Organisers claim 3,000 joined Inverness indyref2 march amid 'terminal cost of living crisis'

The organisers of a pro-independence rally in the Highlands claim 3,000 people took part in the weekend event.

The march in Inverness happened just days after Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak each ruled out a second vote if they become the next Prime Minister, saying they want to focus on tackling the rising cost of living.

Attendees travelled from all corners of Scotland to march through the Highland capital.

They weaved their way through the city centre streets to gather at Castle Heather Park, several miles away.

The All Under One Banner group which organised the protest is demanding the dissolution of the union in the face of what it describes as the “terminal crisis” the UK is facing.

MP Drew Hendry hailed the largest pro-independence march turnout in the region since the onset of the pandemic.

The theme of peaceful protest was prominent in speeches in the park from SNP and Green politicians in the wake of angry scenes outside last week’s Conservative leadership hustings in Perth.

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey SNP MP Drew Hendry said he was delighted with the biggest pro independence rally turnout since the pandemic struck.

He dismissed an Ipsos poll published earlier in the day which showed support for IndyRef2 slipping to 29%.

He said: “The poll that is very important is the one that was taken to elect the Scottish Government and the Greens into the Scottish Parliament delivered with a mandate to hold a Scottish referendum.

“That’s something people actually voted for and we have a majority of MSPs in the parliament who support that through their manifestos.”

Mr Hendry added: “Now, more than ever, we need to get the message out that Scotland will not be ignored and that we can choose a different path to the chaos and indifference served up for people by Westminster.

“We can see the harm of rising costs for families, soaring energy bills and growing inequality – especially when compared to similar and normal independent countries.

“To change that we need to persuade those still to commit that we can, by putting a cross in the box for independence.”