Spirit of Independence Hits Kirkcaldy

The Yes campaign was out in force today in Kirkcaldy as renovated 1950s fire engine, the “Spirit Of Independence” rolled into the town centre to mark the two week countdown to the referendum. The vehicle, once a “Green Goddess” fire engine designed to tackle fires in exceptional circumstances, is now painted blue and white to encapsulate the spirit of Scotland, and is being driven around the country throughout August and September by Dundee businessman Chris Law.

Chris, who this year brought the engine back into service and replaced its firefighting equipment with literature on the Yes Campaign, plans to reach up to 2,900,000 people on his tour around the most densely populated cities of Scotland. Standing beside the engine on bustling Kirkcaldy high street, he announced to spectators: “I am not a politician, I am a person, and this is a movement for people”. Although a member of the SNP, Chris insisted that he was not campaigning for them. The literature stored on the Spirit Of Independence came from 18 different sources, that even included a Nigerian print, titled “Nigeria For Yes”. The engine and various other attractions on the street (including a 10 foot dummy in a jimmy wig) attracted large crowds to its position outside the Yes shop – and not everyone was so supportive of the cause.

An older gentleman approached the engine to announce that the SNP’s White Paper was “nothing more than a wish list”. Although Chris calmly made efforts to provide information to disprove him, the man swore and walked away without any flyers.
“You get people like that at least once a day,” said Chris to the members of the public that had gathered, “but I do this because I want to build a better society.”

Another local person arrived to speak to Chris and the various Yes Campaigners on patrol. Kirkcaldy resident and sufferer of Brittle Bone Disease, Alistair Bruce, had come along to show support and further spread the town’s Yes fever. He spoke about Westminster’s “broken system” and it’s failure to support him and his disability in his younger years. His passion for the Yes cause was infectious and as he spoke, a larger crowd appeared around him. Before leaving he told them: “I think we’re going to win, and I think we’re going to win by more than people think.”

On the high street, there were zero No campaigners out spreading awareness for their cause. I asked a local woman if she knew where the “No” hub for Kirkcaldy was located. She told me that she passed it every day on her way to work, but “because nobody was ever there”, she “assumed it had closed down”. When I went to the shop, there was only one customer –a local Yes voter.

It seems that the spirit of independence is still burning brightly in Kirkcaldy, and is likely to continue in the countdown to the big day.