The war of independence
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THE SNP are at war with a rebel independence faction after accusing them of playing a “game” with voters.
A group of nationalists, led by SNP stalwart David Thompson, are launching a new party to target 24 seats at next year’s election.
But an SNP spokesman said: “Talk of splitting the SNP vote will be music to the ears of the Unionists.”
A FORMER SNP MSP has opened up a major rift in the nationalist movement by saying he will help launch a new independence party. Dave Thompson will quit after 55 years in the SNP and predicts the “Alliance for Independence” (AFI) could win up to 24 seats at next year’s Holyrood elections. He revealed the new group will use the slogan, “max the Yes” in a bid to have as many IndyRef2-supporting MSPs as possible. He said: “Just imagine 20 Margo MacDonalds in the parliament?” However, an SNP spokesman said: “Talk of splitting the SNP vote will be music to the ears of the Unionists. Those seeking to game the Holyrood proportional electoral system are putting at risk the SNP’s progress.” Debate is raging inside the Yes movement over whether proindependence supporters should give both votes to the SNP next year.
And there has been speculation that former first minister Alex Salmond may join the party.
Polls suggest Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP may clean up on first-past-thepost but the semi-proportional electoral system means they might only pick up a handful of seats in the regional list vote.
Some Yes supporters believe the strategy should be to endorse the SNP on the first vote and a new party on the lists.
Thompson said he is on the steering group of AFI, which would allow smaller pro-independence parties, Yes groups and individuals to unite under one banner and contest the regional lists at the Holyrood election.
He said the purpose is to maximise the pro-indy vote, adding: “Every regional list vote for the SNP will have no impact. It will achieve nothing. Whereas, if a lot of these votes came to AFI, we can garner a lot of MSPs.
“We are looking at anything between eight and 24 MSPs.”
Thompson said the alliance would support the SNP in first-past-the-post seats and its members would only have to agree with independence.
He added: “On everything else, they can vote according to their own party programme, or according to their own views and conscience.”
Thompson, who will give up his SNP party card, said: “As soon as we launch, and I formally join the alliance, I will leave the SNP.”
Ian Murray, Labour MP for Edinburgh South, said: “The anti-UK movement is trying to find new ways to make next year’s election about a divisive second independence referendum.”