SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has announced he will join thousands of campaigners at an independence march in Inverness later today.
The Freedom March is the latest in a series of events across Scotland ramping up pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson and demanding that Westminster listens to the people of Scotland.
It follows an estimated 80,000 people peacefully marching through the streets of Glasgow just two weeks ago.
The march also marks one of the final opportunities for people to demonstrate their support for Scottish independence before the UK is dragged out of the EU on January 31.
Saor Alba Pipes and Drums is set to lead the crowd.
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Last week, a new survey revealed that an overwhelming majority of Labour members support – or are open to supporting – Scotland’s right to choose its own future.
This contrasts with Scottish Labour’s shaky position on backing an independence referendum throughout the period leading up to the General Election.
The results from The Times Survey by YouGov revealed that 77% of Labour members support – or are open to supporting – an independence referendum, with only 16% opposed, highlighting the demand to have a say on the matter.
Speaking ahead of the event, Blackford, who has served as the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber since 2015, said Scotland’s message to Johnson “is clear” and that “Scotland must be allowed to choose its own future”.
The Westminster leader said: “People have had enough of Westminster rule by a Tory Government that we didn’t vote for; a Government that has imposed austerity, a heartless immigration system that doesn’t work for Scotland and a hard-right Brexit that will be deeply damaging for our economy, jobs and living standards.”
Blackford also highlighted the treatment of Scottish politicians in the Brexit process. He said “out-of-touch Tories at Westminster who are hell-bent on dragging Scotland out of the EU” had “willfully ignored” Scotland’s people, Parliament and the Scottish Government throughout the Brexit process.
He added: “The SNP will always stand up for the people of Scotland and their right to choose their own future.
“Decisions about Scotland should be taken by the people of Scotland, and Westminster’s bid to block the mandate the SNP has to give the people of Scotland the choice is anti-democratic and unsustainable.”
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