The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Greens back Yes Scotland campaign
The Scottish Green Party has formally endorsed the cross-party Yes Scotland campaign for independence.
Delegates backed the campaign at their party conference in Glasgow just over four months since it was launched.
Urging members to make a “judgment call”, Green co-convener Patrick Harvie said the Yes Scotland movement was not dominated by the SNP.
“Ye s Scotland has evolved into the sort of organisation it should have been from day one,” he said.
The party also decided to form its own pro-independence campaign to run alongside Yes Scotland but designed to promote distinct policies.
A separate vote among the estimated 120 delegates put the party on a conflicting path to Yes Scotland by continuing support for a multi-option referendum.
The campaign group wants a straight yes-no ballot – a plan that is also backed by the UK Government and senior SNP figures such as Nicola Sturgeon.
The Greens also voted to push for an eventual Scottish currency inthe event of independence after the referendum in 2014.
In a statement following Saturday’s overwhelming vote to join Yes Scotland, Mr Harvie said: “The decision ensures that Greens take a front-row seat in this exciting debate, promoting fresh and radical ideas on Scotland’s future. Greens are not nationalists and we’re not motivated by devotion to one flag or the other. But we can see huge opportunities to make our country f a i r e r and greener.
“We look forward to working with Yes Scotland to set out a transformational vision for Scotland’s society, economy and environment, and building a campaign to win.”
Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins said: “The momentum is very much with the yes campaign and this extremely welcome development is another tremendous boost.”
Campaign chairman Dennis Canavan, a former Labour politician at Westminster and Holyrood, said: “Yes Scotland is a very broad and inclusive church, comprising people with many shades of political opinion and none but united in their belief that independence is the best option for Scotland and the Scottish people.
“I am thrilled that the Scottish Green Party has decided to play its part in the yes campaign and I know they will play a key role in helping to deliver independence in the 2014 referendum.”