2015 – Split in Yes Support

I was going over some of my archived posts and I came across this one below from 2015.

I had forgotten just how suspicious I was of Sturgeon’s motivation even back then and my concerns over the direction the SNP was taking.

It helps to put in perspective why we are no nearer independence today than we were in 2014.

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Reflecting on the past year in Scottish politics, it would appear that the SNP have managed to create a division in the Yes support. There are those who appear to believe that Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP can do no wrong and they accept everything that the party tell them without question. What is more, they dutifully repeat all the mantras and sound bites.

On the other side there are those who, having been fired up by the referendum campaign and the overwhelming support for a pro-Indy party at the General Election, expected to see the momentum being carried forward along with the announcement of a second referendum. They expect independence as soon as possible and refuse to accept the SNP’s call for patience.

Looking back to the referendum, it was disappointing that’s the SNP refused to acknowledge any possibility that the vote was rigged but it was equally disappointing that they refused to put people in place to monitor polling station, follow vans carrying ballot boxes and scrutinize the counts. It is worth noting that an acknowledgement that the vote was rigged would by implication have meant that at least 50% supported YES.

Following the disappointment of the referendum, the YES supporters became galvanized and determined to push on for independence. They flocked to join the SNP in droves and those who did not actually join the party, pledged to support it. It was therefore a real slap in the face to those people who were supporting the party through their desire for independence when Nicola Sturgeon announced prior to the 2015 General Election that a vote for the SNP was not a vote for independence. Winning 56 out of 59 or 95% of Scottish seats at the General Election should have been taken as a clear mandate for independence. The massive increase in support for the SNP came from people who had pledged themselves to independence. Does Nicola Sturgeon honestly believe that the SNP actually picked up votes from unionists?

As already mentioned, there is now a split in the Yes support and it appears to be growing. It isn’t helped by those who shout down and dismiss anyone with a different viewpoint. In particular, there is a band of what can only be described as SNP fanatics who refuse to listen to any criticism of the party or the leadership whatsoever. They are often abusive and consider anyone who criticizes the party as being a closet unionist. I think it would be beneficial if we could all try and understand each other’s opinions. In other words, rather than just rubbishing a point, try and do some research into it and present a reasoned argument. A case in point is the refusal to accept that anything other than both votes for the SNP in May’s election will allow unionists parties to get seats. However, it has been clearly shown by a number of people that this is not the case and in fact vote 1 for SNP and vote 2 for another pro-Indy party will have a better chance of keeping the unionists out.

I would like you to consider this analogy:-

Two preachers are addressing a group of people.

Preacher A tells them that his religion is the only one that can offer them a way to heaven and if they don’t believe in his religion they will suffer eternal damnation.

Preacher B tells them that he would like them to follow his religion but it is their choice because either of these two religions will offer a path to heaven.

Which preacher would you trust?

I would like to see all Independence supporters coming together again as we were during the referendum campaign.

I would like to see the SNP initiating talks with all the other pro-Indy parties to develop a strategy and an understanding of the way forward to independence.

It is not good enough to constantly be told “have patience!”, “wait till we are sure we have enough support”, “trust us”, “wait till a major event happens” etc etc. We need to know what the plan is. I have been a member of the SNP for over 50 years and throughout most of that time Independence used to be the very reason for the existence of the party. If it still is then they need to make it clear that is is. If it isn’t then they need to say why.

Nothing would give me more pleasure than to see the SNP forming the first government of a newly independent Scotland. However, the people of Scotland will not allow them to drag their heels. The people of Scotland will decide when we retake our independence.