Humza Yousaf in independence call to right Brexit 'catastrophe'
- Published
Humza Yousaf in independence call to right Brexit 'catastrophe'
The first minister has told a pro-independence rally that the Yes movement can help correct the "damages" of Brexit.
Humza Yousaf addressed a crowd outside the Scottish Parliament following a Believe in Scotland march from Edinburgh Castle.
He said Scotland could get "back on the right track" by re-joining the EU.
Opposition parties accused Mr Yousaf of being obsessed with independence and out of touch with public opinion.
The first minister described Brexit as a "national tragedy".
The first minister joined the march with Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater
He told crowds: "We believe in independence because this unequal union has caused so much suffering and so much harm.
"The people of this country are not suffering from a cost-of-living crisis. They're suffering from a cost-of-the-union crisis.
"I don't believe for a minute Sir Keir Starmer when he tells me that the Labour party offer real change. Keeping us chained to a Brexit that is damaging the economy is not real change."
Ahead of his speech, Mr Yousaf told BBC Scotland News: "The people of Scotland are suffering with a Westminster-made cost-of-living crisis. It doesn't have to be this way.
"We can have the power in our own hands to make sure that we don't just reduce poverty, but we eradicate it.
"We can do that as well as regaining and reclaiming our rightful place in the heart of the European Union, because we know Brexit has been an utter catastrophe for Scotland."
Crowd gathered outside the Scottish Parliament
The UK government said the public was more interested in the economy and the recovery of the NHS than independence.
A spokesman said: "People in Scotland want both their governments to be concentrating on the issues that matter most to them, like growing our economy, halving inflation and improving public services.
"We want to work constructively with the Scottish government to tackle our shared challenges because that is what families and businesses in Scotland expect.
"This is not the time to be talking about distracting constitutional change."
The Scottish Conservatives' constitution spokesman Donald Cameron said Mr Yousaf "needs to realise he is the first minister for Scotland, not the SNP".
He added: "His appearance at the independence rally shows his top priority is to push for another divisive referendum.
"People across Scotland will be infuriated that the first minister attended this march and believes separating our country is more important than helping households through the global cost of living crisis and fixing our broken NHS and crumbling schools."