MORE SNP senior activists have signed a manifesto drawn up by party group calling for a commitment to begin a new independence referendum campaign as well as greater internal democracy.
A total of 29 figures have now put their names to the document drawn up by the party’s Common Weal Group (CWG), which promotes progressive policies on land reform and wealth redistribution within the party.
It is 11 more than at the weekend when the Sunday National revealed the development ahead of the party’s annual conference, which starts today and is being held remotely.
Elections to the party’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee, take place during the course of the event with the CWG endorsing candidates who have backed their manifesto.
The conference takes place amid growing support for independence, with 14 successive polls putting Yes support at more than 50% but against tensions in the party about what course of action to take if Boris Johnson refuses to agree to a new referendum.
Meanwhile, former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill, now MP for East Lothian, said the Yes movement needed to restart its campaign.
“Britain has never been weaker, except perhaps in a time of war. This is the optimum time for Scotland to strike for its independence,” he said writing on the Wings Over Scotland website.
“Britain‘s deeply divided about what it is and where it’s going, and those leading it have never been more incompetent or self-serving. That, though, won’t always be the situation.
“When Brexit’s resolved in whatever way, Tory minds will turn north. Their weakness will lessen, and their abilities may increase with personnel changes. The idea that the Yes movement needs to down tools for a pandemic whilst damaging actions are inflicted on our land and people is absurd.”
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