Macaskill attacks SNP leadership ‘hypocrisy’
Former Scottish justice secretary Kenny Macaskill has criticised the SNP leadership for seeking to stifle debate within its ranks ahead of the annual conference this weekend.
He accused some in the party hierarchy of “hypocrisy” over their concerns about internal groups running for NEC and office positions this weekend, in a column for today's Scotsman.
The Common We al group has put for ward a number of candidates, including MPs Joanna Cherry, Douglas Chapman and Ne ale Hanvey, who have signed up to a pledge for more democracy in the party.
Mr Mac a skills aid“complaints raised by some leadership figures” were surprising as such activity had previously been carried out by party HQ.
“Everything from explicit endorsement to financial support has been given to anointed ones,” he writes. “What’ s fine for them is surely legitimate for others.
"Secondly, it also assumes that ever ything’s fine and any deviation from the official party line is, as they put it, ‘factionalism’”.
"But this is the SNP not the Communist Party of the Soviet Union or any of its satellite parties.
"The SNP is a democratic party and there’s anger over many issues within the membership ranks and debate’s required. Much of this seems driven by fear of open debate and hence it’s being labelled almost as dissent."
An SNP spokeswoman said :" The S NP is proud to be hosting the bigge stand most inter active conference of any political party during the pandemic.”