Bid to be Scot free

Thousands march in support of independence from Britain

AN estimated 20,000 people have taken to the streets of Glasgow to demonstrate for Scotland’s independence from Britain.

Nicola Sturgeon, the head of Scotland’s devolved government and of the Scottish National Party, was also present at the rally, taking part in an independence event for the first time in five years.

The upcoming British general election on December 12 is “the most important election for Scotland in our lifetimes”, Ms Sturgeon told the crowd.

“The future of our country is on the line, and there is no doubt whatsoever that Scotland stands at a crossroads moment,” she said.

A win for Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson meant a future where Scotland got “ripped out of our European family of nations against our will”, Ms Sturgeon said.

Neither would a Labour government be a better option for Scotland. The much better alternative would be to become an independent country, Ms Sturgeon said.

“An independent Scotland is closer than it has ever been,” she wrote in a statement released hours before the start of Saturday’s rally.

“It really is within touching distance.”

She called on voters to cast their ballots for the SNP and thereby strengthen Scotland’s position.

On Friday, Ms Sturgeon said she would request a new referendum on independence from London before the end of December.

Mr Johnson is the biggest hurdle to a new Scottish independence vote. He has ruled out allowing Scotland to hold a second referendum and Ms Sturgeon has ruled out holding a poll without his consent, in order to avoid the chaos in Catalonia that has led to riots and Spanish authorities jailing separatist leaders.

Last week, the British parliament passed legislation calling for an early general election on December 12.