140,000 Signatures For Scottish Independence

Pro-independence Scots have been given a confidence boost after news that the number of people supporting the ‘Yes’ campaign has passed 140,000.

The figure comes from the number of people who have signed a petition to show their support for Scottish independence.

Signatories have been gathered through the campaign website and through canvassing at over 300 'Yes events across Scotland.

'Yes Scotland' is keen to point out that the signatures reveal the amount of pro-independence supporters is greater than the combined membership of all of Scotland’s political parties.

It said there is still a backlog of handwritten names and addresses to be added, meaning the initial number will rise.

Yes Scotland’s chief executive, Blair Jenkins, said: "This is a tremendous achievement this early in the campaign. The figures show a real sense of momentum all around the country and we have lots of people who have never been involved in politics coming to us and putting their names down.

"There is still a long way to go until we cross the finishing line in the autumn of 2014, but reaching this number of declared supporters this early gives us great confidence for a positive result in the referendum."

Mr Jenkins said: "We’ve said from the outset that this will be the biggest campaign – a people’s campaign – ever seen in Scotland and the numbers of voters getting involved supports that prediction."

(IT/GK)