RISE left alliance looks to continue Yes campaign

The left wing political alliance RISE has made a second independence referendum the central pillar of its election campaign.

RISE, which stands for Respect, Independence, Socialism and Environmentalism, is an electoral alliance comprising members of the Scottish Socialist Party and the Radical Independence Campaign, among others.

At the launch of the group’s manifesto in Glasgow today, SSP co-spokesperson Colin Fox accused the SNP of “backsliding” on its commitment to independence by omitting a second referendum from its manifesto, which is due tomorrow.

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“Today in contrast RISE launches promises a second referendum on independence within the lifetime of this parliament at a time of our choosing.”

RISE would table a resolution at the start of the parliament to assert the Scottish Parliament’s right to a mandate to call for and hold a referendum. “We will press the SNP to back it,” he said.

Former SNP MSP Jean Urquhart, who tops the RISE list in the Highlands, said the SNP had been guided by fear in its approach to independence but the Yes campaign had been wider.

“We need to see that movement back where it was, and we won’t have that unless we have diversity of members in the Scottish Parliament, people representing that much wider movement,” she said.

Proposals in the manifesto include a local income tax to replace the council tax, a £10 an hour minimum wage, living income for unpaid carers, a nationalised public transport service and the establishment of an economic justice fund.

Lead candidate in Glasgow Cat Boyd said it was a manifesto “for shaking up Scottish politics” which continued the energy of the Yes campaign.

“The Yes generation’s moment, our moment, isn’t over, but it does need rekindled, it needs a new spark,” she said.