The SNP yesterday insisted they were still on track to get one million supporters to sign their declaraton of indepdendece – after only 7563 got on board in the first day. The slow start online came as the Yes Scotland launch on Friday came under heavy fire as critics branded it a “hand-knitted Hogmanay show”.
But the campaign group yesterday said that in addition to almost 8000 signatures, 1800 people had signed up to be volunteers and more than 3000 people had shared the declaration on social networking site Facebook. By Saturday afternoon, supporters were signing up to the declaration on yesscotland.net at a rate of 15 every minute. A Yes Scotland spokesman said: “These are hugely encouraging figures, just one day on from the launch.”
The SNP Government plan to hold a referendum on Scottish independence in two years’ time. And First Ministe Alex Salmond believes the SNP will have enough support if they can get one million Scots voters sign an independence declaration. But opponents have said the declaration is worthless and dismissed claims every name will be checked off on the voters role to ensure they are not fictitious. The launch of the Yes Scotland campaign at the Cineworld in Edinburgh had famous faces such as Brian Cox and Alan Cumming teaming up with politicians.
But neither of the Hollywood actors would be able to vote in the referendum unless they move back to Scotland. Labour insiders said the party leaders were cheered by the launch on Friday. One said: “It was an absolute mess. It might have gone down well in a hall full of Nationalists but out in the country they looked like oddballs talking to themselves. “It looked hand-knitted. Like a Hogmanay TV show from the 1970s. We’re hoping Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond will get all emotional and sing Caledonia on-screen every week.” Scottish Labour business manager Paul Martin said: “The SNP’s launch has ended up a damp squib.
“It’s a bit much for Alex Salmond to say that only people who live in Scotland can have a vote in his referendum and then start his launch with Scots who live in America. “If Friday’s launch was their best shot, then we look forward to the referendum.” The “No” campaign will be launched next month after Salmond appears at the Leveson Inquiry. The First Minister is expected to answer questions at the inquiry into media standards about phone-hacking his relationship with Rupert Murdoch’s News International on June 13.