Alex Salmond opened the meeting and highlighted asylum, nuclear weapons and the Iraq war as reasons why Scotland should break the Union while Robin Harper spoke for the Green Party.

SSP national convenor Colin Fox welcomed the launch of the convention and when he pointed out that St Andrews Day, 30 November, was also the anniversary of the death of one of Scotland's greatest fighters for independence, John MacLean, there was spontaneous applause.

But the politicians were put in the shade by two remarkable performances from actress Joyce Falconer, 'Roisin Henderson' in River City, and actress and comedienne Elaine C Smith. Joyce held the audience transfixed with a performance that included A Man's A Man, proving that the Scots musical and literary tradition stretching back centuries remains a vital part of our political culture.

To end the evening Elaine C Smith turned in a masterful performance.

She started off by gently teasing the "gentlemen of the press" but followed with a devastating critique of the Scottish media from the "cringing" Herald to the "appalling" quality of STV's football coverage.

"The Independence Convention is a sign that Scotland is a nation on the verge of growing up", Elaine said. "Independence; the movement that dare not speak its name.

"I was an active member of the left during the 70s and 80s but I could never understand that while I was out there marching for independence and self determination for El Salvador and Nicaragua or South Africa or wherever but when we said 'what about Scotland?' I was told I wasn't a true socialist!"

John McAllion, the former Labour MSP and MP for Dundee East commented: "Unfortunately, I am unable to be physically present at this launch of Scottish Independence Convention. But I offer my full support to this project which aims to draw together political parties and representatives of the wider Scottish public to challenge the legitimacy of the union. Support for Scottish independence is alive and well and remains a continuing threat to the survival of the antiquated British state."

Others have also recently expressed their support for independence:

John Byrne, writer and artist: “I agree that we should have tax breaks for artists in Scotland. They have been a huge success in Ireland. That was the start of it all. It seemed to signal a different mindset within the Irish government. I believe Scotland should be autonomous. It should be a separate nation.”

Sean Connery: “The opening day of the Scottish Parliament on 1st July 1999 was one of the proudest days of my life. However, nearly seven years on, it is obvious that the powers are inadequate to do a real job for Scotland."

Independence first hailed the establishment of the Independence Convention as a "tremendous leap forward" for the Scottish independence movement. Joe Middleton, Press Officer of Independence First and a representative for IF on the Interim Forum for an Independence Convention (IFIC), the group which has been meeting for the last two years to establish the convention, said he had been "very impressed" by the willingness of the Scottish parties to work together with civic Scotland for independence.

He commented "It is obvious that the Scottish parties, SNP, SSP and Greens all see independence as crucial to their political objectives and all have been prepared to attend months and months of meetings to thrash out a detailed set of aims for the convention and an agreed strategy.

"This launch is the culmination of a considerable amount of work by people from right across the spectrum of independence supporters and the political parties deserve congratulations for putting Scotland's interests first and co-operating on this historic endeavour. This launch is a tremendous leap forward for the independence movement. The Scottish people are tired of being divided and ruled and their representatives are, at last, working together to ensure they won't be for much longer."