New Scottish independence party to field Holyrood candidates

A NEW pro-independence party is hoping to field candidates across Scotland in next year’s Holyrood election, but says they must be able to pay their own deposits to stand.

The founders of the new party believe the independence movement has stalled under the SNP. Picture: Neil Hanna

The Scottish Independence Party says it was formed this summer and aims to “get independence for Scotland back on the agenda”.

While the SNP continues to support independence the issue has not been included in the draft agenda for the party’s October conference, while leader Nicola Sturgeon argues there would have to be a significant change in Scotland’s political circumstances before another vote on leaving the UK could be held.

The party’s website states: “The Scottish Independence Party was formed in the summer of 2015, as a direct result of there no longer being a voice for independence in Scotland at the next election, to be contested in 2016.

The SIP website.

“Many people have voiced their despair at a situation where the party that has always been seen as a pressure group for independence now seems very comfortable as a party of government here in Scotland and in opposition at Westminster.

“Therefore we feel it is up to us to fill this political vacuum.”

It says its aim “is to field candidates for all seats in Scotland in the upcoming election”, with this aim “the most important part of what we are trying to do”.

But the website adds that people “must be able to put up their own deposit” of £500 to enable them to run for Holyrood.