Campaign for Scottish home rule launched in Edinburgh

Organisers of the Yes Scotland movement vowed to stage the “biggest community-based campaign in Scotland’s history” in the run-up to the independence referendum which could take place in October 2014.

First Minister Alex Salmond, one of the key speakers at the launch in Edinburgh, said: “We unite behind a declaration of self-evident truth.

“The people who live in Scotland are best placed to make the decisions that affect Scotland.

“We want a Scotland that’s greener, that’s fairer and more prosperous.

“We realise that the power of an independent Scotland is necessary to achieve these great ends.”

Mr Salmond was joined by politicians from other parties, including the Greens, who want Scotland to leave the UK.

A message of support from actor Sir Sean Connery, a long-standing supporter of independence, was read out to the crowd.

Alan Cumming, the Scottish film, television and stage actor, also attended.

Mr Salmond continued: “We don’t start from scratch. We have a parliament which has earned its spurs for more than a decade. If the parliament can run education, then why can’t it run the economy?

“If it can be trusted to run the health service, then why can’t it represent Scotland internationally?

“If it can be trusted to protect our old people, then why can’t we protect the country, and do so without the obscenity of nuclear weapons?”

After a round of applause, the Scottish National Party leader said: “I want Scotland to be independent not because I think we are better than any other country but because I know we’re as good as any other country.

“Like these other nations, our future, our resources, our success should be in our own hands.”

The campaign will be built “brick by brick” across communities, he said.

“We intend to take our case to the people by community activism and online wizardry,” he said.