Welcome to Yes United!

Who are we and why were we created

The Independence movement today has a wide array of groups and organisations engaged in very meaningful work and research, demonstrating the strength and commitment across the Yes movement. While this work is inspiring, much of it is happening independently, in silos, and sometimes below the radar, particularly with regards to the general public.

The unity and connection that the Independence movement had in 2014 is currently missing and urgently needs to be restored to win independence. Rebuilding that collective momentum is what YES UNITED is all about.

Across Scotland there is much to be done to engage the public and reignite the enthusiasm of 2014. We believe that that the latent energy is still there and ready to be rekindled. The foundation of the independence movement is the grassroots; YES groups and Independence groups rooted in local communities, where real conversations and connections happen.

YES UNITED is here to support and bring together the autonomous grassroots Yes groups and the existing Independence organisations with the aim of creating a coordinated National Movement which will reach out to the public. The trustees will act as a conduit offering a programme of action, resources, events, and shared information for groups who choose to participate.

The autonomy of Yes groups is central to our thinking and will remain so. Yes United is a voluntary organisation with no affiliation required or strings attached.

We warmly invite you to walk these first steps with us on this journey to Independence.

Our three objectives:

Purpose 1 – Strengthening Support for Independence. We will build, consolidate and strengthen the 55% Yes vote by running a well-planned, coordinated, and ongoing campaign that reaches people where they live — on the streets and in our communities — through local YES groups.

Our goal is to help people understand why independence is essential for Scotland’s future. We’ll use tried and tested methods like leaflets, pamphlets, and public meetings, alongside the power of social media. Local YES groups are perfectly placed to lead this work as part of a united national effort. This won’t be a one-off push — it will be a sustained, long-term campaign.

Purpose 2 – Educating and Empowering Activists. An independent Scotland will bring new responsibilities at home and abroad — responsibilities that go beyond anything possible under devolution. Right now, there’s little political education to prepare the generation that will win independence, and build our better nation.

Once YES UNITED is established and running well, we will organise seminars to share knowledge, skills, and ideas with activists across the country. We will highlight the excellent work already being done by many individuals and groups, making sure it reaches local activists. We follow the wisdom of Keir Hardie: Educate, Agitate, Organise.

Purpose 3 – Connecting the Movement Across Scotland. Many incredible YES organisations are working on independence campaigns, projects, and policies. They keep the idea of independence in the public eye and are all working towards the same goal. What is missing is a national hub and campaign that links this work together and shares it widely, so every YES group, and the communities they serve, can benefit.

YES UNITED will work directly with local YES groups to share with the public, the valuable resources, ideas and work being done across the movement, always with permission and credit to the original creators. In short, we aim to be the link that helps the great work already being done reach people in their homes, inspiring more to join the cause.

Trustees and Advisors

Jim Sillars. Jim Sillars grew up in Ayrshire, working class, working as an apprentice plasterer and a railway fireman in his youth. He went on to become a Radio Operator with the Royal Navy for 5 years, a Labour political organiser, an STUC official and served as a Labour MP for 9 years. He also worked in Asia and the Arab world, became an SNP MP for 3 years and worked as an Assistant to the Secretary-General Arab-British Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. Jim is now retired but is politically active, working for a better future for the people of Scotland.

Simon Forrest. Simon Forrest is CEO of Nova Innovation, which he co-founded in 2010. He has over 30 years’ industrial experience, having worked in the energy sector with Wood Mackenzie before setting up Nova Innovation. His previous experience includes hi-tech manufacturing with IBM’s world-wide organisation, and investment banking with Salomon Brothers in London and New York.

Simon is a Chartered Engineer with a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh and an MEng from the University of Strathclyde.

Alex Neil. Alex Neil was born and brought up in Ayrshire and studied economics at Dundee University. He started his political career in the Labour Party, but joined the SNP in 1985 and became a founding member of the Scottish Parliament, serving as a list MSP for Central Scotland from 1999 until 2011, after which he became the local constituency MSP for Airdrie and Shotts from 2011 until his retirement in 2021. He served as Minister of Housing and Communities and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment before becoming Health Secretary in 2011.

Sheena Jardine. Sheena Jardine was born in Stirling and joined the SNP in 2010. She was a co-organiser for Yes Pentlands in 2014 and later became organiser for SNP Pentlands West and then Social Media Officer for Alba Edinburgh before stepping down. She is a passionate advocate for Scottish Independence and also for Common Law which restores true sovereignty to men and women. She believes Common Law could empower us all and help return decision making about our country back into the hands of the people. By day she is a musician, playing and teaching the violin.

Calum Miller. Calum Miller has been a director/owner of Millersoft Ltd for nearly 30 years. His company makes sense of fast moving data sets for large corporations. Millersoft is based in Musselburgh and their specialist software is operating in some of the largest US/EU companies.

Calum had a ring-side seat at the 2008 financial crisis when he assisted JP Morgan in New York with the integration of the collapsed investment bank Bear Stearns. Calum has also operated contracts at Seko Logistics (Chicago), CISCO Systems (Paris), Avaya (USA), Sun Microsystems (Linlithgow/California), Skype (Estonia), Pentaho/Hitachi (USA), Favbet(Ukraine), M+C Saatchi (London), CreditSafe (Wales), NHS (Scotland), JP Morgan (Glasgow), IPF(Warsaw/Leeds), Menzies Aviation (UK), …and many more.

When Calum is not assessing the impact of the latest business tax, he walks and walks and walks…listening to all the latest financial and political podcasts.

Colin Fox. Colin Fox was born in Motherwell where both his grandfathers and several uncles were steelworkers. He joined the Labour Party Young Socialists as a teenager inspired by Tony Benn. He began his political career in 1983 working for The Militant as an organiser in Lanarkshire and then London. A founder member of the Scottish Socialist Party he went on to become SSP MSP for The Lothians 2003-2007 and presented the Bill which led to the abolition of NHS prescription charges here. He has been SSP National Convenor and National co-spokesperson since 2005. Colin sat on the Yes Scotland Advisory Board 2012-14.

Carole Inglis. Carole Inglis was born in Glasgow, moving to the Isle of Skye in her early twenties. She has been active in the independence movement for over 50 years and within YES since 2012. She worked in the private and public sector and ran her own business for 15 years. Her areas of expertise are communications, networking and facilitation. As admin for Yes Highlands & Islands, coordinator for Yes Skye & Lochalsh and former vice convener of Independence Forum Scotland, she has helped bring together differing perspectives and political allegiances and is now working with the team of trustees to achieve a common vision to secure Scottish Independence.

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