Edinburgh Evening News - Top Stories - Parties urged: unite for go-it-alone fight A NEW cross-party campaign was launched today in an ambitious attempt to build a consensus for Scottish independence.

Organisers of the Independence Convention want the SNP, Scottish Socialists, Greens and others to work together to draw up detailed plans for a go-it-alone Scotland.

And SSP leader Tommy Sheridan claimed there was already close to a majority in favour of independence.

The convention was being launched at a fringe meeting at the Scottish Nationalists’ annual conference in Inverness, addressed by Mr Sheridan, leading SNP backbencher Alex Neil, pensioners MSP John Swinburne and actor-director David Hayman.

There were messages of support from Labour’s John McAllion and former Clydeside communist Jimmy Reid.

And organisers have also lined up support from figures outside politics, including actors Elaine C Smith and Peter Mullan. The convention aims to capitalise on the fact that, despite heavy SNP losses in the May elections, there are now three parties - plus independents - in the Scottish Parliament who believe in a separate Scotland.

Mr Sheridan said: "I’m very enthusiastic about the prospect of a wide-ranging campaign, united to promote the principle of independence that cuts across party lines. I think there is close to, if not already, a majority of Scots who would support independence. Among some sections, particularly the young, it is an overwhelming majority." Edinburgh Evening News