Lesley Riddoch to speak at Scottish Independence Rally

Believe in Scotland’s march and rally for Scottish Independence in Edinburgh on Saturday, March 28th aims to force independence to the top of the nation's agenda ahead of May's Holyrood elections.

The speaker line-up continues to grow in number and quality with journalist, broadcaster and filmmaker Lesley Riddoch joining us on the march and rally.

Lesley will join the growing list of speakers including one of Scotland's greatest ever actors Brian Cox, Scottish First Minister John Swinney MSP and Scottish Green Party Co-leaders Gillian Mackay MSP and Ross Greer MSP. All three of the politicians will be addressing a major independence rally for the first time as leaders of their respective parties.

We asked Lesley to share why now is the time to march and get the independence movement back on the front foot; she told us:

"Now is the time for Yessers to get back on the road and make our voices heard. The US attack on Iran and ongoing oil/gas supply disruption puts renewables at a premium but only independence will help our great natural assets transform Scotland. 

“Great turnouts to see the new Finland film show the energy for a new country is still there. Now we need to show the rest of Scotland. And beyond.

“The May elections may well see wins in Wales and Scotland for parties that want to end the UK with Northern Ireland already led by an Irish unification party. That's impossible for Westminster and even Europe to ignore and that's a good reason for everyone to join us on this march on Saturday, March 28th." 

The founder of the Believe in Scotland independence campaign Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp welcomes Lesley as a speaker:

“Lesley Riddoch is one of Scotland's most impressive and persistent voices in modern public life, championing the causes of independence, social democracy, and equality. A broadcaster, journalist, and filmmaker, Lesley has spent decades helping people in Scotland look at our country with fresh eyes and to raise their ambitions for our nation.

“Lesley challenges assumptions and opens up new ways of thinking about how Scotland could work. Through her writing and films focused on best practices that Scotland can learn from Scandinavian nations, she has called for Scotland to rise to the challenge and build better systems for local democracy and land reform to achieve better outcomes for Scotland’s citizens.

“Lesley has a rare talent for talking about the kind of country we could build, the communities we could empower, and the democratic renewal that could come with it. That is why I am delighted that she will be speaking at our march and rally for Scottish independence. Anyone who cares about Scotland’s future should want to hear Lesley Riddoch speak and I know she will leave people thinking differently about just how much is possible once we start to seize the opportunities that independence brings.

Details of the March

Believe in Scotland is organising a March and Rally for Scottish independence in Edinburgh on Saturday, March 28th, 2026.

The marchers will start to gather from 11:30am on the Royal Mile by Parliament Square. The march will begin at 12:00pm. Soar Alba Pipes and Drums will lead the march down The Royal Mile and onto the gathering on Calton Hill.

The march is expected to arrive at Calton Hill around 1:20pm and begin the rally soon after that.

We are expecting thousands to march with us and we hope you can join us.