Humza Yousaf: Independence will ‘right historic wrong’ of Brexit

Scottish independence would “put right the historic wrong of Brexit” and get Scotland “back on the right track”, First Minister Humza Yousaf will tell a rally on Saturday. 

Dubbing the decision to leave the European Union a “national tragedy”, he will warn that Scotland is facing a “cost of Westminster crisis”. 

Organised by campaign group Believe in Scotland, several high profile speakers are set to address the rally outside the Scottish Parliament. 

It will be preceded by a March from the top of the Royal Mile down towards Holyrood. 

Yousaf is expected to say: “Independence allows us to put right the historic wrong of Brexit. 

“Westminster is taking us down the wrong path. It’s not just that we are facing a cost of living crisis – Scotland is facing a cost of Westminster crisis. 

“But by taking Scotland’s future into our own hands, we can get back on the right track.” 

The SNP has previously said that a vote for Scottish independence would also signal support for rejoining the EU, despite a third of its voters voting to Leave in 2016. 

Party leadership has so far denied calls for a separate referendum to be held on EU membership in the event of Scotland becoming independent.  

Yousaf will be joined by his minister for independence Jamie Hepburn and Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater, among others. 

Speaking ahead of the march, Slater said Brexit had been a “disaster” and the UK Government had “used it as an excuse” to act in devolved areas. 

She added: “There is no way of regaining what we have lost if we are stuck between a Tory government in Downing Street and a Labour opposition that is committed to keeping Brexit. 

“We don’t have time to wait for Westminster to do the right thing. The longer that Brexit endures the more damage we will need to undo.”