DO you have any burning questions about independence? What will the first day of an independent Scotland look like? How can we gain more unity in the Yes movement?

The Big Indy Debate is here to help. Organisers the Edinburgh Yes Hub are looking for National readers to submit questions which will be answered on the night as part of an independence debate.

The event will also feature audience questions, moderated by National columnist Lesley Riddoch, and answers from panellists – including Common Weal’s Robin McAlpine, SSP’s Colin Fox, SNP’s Michelle Thompson, Scottish Greens’s Gillian Mackay, Bella Caledonia editor Mike Small and activist Selma Rahman.

There will be music from Andrew Gordon, Amanda Brown and Euan Johnston and political satire from writer and actor Andy Paterson, whose one-man show about the death of lawyer and SNP activist Willie McRae was a big success on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2019.

Riddoch said: “It should be a great night with a panel likely to answer the tough indy questions politicians tend to duck. And a way for east coast Yessers to catch up with one another after 18 months of lockdown. As ever, the Edinburgh Yes Hub has shouldered all the expenses of staging and booking up front – so I hope folk turn out big style.”

Yes Hub organiser Mike Blackshaw said: “Staff at the Queen’s Hall have worked hard all summer with festival events and are now skilled at organising Covid-compliant events that are still lively and spontaneous. I hope Edinburgh folk will take this chance to reconnect and boost their indy energy levels before the next indyref campaign begins and while the more relaxed summer Covid rules means a good night out is still possible.”

Doors open at 6.30pm, and the event starts at 7.30pm.

The venue requires face masks to be worn throughout, but there will be a small area for people who can’t wear masks. The organisers add that it’s unlikely the event will be affected by the recently announced proposals for vaccine passport legislation.

Tickets for the evening can be accessed via thequeenshall.net/book/87001