Biafrans re-energised as Scots relaunch independence bid from United Kingdom |
Biafrans self-determination project
was today re-energised as the Scottish National Party (SNP) declared at
its Spring Conference that it was going to re-launch her bid for
independence from the United Kingdom.
The SNP riding high on unprecedented levels of support before May’s
Scottish elections will launch new initiative in the summer. The SNP’s
decision to focus on building support for independence is markedly
different from cautious approach it took last November.
Guardian reports that Nicola Sturgeon will spearhead a renewed drive to
build support for Scottish independence this summer, pledging to turn
the 45% who voted to leave the UK in the 2014 referendum into “a strong
and positive majority”.
To a rapturous reception from about 3,000 delegates at the Scottish
National party’s spring conference in Glasgow on Saturday afternoon, the
party leader and first minister cautioned supporters: “We will not
achieve our dream of independence just by wishing that the outcome of
the referendum had been different – or wishing that we could do it all
again next week.”
With just seven weeks to go before May’s Scottish parliament elections,
she said: “We will achieve independence only when we persuade a majority
of our fellow citizens that it is the best future for our country.”
Sturgeon’s focus on the independence debate is a mark of supreme
confidence in her party which is enjoying unprecedented levels of
support across Scotland, leaving Labour trailing in the polls.
Insisting that the initiative, which will launch this summer, would not
be an attempt to “browbeat” anyone, and that she still respected those
who support the union, Sturgeon said: “I also know that many wanted to
be persuaded in 2014, but ultimately didn’t find our arguments
compelling enough. So we will listen to what you have to say.
Biafrans have been protesting across many world cities for Independence |
“We will hear your concerns and address your questions and, in the
process, we will be prepared to challenge some of our own answers.”
The first minister appeared to put the brakes on moves towards a second
independence referendum at the party’s main conference last November by
declaring that the Scottish government would hold fire until “strong and
consistent evidence” emerged of a change in public opinion.
Nicola Sturgeon to resume drive for Scottish independence |
But on Saturday, directly addressing
those who remain uncertain about leaving the UK, she said: “Patiently
and respectfully, we will seek to convince you that independence really
does offer the best future for Scotland. A future shaped not by
perpetual Tory governments that we don’t vote for, but by our own
choices and our own endeavours.That is how we will turn the 45% of
September 2014 into a strong and positive majority for independence.”
With polling regularly indicating that more than half of Scottish voters
will support the SNP in May’s Holyrood elections, Sturgeon promised not
to take this for granted as she asked to be returned for a historic
third term.
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