A protester holds a banner at a demonstration against Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Glasgow, Scotland, on January 22, 2022.

People have taken to the streets in the Scottish city of Glasgow, calling for independence, and the resignation of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is embroiled in a crisis over parties held in Downing Street while people across Britain were going through the coronavirus lockdown.

Pro-independence activists gathered in an emergency rally at George Square and marched on Glasgow Green on Saturday. They said Johnson should go because he partied while others died. Protesters were also chanting, Boris, Boris, Boris! Out, out, out!

The protest organizer group All Under One Banner (AUOB) said in a statement prior to the gathering, Millions of people are furious that this Westminster Tory Government continues to line the pockets of their rich and powerful friends, whilst the rest of us face rising living costs and savage attacks on our NHS, pensions and public services.

It is time to take to the streets to demand Johnson must go and step up the fight to secure independence, which will in itself bring the end to Tory rule in Scotland once and for all, it said.

The AUOB said later in the day, We’re proud to announce that c. 1000 people took to the streets of Glasgow today on the emergency march for independence.

This is a great turnout considering the short notice, the early start time and mass gatherings are only just permitted. The fight for independence is on!

Lawmaker Stephen Flynn, who was among the protesters, wrote in a tweet that it was time to leave the chaos of Westminster behind.

Johnson’s government is in hot water over the revelations of partying, including two events late into the night at No 10 on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021, when such gatherings were forbidden due to the pandemic.

Johnson has said he attended what he thought was a work event, claiming that nobody had told him the gathering was against the COVID restrictions.