Alex Salmond comments on an Independence Convention

An Independence Convention must be a broad and inclusive political and civic gathering of the independence movement. To have any impact at all it clearly has to reach beyond any one political party. The SNP is entitled to have its own meetings to sort out its own policy but not to suggest it can represent an entire movement. That much is obvious particularly at a time when backing for the SNP is faltering but independence support is riding high.

The organisations which represent the Independence movement need to come together and declare themselves independent of the internal meetings of any one political party. Meanwhile the independence supporting political parties should co-operate to field one single candidate in each constituency on a joint platform seeking a mandate to negotiate independence. These are the initiatives which would galvanise independence support and strike fear into the heart of the Westminster establishment.