The Sunday Herald speaks to a cross-section of new members to ask why they joined their new party ...

and what are their hopes now?

Ken Doggrell, 49, lecturer: I'm English and was originally a unionist but I changed over the campaign from No to Yes, and have now joined the SNP. My wife, Giti, has joined as well This has never happened before in UK politics. Never before has an established party grown so much. It's not a protest vote: I believe people are genuinely scunnered and want to put that negative energy into something positive.

Elaine Campbell, 41: I've always voted SNP though wasn't particularly politically active. After the disappointment of September 18 I felt I had to put my money where my mouth was, and join the SNP. I would have joined the Green Party, but I think the SNP can make a bigger impact. We need to harness the energy that is around right now, especially among 16- and 17-year-old first-time voters.

Sophie Lejeune, 24, mother of two (pictured, right): I joined the SNP this week. My heart lies with the policies of the Greens as they're not the "hippies" many would believe they are and their policies on education and attitude towards violence are to be applauded. I also support the SSP's core values of socialism but while near-Marxism sounds great at first, it doesn't fit with the modern era. So, after some deliberation, my partner and I joined the SNP. I want our children to grow up in a country that doesn't house nuclear weapons or involve itself in illegal wars; that supports them in childcare while their parents can work; that supports them if they want to go to university when they're older and/or offers them jobs so they do not have to go abroad in search of work. I want them to grow up in a country whose prosperity is shared amongst its own people and not under the ultimate rule of a government they probably didn't vote for.

Kelly Mathers, 30: I Joined the SNP because I feel as a nation we were robbed in the referendum. The scare tactics and outright lies used by the three main unionist parties were abhorrent to me and I felt galvanised to get out and do something constructive. I would like to see the next leader of the SNP putting forward a mandate on independence so the electorate know exactly what they are voting for at the next General Election.

Jennifer Clapp, 35, promotions co-ordinator: I joined the SNP this week because I fundamentally believe that every nation has the right to self-determination.

As a Canadian I believe that, much like Canada becoming wholly independent in 1982, it is now Scotland's time. I genuinely believed that Scotland would vote overwhelmingly for independence in the referendum. When the results came in, I was heartbroken for Scotland. I decided to become more politically active and to hopefully help campaign for Scottish independence.

Gerry Coogan, 53, musician: I've known for a long time that heartless, corrupt, decadent Westminster regimes, whether Tory or Labour, will always exploit the population in order to serve a tiny elite. There's no chance of change for the better under that system. Any possible alternative is worth pursuing. An independent Scotland is clearly the best option and the SNP is the only organisation with a realistic chance of delivering it.

Mark Janes, 56, semi-retired: I am half English, half Polish, resident in Scotland for three years. I voted Yes because I believe Scotland and England are on totally different socio-political trajectories. I joined the SNP as the party who will "hold Westminster's feet to the fire", to use Alex Salmond's words, over the devolution promises, or drive the case for another referendum if they are not kept.

John Hyslop, 46, testing specialist: For too long the hopes, dreams and aspirations of a caring nation have been ignored by the main political parties in Westminster. Capitalism at its worst has evolved in the south-east, being run and directed by a greedy, manipulative minority who have lost touch with their real reason for empowerment. Our only option is to pool our resources until we become independent. The only party to do this is SNP.

Rahan Ali-Irshad, 35, actuary, businessman and entrepreneur:

I am disappointed that Scotland is not an independent country - as a businessman and professional, I recognise the need for Scotland to gain extra powers. I recently joined the SNP as I feel the party is best placed to deliver on maximum devolution to Scotland, so that we have a wealthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland. I feel it is the best at representing a multicultural society of all ages, economic equality and employee and business ethics.

other parties

Henry Bell, 25, writer and editor:

After experiencing the most incredible political engagement in the streets of Scotland and being part of a shared fight for social justice, welfare, healthcare, nuclear disarmament and increased immigration, I didn't feel like it made any sense for that to stop with the referendum. All the things a new Scotland could have been can still be fought for. I wouldn't have imagined myself as a Green a few years ago. But I remember being at a meeting with Patrick Harvie and someone saying "You're either against capitalism, or you are for the end of the world." Ecology and equality are intrinsically linked. Green is the new red.

Richard Baillie, 35, works in student support for a professional accountancy body: This is the first time I've even considered joining a political party. I was really inspired by the notion of creating a genuinely better society for Scotland. I was especially taken with the vision of the Scottish Greens, who didn't seem scared to recognise potential downsides of independence and disagree with the other Yes parties when necessary.

Josie Gaitens, 23, student: I grew up as part of a generation that has been perpetually let down by the political system, my formative experience in engaging with politics being protesting against the Iraq war. The independence campaign made me feel like a different, more exciting future was possible for Scotland. It was a movement so strong not even a No vote could stop it. On Friday morning I dried my tears and thought: 'Okay, what next?' I joined the Scottish Greens so that I could stay connected to the Yes movement and be part of making Scotland a better, cleaner and fairer place.

Scott Williams, 37, physiotherapist:

What I would like now is no different to what I wanted pre-referendum: to build a fairer society, to ensure that society's most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups have a voice and also have a movement that works for them to protect, to support and nurture the causes that they feel are important. In essence, to battle to get people out of poverty, to ensure wealth is spread so that everyone gets the opportunity to live the life they would like. I joined the Scottish Socialist Party as it offers the best solutions for what I feel is important for the society I want to bring my four children up in, the society I want to live in, and the society I want to be proud of.

Interviews by Russell Leadbetter