Rallies and vigils are being held across Scotland to mark Britain's exit from the EU as well as to renew calls for Scottish independence. In Aberdeen approximately 50 pro-EU demonstrators gathered outside of Marischal College holding banners which read "Leave a Light on For Scotland" and "Scotland's Right to Choose".
A group of around 50 pro-EU demonstrators have gathered outside Marischal College in #Aberdeen ahead of the UK’s formal departure from the European Union later tonight. @BBCNorthEast #BrexitDay #Brexit pic.twitter.com/qypaIEv0w4
— Ben Philip (@BenPhilip_) January 31, 2020
Large crowds of people gathered outside of the Scottish parliament in Edinbrugh singing pro-independence songs and hymns, with numerous EU and Scottish flags being carried, at 4:45pm. Men and women took turns singing and playing music, while bag pipes played around the corner next to a stage were speakers are due to address the crowds.
Jerry from Independence Live.Net explained during a livestream broadcast of the event that the vigil had the feel of a “pretty free form grass roots event”.
Joanna Cherry and Tommy Sheppard, both Scottish National Party MPs, are among those due to speak at the rally. Meanwhile cities including Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Stirling are expected to see candlelit vigils and farewell marchs with EU flags to commemorate Brexit, according to the BBC.
A lot of sadness felt by a majority of people we spoke to today at Pensioners for Independence Ayrshire street stall in Irvine as Scotland is dragged out of EU by Boris Johnson@CaldwellGeoff @MariaInTroon#leavealighton pic.twitter.com/hY8RTmvYk7
— Ruby Turner (@rubyrubyrubyrt1) January 31, 2020
Pro-Independence campaigners have used the result of the UK-wide EU referendum to push for a second Scottish independence vote. Although 51.9% of Brits voted to leave the EU, 63% of Scots voted to remain.
Today it’s worth remembering that Scotland is a European nation which voted to remain in the EU. Now a majority want Scottish independence. We will return. #leavealighton #Brexit #scotland 🏴🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/VqhRCMEQXK
— Angus Robertson (@AngusRobertson) January 31, 2020
It’s a tough day for many but try to see the upside - the UK may be leaving the EU but Scotland is taking a huge step towards independence.#HappyBrexitDay #Scotland pic.twitter.com/xlQzck1euG
— Phantom Power (@PhantomPower14) January 31, 2020
Long-time pro-independence campaigner Tommy Sheridan released a video on Twitter arguing that the fact that the SNP have won four general elections since the last referendum means there is now a "mandate" for a second independence referendum to be held this year.
Scotland's Parliament has once again voted to hold #IndyRef2 in recognition of it's sovereignty to govern in Scotland. The #IndyRef2 mandate is real, democratic and been confirmed five times over. It is time to use it #GoForItNicola #UseTheMandate #NameTheDate pic.twitter.com/SQcq5PKSET
— Tommy Sheridan (@citizentommy) January 29, 2020
Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, told a gathering of SNP activists in Edinburgh on 31 January that she will do everything she can to ensure a second referendum is held in 2020. “Brexit has put Scotland on the wrong road”, she said adding that the,"further down that road we go, the longer it will take and the harder it will be to get back on the right one".
