…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, is confident that his party, the SNP, can win next year’s general election and any subsequent independence referendum in a hung parliament.
Following last week’s local elections in England, projections suggest that Labour could struggle to gain an overall majority at Westminster in the UK-wide vote expected next year.
In the event of a hung parliament, the SNP is keen to make clear its negotiating position.
Over the weekend, the party’s deputy Westminster leader, Mhairi Black, said that Labour would have to give up an independence referendum for SNP support after the election.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, however, has repeatedly said that there will be no deals with the SNP after an election.
Mr. Yousaf’s confidence comes after six weeks of turmoil at the top of his party, with former chief executive Peter Murrell and then-treasurer Colin Beattie arrested in connection with a police probe into the SNP’s finances.
Despite the challenges, Yousaf said that support for independence is still rock solid and the party has the positive vision and arguments to win the election and independence referendum.
A recent poll suggested that support for independence was around 45%, the same as in the 2014 referendum.
Yousaf went on to say that he was disturbed by the SNP’s “lurching more and more to the right” and that the party could obtain the prize of an independence referendum and “kick the Tories out of Scotland.”
In response to Labour’s steadfast refusal to countenance a deal with the SNP, Yousaf said that he would work with any progressive party to see the back of the Tories.
He added that the price for cooperating with Labour would undoubtedly be demanding that Section 30, which is the right to hold an independence referendum, is put firmly at the center of Scottish and UK politics.
Commentary:
The article reports on Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf’s, confidence in the SNP’s ability to win next year’s general election and any subsequent independence referendum.
The SNP is keen to make clear its negotiating position in a hung parliament, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly said there will be no deals with the SNP after an election.
The article highlights the challenges faced by the SNP, including the recent turmoil at the top of the party, with former chief executive Peter Murrell and then-treasurer Colin Beattie arrested in connection with a police probe into the SNP’s finances.
Despite these challenges, Yousaf believes that support for independence is still rock solid, and the party has a positive vision and strong arguments to win the election and independence referendum.
The article also presents comments from Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, who suggests that most Scots understand that the SNP hasn’t got a clue about currency, pensions, or borders, and that they are as lax and haphazard as the Brexiteers.
He adds that the SNP’s leverage should be focused on improving public services,
The article provides readers with an update on the political landscape in Scotland, including the SNP’s confidence in their ability to win the election and any subsequent independence referendum.
It presents a balanced view, including comments from representatives of other parties, and provides readers with insight into the challenges and opportunities facing the SNP.