Ten years ago, on 18 September, 2014, millions of Scots voted in a historic referendum on whether Scotland should become an independent country. A decade later, The Student set out to explore whether the question of independence still resonates with Scots, by attending a pro-independence rally and speaking with residents in Edinburgh.
The referendum ended in 2014 with a 55.3% win for NO to Scottish independence. Westminster and many Scots imagined this result would settle the debate once and for all. However, the YES movement today claims that support for Independence is growing. In the last ten years, many pro-independence Scots have wanted to distance themselves from the decisions of Westminster and the United Kingdom, claiming that the Union does not make decisions with Scottish people in mind.
During the rally, many supporters we spoke to agreed that decisions affecting Scotland should be made within Scotland by people who understand the country’s challenges. Mairi, a resident of Edinburgh who had voted for independence in 2014 explained her position, saying, “It’s generally not a democracy when Scotland doesn’t vote for a Tory government but that’s what we end up getting,” referencing the last 14 years of Conservative government in Westminster.
Following the Scottish National Party’s significant losses in the 2024 general election—the party most closely associated with independence—we were curious to hear how pro-independence supporters thought independence would be achieved. Kenny and Dave from Believe in Scotland insisted that the ‘YES’ campaign was now a non-party political movement, no longer tied to the SNP or any other party. Other supporters disagreed. Marion Fellows, former SNP MP for Motherwell and Wishaw confidently stated that the SNP were the only party who could get independence passed.
Although supporters had differing views on who would bring independence to fruition, many agreed on what it would achieve for Scotland: the ability to re-join the EU as well as granting fully devolved powers to the Scottish Government.
During the rally, supporters created a ‘wishing tree’ designed for people to write what they wanted from Scottish independence, with responses including ‘get our country back’ and ‘independence for the younger generations.’ Throughout the rally the crowd were led in songs criticising the Westminster government and celebrating Scottish arts and culture.
A range of ages attended the demonstration, from active 18-year-old supporters to others in their 70s also showing up to support the cause. Their commitment to independence had not wavered since the NO vote in 2014; in fact, their belief in the YES campaign had grown stronger. Beau, 18, wanted to separate from Westminster as she could not align herself with the stance the British government had taken on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Carol, 71, and Stewart, 71, both agreed with Beau, as well as stating that they wanted more agency in Scotland. Their biggest priority was ensuring more resources for Scotland and more control on decision making about social security, energy and international relations.
In recent years, the SNP have insisted that they are still determined to deliver independence, a decision that has gained momentum with Scottish citizens. A poll conducted by Opinium in September 2024 discovered that 45% of Scots would vote YES if a referendum was held today, giving NO just a two point lead. Chloe and Greg, residents of Edinburgh were sceptical of this figure and felt that the SNP did not have enough support to bring about another Referendum vote, especially after the alleged scandal which saw the party shaken and former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon under fire.
At the rally, the YES movement acknowledged the alleged scandal that the SNP went through earlier this year. However, supporters were adamant that this would not defeat the SNP. They believed that voters would move on, and the SNP would recover by the 2026 election.
The question of Independence remains as close a call as ever. Ten years on, despite the risks independence could bring, and the uncertainty about how it would happen, the desire for Scotland to control its own destiny endures. The debate rages on, making a second referendum seem like a question of not if, but when.
Images courtesy of Rayna Carruthers.