ALL three SNP leadership contenders have agreed to speak at a rally for Scottish independence on the day of the King’s coronation, according to the group organising the event.
All Under One Banner (AUOB) confirmed on Wednesday evening that Kate Forbes had accepted their invitation – sent out on Monday.
While the group said Humza Yousaf had yet to formally respond, a spokesperson for his campaign confirmed to The National that he would accept the invitation.
Ash Regan is understood to have responded directly to AUOB. A spokesperson for her campaign told this paper previously: "Ash is attending and speaking, delighted to do so."
The AUOB event is being organised for the day of the coronation of King Charles III, May 6.
The acceptance from the three candidates means that the winner should be first minister of Scotland by the time of the rally. The SNP leadership ballot will close on March 27, with the winner announced the same day.
If the new first minister follows through and attends it would signal a shift in the attitude of the SNP leadership toward such rallies.
Nicola Sturgeon had attracted criticism from some quarters of the Yes movement for failing to attend similar events.
She spoke at one rally in 2022 after the Supreme Court ruled Scotland could not hold indyref2 without Westminster consent, and at a rally organised by The National in Glasgow in 2019.
The BBC reported at the time that the George Square demonstration was the first independence rally Sturgeon had attended in five years.
