It’s been one of the coldest nights of the year so far, but that didn’t stop hundreds of people gathering outside Holyrood on Wednesday evening to protest the Supreme Court ruling that Scotland could not legally hold another referendum of independence
Scottish flags were worn as layers (little protection against a cold Edinburgh afternoon) and Yes signs strung with lights were waved against the darkening sky. Anti-Tory posters appeared, some recycled from 2014, others with a new angle. “Our colonial status has been confirmed, and the law is an ass!” read one
Groups of pipers would gather, warming up their instruments and stopping for a smoke break. The Proclaimers were fired from a stereo on stage, funded by the Scottish Independence Foundation.
A small but spirited counter-protest across the road shouted over a tannoy, calling for the leaders of the pro-independence campaign to be put on the dock for treason. “The union has worked for 400 years,” said Ronnie Kane, co-director of the pro-union campaign group A Force For Good. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
British union supporters outside parliament in Edinburgh on Wednesday evening. Photograph: Katherine Anne Rose/The Observer
The independentists were equally brave. Jim Brack described the court ruling as a “win”, saying: “It has revitalized the situation. Maybe we got a little complacent.”
Julia Stryl, 52, agreed that the result would give a boost to the pro-independence movement. “[Westminster] he hoped the supreme court would be neutral. Now, it is Westminster that is clearly blocking the Scottish people’s democratic right to independence.”
The audience of the night was diverse, with speakers from America, France, Catalonia and other places. The consequences of Brexit were a strong consideration for many who had voted for the union in 2014, but have since changed their minds.
“I regret it,” said Elise Tallaron, who is French and has lived in the UK since 1996. “Even then, I could see strong arguments for independence.” She is now treasurer of the Yes For EU movement.
It was clear that anti-Tory sentiment, always strong in Scotland, had been gathering steam amid Covid, Brexit and the cost of living crisis. One sign read: “Scotland cannot afford to be part of the UK.”
Scottish National MP Tommy Sheppard, who took the train from London to attend, said Scotland should no longer be “enslaved” to a “declining isolationist, post-Brexit” union.
David Spacey, 56, believed Westminster had played the wrong card in a new referendum. “After the ‘punishment budget’ things are getting serious. At the moment the chance of independence is 50/50. [The union] could win it If they wait, and people get poorer, and struggle to pay their bills, support for independence will only increase.”
The crowd cheered loudly as Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister, made a surprise appearance.
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“It has been made clear today that the UK is not a voluntary association of nations,” he said, adding that the outcome would only create “temporary relief” for unionists. “No establishment, Westminster or otherwise, will silence the voice of the Scottish people.”
Sturgeon faced strong calls from those present for her bid for an SNP convention next year to be a cross-party move.
Colin Fox, co-spokesman for the Scottish Socialist Party, said: “Today could be a historic day if supporters of independence realize that we need a better strategy to defeat the forces of the British state that stand in our way.”
Between the speakers, pipers provided short musical interludes. The unofficial national anthem, Flower of Scotland, was sung. One person became ill and was taken by ambulance. The counter-protest did not relent from across the road.
Independence campaigner and rally organizer Lesley Riddoch summed up the general sentiment when she told the crowd: “We may not yet have convinced people that independence is the answer, but certainly Westminster and any belief in Westminster is gone. . massive progress, and something we can build on.”