Thousands join Glasgow march for Scotland independence

The organisers, All Under One Banner, have marches planned across Scotland throughout the summer

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Some pro-independence activists took their dogs. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:48pm, 5 May 2019Updated: 7:05pm, 5 May 2019

Thousands of people have marched in Glasgow in the largest show of support for Scottish independence since Nicola Sturgeon said she would introduce legislation to hold a second referendum on the issue.

The All Under One Banner event, led by a single flag-bearer and a pipe band, left Kelvingrove Park at 1.30pm and was following a route west to east through the city centre to a rally at Glasgow Green.

Pro-Scottish Independence activists wearing kilts and bonnets march through Glasgow. Photo: AFP

Marchers were still streaming out of the park at 2pm, many carrying Scottish and EU flags. There was a carnival atmosphere as families and dog-walkers joined drummers and bagpipers, and there were chants of “independence now”.

Police Scotland said it was difficult to estimate numbers accurately because people had joined the march at different points along the route, but by 5pm they believed there were between 30,000 and 35,000 people gathered at the rally on Glasgow Green.

A marcher dressed as a stormtrooper. Photo: EPA

Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, said at the end of April that a second independence referendum should be held by May 2021 if Brexit went ahead, but stopped short of repeating previous calls for the UK government to give her the power to call one.