Scottish flags were draped like capes – little protection against a chilly Edinburgh evening – and signs strung with lights fluttered in the dark sky. Anti-Tory posters made their appearance, some recycled from 2014, others with a fresh angle. “Our colonial status has been confirmed – and the law is an ass!” read one. Groups of gays huddled together, warming up their instruments and stopping for a cigarette break. The Proclaimers were blasted by an onstage stereo, sponsored by the Scottish Independence Foundation. A small but lively counter-protest across the street called for a tanno, calling for the leaders of the independence campaign to be brought to justice 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.” UK union supporters outside parliament in Edinburgh on Wednesday night. Photo: Katherine Anne Rose/The Observer Supporters of independence were equally forceful. Jim Brack described the court’s decision as a “win”, saying: “It’s revitalized the situation. Maybe we were a little complacent.” Julia Strehl, 52, agreed the result would give the independence movement a boost. “[Westminster] he hoped the supreme court would be neutral. Now, it is Westminster that is clearly blocking the democratic right to independence for the people of Scotland.” The evening’s crowd was diverse, with speakers from America, France, Catalonia and elsewhere. The fallout from Brexit was a strong thought for many who 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.” He is now treasurer of the Yes For EU movement. It was clear that anti-Tory sentiment, always strong in Scotland, was gathering strength amid the Covid crisis, Brexit and the cost of living. One placard 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 no longer needed to be “enslaved” to a “disintegrating post-Brexit isolationist” union. David Spacey, 56, believed Westminster had played the wrong card in a new referendum. “After the ‘punishment budget’ things get bleak. Right now the odds of independence are 50/50. [The union] he could win it. If they wait, and people get poorer and struggle to pay their bills, support for independence will only grow.” The crowd cheered loudly when Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, made a surprise appearance. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “Today it has been clarified that the UK is not a voluntary partnership of nations,” he said, adding that the result would only provide “temporary relief” for unionists. “No institution, Westminster or otherwise, will silence the voice of the people of Scotland.” Sturgeon faced strong calls from those present to make her proposal for an SNP conference next year a cross-party movement. 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 speakers, pipers provided brief musical interludes. The unofficial national anthem, Flower of Scotland, was sung. One person became ill and was taken away by ambulance. The counter-protest did not stop at the other side of the street. Lesley Riddoch, independence campaigner and rally organizer, 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 all belief in Westminster is gone and this is huge progress – and something we can build on.”
