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Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (the SNP) has been repeatedly asking Westminster for permission to hold a second independence referendum. In the wake of Brexit, some Scottish nationalists claim as a majority of Scots voted to Remain in the EU and are ‘being dragged out the bloc against their will’ - another referendum should be held. After Ms Sturgeon’s success in the December election – her party won 13 more seats, taking their total to 48 out of 59 possible seats – her party has taken that as a mandate for the so-called indyref2, although 55 percent of the Scottish electorate voted in favour of Unionist parties.

As Prime Minister Boris Johnson refuses to allow another once-in-a-generation opportunity to happen five years after the first independence referendum, non-partisan pressure groups, such as All Under One Banner, have taken the matter of independence into their own hands. The group tweeted that “due to exceptional political circumstances”, they have planned an independence march through Glasgow today. The Scottish paper The National also reported earlier this week that this march could be “the biggest Scots protest ever” as it is estimated 300,000 people could attend.

Nicola Sturgeon and Independence protesters

All Under One Banner march

Yet, the nationalists caused a great upset in October last year, when it was revealed a mass rally organised by All Under One Banner (AUOB) was to take place in April 2020 on a day of particular importance to the Scottish people – The Declaration of Arbroath. As reported by The Courier, the demonstrators were heavily criticised for trying to “take the shine of Arbroath’s 2020 celebrations”. The Declaration of Arbroath was a declaration of Scottish independence, made in 1320, dated 6 April – a day even the US refers to Tartan Day, due to its significance within Scottish culture. The declaration was a letter sent to Pope John XXII, and confirmed Scotland was an independent state. READ MORE: Churchill said he would ‘choose Commonwealth over Europe every time'

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It is supposedly the most famous document in Scottish history and was a “prototype of contractual kingship in Europe”, according to the BBC. Yet, AUOB supposedly undermined this when arranging their mass rally. The Courier reporter Graeme Strachan explained back in October: “A mass rally has been organised by the All Under One Banner group which will clash with the start of locally-organised events to mark 700 years since the 1320 signing of the Declaration of Arbroath. DON'T MISS

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“Tens of thousands of members of the Yes movement are expected to gather in Arbroath on April 4 for the procession, which has been organised ‘to regain Scotland’s independence’. “The AUOB march which has been organised by Neil Mackay will coincide with the start of a local festival weekend that will feature ‘several key Arbroath 2020 events’.” Yet, the North East Scotland Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said: “This is meant to be Arbroath’s time in the sun — looking to its past, present and future, no politics involved.

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