It signals a distinct change in emphasis from his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon, who rarely attended marches like this one, according to the veteran independence campaigner Lesley Riddoch. By contrast, Yousaf has top speaker billing at the rally. "A lot of people are saying this will be a test for Yousaf, but he's very good at this - it's a rare skill to be able to command a crowd and he's got it," said Riddoch.
Plenty within the SNP report a buzz about the event, which is welcomed as a necessary morale boost after a summer of gloomy headlines: a slump in the polls, the continuing police inquiry into party finances, a deficit of more than £800,000 because of a fall in membership and donations, and a combustible internal row over the future of the Bute House agreement - the power-sharing arrangement with the Scottish Greens.
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