Campaigners snub London pageant to march in streets for independence
though that he doesn’t actually have to take the oath, he’s done that bit already.”
Salmond was one the speakers at the end of the march, sharing a podium with SNP MSPs Ash Regan, who ran for the SNP leadership, and Joanna Cherry.
In his speech his said: “Next year at the general election, the political parties that believe in independence should stand under one banner, with a single first paragraph in every manifesto which says, ‘ We are seeking a mandate to negotiate for independence for Scotland’.
“In London, the subjects are required to swear an oath of allegiance to the crown. Whereas in Scotland, the citizens choose to swear an oath of loyalty to Scotland.”
In her speech, Regan attacked her own party. She said: “At this point, there are those who would divide our movement. Who would allow petty differences and personal ambition to overshadow our collective goal.
“The Scottish National Party, once a beacon of hope, is now facing turmoil.
‘ “Whi le we acknowledge the contributions of former leadership, we must learn from the mistakes made and address these issues with justice, compassion and reconciliation.”
Despite the SNP’s popularity falling in recent polls, support for independence has remained in the high 40s.
Cherry added: “It is a good day to remind the British establishment that in Scotland, it is the people who are sovereign.”
Later yesterday hundreds of people gathered on Calton Hill in Edinburgh for an anti-monarchy rally organised by Our Republic.
Speakers included Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater.
Referring to the coronation ceremony she said: “It is a bit obscene to be watching £100 million worth of horses, carriages, jewels and wild costumes when something like one in four families in the UK is struggling to feed their kids.”
She added that the inequal ity represented by the monarchy is a “fundamental bit of social injustice”.
Other speakers included poet George Gunn, SNP MP Tommy Sheppard and Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman.
Earlier last week Salmond said Scottish police should have staged a “standoff” outside Edinburgh Castle to prevent the Stone of Destiny from being moved to London for the coronation.
He said such a move could have been used as a bargaining tool in the push for a second independencep ppoll.
Yousaf dismissed the suggestion.