A CONTROVERSIAL pro-independence group hoping to organise a massive rally ahead of the UK’s exit from the European Union has invited Nicola Sturgeon to address the crowds.
Hope Over Fear is calling on “the Indy family and the many thousands who have switched from No to Yes” to gather in Glasgow’s George Square on Sunday, March 24 – and demand a date for a second referendum by September at the latest.
It urged the SNP Government to “rescue Scotland from the British political chaos by launching the lifeboat of the IndyRef2 ballot for which they have a triple-lock mandate to call”.
Hope Over Fear has attracted criticism in the past due to its links with convicted perjurer Tommy Sheridan, with SNP politicians urged to distance themselves from its events.
In a press release, it called on supporters to assemble and listen to “powerful advocates for Scottish independence and declare their physical support for the launch of IndyRef2 in 2019”.
It said: “Hope Over Fear recognises the SNP led government possess a hard earned triple-lock and democratic mandate to call IndyRef2 and feel it must be used now while the British unionists are divided and weakened by their Brexit inflicted chaos.
“Regardless of how supporters of independence voted in the 2016 Brexit Referendum the clear majority of Scots, 62%, voted to Remain in the EU.
“To be dragged out of that body against the expressed democratic wishes of the Scottish nation is not only undemocratic but unacceptable. Such an outrage is a justification, among others, for IndyRef2.
“Hope Over Fear believes failure to use the democratic mandate for IndyRef2 would be a serious tactical error in the pursuit of independence and represent a betrayal of the hopes and aspirations of the grassroots independence movement.”
Hope Over Fear said the rally on March 24 would be a “clarion call” to the SNP to “sound the independence bell” and name a date for a second referendum by September at the latest.
It said it would “invite independence campaigners from across the broad Indy family to address the rally as well as officially inviting First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to attend and speak”.
Mr Sheridan was jailed in 2011 after lying during his successful defamation case against the News of the World.
The disgraced former MSP is listed as the secretary of Hope Over Fear Ltd, while his wife Gail is the director.
Scottish Tory chief whip Maurice Golden said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s vague promises on IndyRef2 can only keep extreme nationalists happy for so long, and they are clearly getting restless.
“The people of Scotland voted against independence, and the SNP knows the majority of Scots do not want more constitutional turmoil.
“Nicola Sturgeon cannot have it both ways indefinitely. She must put Scotland first and take IndyRef2 off the table.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel