Scottish Independence: SNP ‘won’t be Yes campaign’s only voice’

By SCOTT MACNAB
Published on 24/05/2012 00:00

THE Scottish Government has said the official “Yes to independence” campaign will be a cross- party alliance and that the SNP will not be the only voice.

First Minister Alex Salmond will be the keynote speaker at tomorrow’s official launch, along with Green co-leader Patrick Harvie and Scottish stars and civic leaders.

They insist that the “Yes Scotland” campaign is about more than just the SNP, but opposition parties have claimed that Mr Salmond is running the campaign by “diktat”.

And last night fresh splits emerged in the Yes campaign, as Green co-leader Patrick Harvie warned that the “middle-of-the-road blandness” of the current mainstream independence movement could scupper hopes of a Yes vote in the referendum.

A spokesman for Mr Salmond insisted that tomorrow’s event was not a “front” for the SNP.

“The First Minister will be present at it, but the event is organised by the committee being launched on the day,” the spokesman said. “It’s not a government event. Its being organised by the body which will be formally launched on Friday, which is ‘Yes Scotland’.”

The spokesman said the First Minister would play a “large role” in the campaign.

However, he added: “It’s not a government event, it doesn’t involve government resources. It’s a campaigning event.”

He insisted that the SNP would not be responsible for any big-name endorsements.

The party itself enjoys the backing of Scots Hollywood stars such as Sir Sean Connery, Brian Cox and Alan Cumming, all of whom are expected to back the Yes campaign, though it remains unclear if they will be present tomorrow.

However, Mr Harvie fears the efforts to woo centre-ground voters could alienate many on the Left.

“The task of those who see the opportunity of independence is to inspire hope that a Yes vote will lead to the radical change we consider necessary and desirable,” he said in his submission to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the 2014 vote.

“The current ‘universalist’ approach risks turning what should be a transformational opportunity into a promise of middle-of-the-road blandness, only under a different flag. “I can’t ask people to vote for that. This debate needs to offer more.”

There have already been indications of friction within the Yes campaign, between the SNP, which backs retaining the monarchy after independence, and the Scottish Socialist Party, led by former MSP Colin Fox, which insists an independent Scotland should be a republic.

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: “We have already seen splits between the SNP and the smaller parties they are using as part of their campaign.

“The reality is that the SNP campaign will be run by Alex Salmond’s diktat in order to serve Alex Salmond’s interests.”

The spokesman added: “Labour will be part of a radically different approach: a grassroots campaign based on what is in the interests of the country we all love.”