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Scottish ruling party membership rises sharply after independence referendum: party leader

Xinhua, September 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

The ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) membership had risen from 25,642 to 112,208 in the past year since the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, said the SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon here on Friday.

On the first anniversary of the referendum held on Sept. 18, 2014, Sturgeon told SNP parliamentarians to grow support from independence from 45 percent to a clear majority in the "years ahead", adding that there was more work to be done.

"If we are to win independence, we must convince a majority of Scots that it represents the best future for Scotland," Sturgeon said.

"That was true last year. It is true now and it will be true at all times in the future. There are no short cuts. Independence won't happen just because its supporters become more impatient for change," she noted.

However, she warned that there would be "unstoppable" demand for another independence referendum if Scotland found itself facing a European Union (EU) exit that it did not vote for.

Sturgeon repeated that it is up to the Scottish people when and if a second referendum is held, noting that the SNP 2016 manifesto will set out the party's position on another poll.

Sturgeon also announced that the SNP's campaign for next year's Scottish parliamentary elections would start immediately with a goal to win a majority in the vote scheduled for May 5, 2016 to elect 129 members to the Scottish Parliament.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron urged the SNP to "move on" from its battle for independence and to respect the outcome of the 2014 referendum.

In a statement on the anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum, Cameron made clear that he is focussed on delivering devolution so that the debate can move on from what powers the Scottish Parliament should have, to how they are used to better the lives of the people of Scotland.

He also set out that the British government will shortly table an amendment to the Scotland Bill to put beyond doubt that Holyrood is here to stay.

The SNP-led pro-independence Yes campaign gained 45 percent support in the Scottish independence referendum, against the No campaign's 55 percent in the historic poll with a turnout of 85 percent and more than 3.6 million people across Scotland casting their votes. Endit