AUTUMN: a time when the first leaves fall from the trees, and something stirs in the undergrowth at the annual SNP conference – namely, excited, impatient calls for another independence referendum.
It is as well to acknowledge the genuine passions behind the march in Edinburgh last Saturday, when tens of thousands of nationalists demonstrated in favour of a re-run of the 2014 referendum. SNP MP Tommy Sheppard declared that the march would be “the final decisive phase of independence for Scotland”.
The staging of the annual conference in Glasgow during such febrile political times is a platform for pro-independence forces to assert themselves, eager to kickstart the process whereby Scotland can finally secede from the Union. But there is a certain inconsistency in the party’s collective position. Thus an SNP MP, Angus Brendan MacNeil, suggests that the party stop dithering and find a way round the all-too-probable absence of an official Section 30 order that would permit a legally binding referendum. A fellow Nationalist MP, Joanna Cherry QC, says independence could be achieved through a “democratic event” such as a General Election. Both were playing to the gallery, reflecting frustration over what they see as the glacial pace of change, but both surely know they are whistling in the dark.
SNP MPs noisily threaten “maximum disruption” in the Commons in order to keep Scotland in the single market and customs union. Theresa May, meanwhile, still trying desperately to put together a deal that covers a withdrawal agreement and future frameworks, urges Nicola Sturgeon to respect the result of the 2014 referendum.
In interviews yesterday Ms Sturgeon again sensibly refused to be drawn on the exact timing of a new independence referendum. She is playing a long game.
Is it too much to ask the more impulsive voices in the party to calm down, and follow the leader?
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel