The Official Launch of Yes East Kilbride

The commitment to hold a referendum on Scottish Independence was part of the party manifesto of the SNP when they contested the 2007 Scottish Elections, which delivered a ‘National Conversation’ in August 2007 which included a draft of the referendum bill. This ambition was further realised by the SNP following their system breaking majority at the 2011 Scottish Election when they obtained 69 seats in a landslide victory. It was following the finalisation of the Edinburgh Agreement in October 2012 which would permit the UK Legislation to the Scottish Parliament in order to hold the vote on the constitution. This would be the key driver behind the creation of a grass roots campaign group within the town of East Kilbride. Members of the Local East Kilbride SNP branch began engagement with members of other political parties within the town. These early engagements included non-party individuals from across the town including writers, actors, and musicians who shared the belief that Scotland should indeed be an Independent Country. With campaigning already underway, and a number of small events already underway, Yes East Kilbride as it would be known had its official launch on the 1st of March 2013.

 

 

Yes East Kilbride Launch Event Picture Gallery

The event was held at the East Kilbride Civic Centre, and was attended by over 200 members of the local community. Those who attended where welcomed by a fantastic line-up of speakers, consisting of Drew Campbell (Green Party EK), Niamh Conlon (YSI), Dennis Canavan (Chair Yes Scotland), Linda Fabiani MSP (SNP EK), Carolyn Leckie (Women for Independence), and Alan Bissett (National Collective). And the bonus of Stan Blackley who was in place to take questions from the public on behalf of Yes Scotland.

This exciting launch event which fired up the engines of the grass roots campaign within the town, would also be for many, the first time of hearing the fantastic and fitting poem ‘Vote Britain’ which was passionately delivered by the amazing poet Alan Bissett.

With standing room only, the event would be a fitting launch of the vibrant, engaging, and uniting campaign which Yes East Kilbride was to become, not only for the duration of the Independence referendum campaign, but a spirit and desire which is the lifeblood of the community group which continues today.