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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