learning event hosted by Fife Plus for Independence today, it may well be time to start thinking about next weekend’s plans.
Next Sunday, encouraging co-operation between grassroots independence groups and independence supporting parties will be the focus of a new event in Edinburgh.
The Big Grassroots Conversation at the Nelson Hall will feature speeches from SNP deputy leader Keith Brown and former SNP MP Michelle Thomson. Workshops and Q&A sessions will also be held throughout the day.
The event, organised by Yes Edinburgh and Lothians (YE&L), has been supported by the Scottish Independence Foundation, which has said the day will be “significant” for the Yes movement.
“Edinburgh and Lothians is probably the vital key area on the travelator to self autonomy,” said a YE&L spokesperson. “Therefore the purpose of this day is to explore ways that the Yes movement can work in a cohesive, coherent and productive manner with independence supporting parties and organisations.”
The spokesperson said the need for co-operation “has never been more necessary than it is now” as Brexit chaos continues.
They went on: “Since 2014 there have been seemingly, endless information gathering exercises, assemblies, gatherings, and initiatives. But where are the results?
“Parties are able to gather information on a huge scale, and Yes groups gather information, by comparison, on a much smaller scale, understandably.
“But it appears disseminating help that could be a benefit to the wider independence cause is not reaching activists, wherever they are.
“Hence the purpose of Yes Edinburgh and Lothians’ initiative to hold this event in this important area.”
The Big Grassroots Conversation will be opened by morning keynote speaker Thomson before two workshop sessions are held. Then at lunch time, the enthusiastic independence choir led by Karen Dietz will perform.
Afternoon conversations will start with Brown’s keynote speech, which will be followed by two conversation sessions. The Greens, SSP, and SNP are all taking part.
The spokesperson added: “As organisers you always have worried about how the event you are planning will come together, but from the start we felt this would be different in concept and format.
“Keith Brown and Michelle Thomson coming aboard very early in the planning has been a great anchor to plan round.”
Tickets are available via Eventbrite, search for “Effective campaigning”.
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