Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Party chiefs confirmed at the weekend that 784 new members had joined the SNP across Scotland since the previous weekend, boosting party membership by 4% in just 5 days.
Following the revelation that the Tory government plan to dictate the terms of the independence referendum from London, new members have been joining the SNP at a rate of one new member every nine minutes.
Locally, SNP Branches in Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Banff & Macduff and Buckie have all reported a number of new members joining.
Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson welcomed the huge support from the public that the SNP has received this week.
Speaking at a gathering of SNP members in Banff on Friday night, which included several new members, Stewart Stevenson said:
“We have been overwhelmed with the support of the people of Scotland over the last few days.
“The numbers of people going online to sign up to the SNP is simply phenomenal, one new member every nine minutes.
“David Cameron should reflect on the fact that the SNP has 800 more activists just days after his blundering intervention into Scottish politics.
“Nobody cares more about Scotland's success than the people who live here. That's why they've responded in such huge numbers as they believe the decisions over our country's future should be taken by people in Scotland.”
Local MP Eilidh Whiteford was also in attendance to welcome the new applicants to SNP membership. She commented:
“The SNP set a target of doubling party membership by the time of the referendum and we are well on our way and I’m delighted that Banffshire & Buchan Coast Constituency is leading the way on this.
“From Selkirk to Shetland the SNP is Scotland’s party and we welcome anyone who wants to see the best for Scotland and who wants to play their part in taking Scotland forward."
