Rally fears

With the Supreme Court’s ruling on whether the SNP administration may hold a legal referendum without reference to Westminster due to be published tomorrow, the Yes movement is swinging into action. Tomorrow night, rallies are to be held across Scotland, outside Holyrood and in Selkirk, Dumfries, and even Skye, among other places. Further, on the following Saturday, All Under One Banner (AUOB) will hold a rally on the steps of the BBC Scotland building at Pacific Quay in Glasgow, the site of a rowdy Yes demonstration in 2014. The organiser, Neil Mackay, tells us “we’ll be having a very prominent, very loud demonstration”.

This being the UK, these demonstrations will take place without molestation. Minorities’ rights are protected, to the extent that the danger of a “tyranny of the majority” is prevented and we are now approaching the tyranny of minorities – see the Gender Recognition Reform bill as an example

If the separatists win tomorrow, those at the rallies will celebrate. But if they lose, what will happen? True, their numbers tend not to be large, but it is clear organisers are intent on encouraging people not to accept a legal decision if it displeases them. What form that displeasure may take is not clear, but we have to hope it does not result in civil disorder. Hope may not be enough. JILL STEPHENSON

Edinburgh