Alex Salmond launches campaign for a 'Yes' vote on Scottish independence

The formal campaign for Scottish independence has been launched at a celebrity-endorsed event.

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.

"By the time we enter the referendum campaign in autumn 2014, our intention is to have one million Scots who have signed the independence for Scotland declaration. Friends, if we achieve that, then we shall win an independent Scotland."

The message from former James Bond star Sir Sean was read out by Martin Compston, who starred in the Ken Loach film Sweet Sixteen.

"This is a historic day for Scotland," it said. "The Yes campaign has centred on a positive vision for Scotland. It is rooted in inclusiveness, equality and that core democratic value that the people of Scotland are the best guardians of their own future."

Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie said: "I am very pleased to be here at the launch of the Yes campaign. Greens are not nationalists. In fact, we are probably more comfortable than most parties in acknowledging the range of views that exist in our membership and our voters about the question of independence. But I believe, as most of us do, that the range of powers currently still held at Westminster simply make no sense from a Green perspective.”

The event was held at Cineworld cinema in the Fountainbridge area of the capital.

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