SNP working on own constitutional crisis

Madam, – As the Brexit drama continues to play out at Westminster, it seems our SNP Government is determined to not be outdone and is working away to devise its very own constitutional crisis.

This includes the real prospect of domestic priorities having to suffer in the pursuit of a second independence referendum (‘Secret preparations for second vote, Tories claim’, Courier, September 26).

The head of the Scottish civil service has warned of the risks, including the impact of trying to prepare for an independence referendum re-run whilst at the same time dealing with potential Brexit outcomes.

This results from the SNP leadership’s obsession with an overriding ambition to separate from the UK, and as a consequence not being prepared to do the sensible thing and wait for the impact of Brexit to become clear.

Meanwhile, as SNP MPS rant in the House of Commons about the actions of the UK Government, the SNP’S own constitutional affairs minister is equally determined to avoid listening to the Electoral Commission, the independent body set up by parliament to oversee UK elections and referendums.

The SNP is blatantly trying to avoid the Electoral Commission fulfilling its well established duty to review the question proposed for any second referendum.

The problem, of course, is the SNP wants to benefit from a question that gifts it the positive Yes response, while updated research suggests the commission would recommend a more neutral approach.

While the SNP leadership so often likes to claim the moral high ground, when it comes to getting ready for a second independence referendum it seems any pretence of virtuous action is to be the first casualty of its independence at any cost mentality.