Yes Orkney launch
by Unknown - 12:49 on 03 December 2012
The Orkney campaign to take forward the case for a Yes vote in the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence got off to a positive start last week when 40 Yes supporters from all over the county attended the launch meeting in Kirkwall.
Folk from Kirkwall, Stromness, Westray, Hoy and many Mainland parishes turned out for the official launch of Yes Orkney at the St Magnus Centre last Tuesday evening, with several signing the Yes Declaration on the night, and taking away forms for friends and family to sign up.
Guest speaker for the evening Jennifer Dempsie, public relations manager for Yes Scotland, gave a presentation on Yes Scotland and the Yes campaign, and then fielded dozens of questions from the audience.
Robert Leslie, who was chief reporter with Orkney Today, and previous to that news editor at The Orcadian, was nominated as the local contact for the Yes Orkney group, and it was agreed that a social event would be held early in 2013, details of which will follow soon.
Robert said: “Jennifer’s talk sparked a very stimulating hour-and-a-half of discussion and debate, and I hope that those who attended now feel motivated to help lead the debate in Orkney on why independence will be a positive move for people living in the county.
“We are keen to ask folk what shape they think increased autonomy for the islands might take under an independent Scottish Government, post-2016, as this is an aspiration that has so far been unmet under devolution.”
Jennifer said: “I was delighted with the turnout in Orkney, and at how positive the folk were towards getting involved in a local campaign for a Yes vote in 2014. Orkney is a marvellous place and the local group will be part of the largest grassroots campaign in Scottish history. The most important part of it will be the people on the ground and they will be leading a debate based on principles, not politics.”
Although last week’s meeting officially placed Yes Orkney under the Yes Scotland umbrella, an embryonic local group has been meeting for the past six months, with their early campaigning endorsed by The Proclaimers when they played at the Pickaquoy Centre in August. Almost 250 people have joined the Yes Orkney Facebook page since it was set up in June.
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