Greens launch independence campaign on Brexit day
The Scottish Greens launched their campaign for Scottish independence on the day the UK leaves the European Union.
The party held a Green Yes rally in Glasgow to mark Brexit day to launch the campaign for Scotland to re-join the EU as an independent nation.
Among speakers were Ska Keller MEP, co-president of the Green/EFA group in the European Parliament.
Speaking ahead of the rally in Glasgow, Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “Yesterday’s opinion poll shows the mood for independence is shifting and today we mourn our EU citizenship. We are launching our Green Yes campaign on the same day to show that Scotland has a positive route back to the European table.
“We were told the clearest way to secure our future in the EU was to vote no in 2014. Those same people have brought us here, even though Scotland voted to remain in 2016.
“The campaign for independence must be cross-party and it must offer a radical vision of how Scotland could do things differently as a smaller European partner. We will be campaigning to convince as many as possible that a road back to the EU is possible and that independence can have a real purpose, helping us build a new, just and sustainable Scotland.”
Ska Keller MEP told supporters Scotland would be welcomed back into the EU.
“In this extremely sad moment, we need to see hope. It is a dark time for the UK… it is a big step backward for the environment and a big step backwards for social rights,” she said.
“It is up for the people in Scotland to decide on their future. It is not up to me, but if people in Scotland decide to become independent then Greens across Europe will do all we can to welcome Scotland back home.”