Party time for SNP snipers

IF YOU dislike the Scottish National Party and have been squirming during every electoral cycle for the last decade at their increasingly vice-like grip on Scottish political life, then let this column be a tonic.

Since the 2007 Scottish Parliament election when the SNP secured one more seat in Holyrood than their opponents, their ascendancy continued virtually unfettered.

As of next month, they will have been in government in Scotland for 17 years – longer than the average prison life sentence – with their dominance increasing steadily since 2007.

However, a YouGov poll last Wednesday gave the clearest indication that a growing desire for political change is as strong here in Scotland as elsewhere.

In my first column of 2024, when considering significant SNP losses at a forthcoming general election, I asked: “Will Humza Yousaf still be the first minister of Scotland?”

If, as this new poll suggests, Mr Yousaf loses 29 Members of Parliament at Westminster, reducing their overall number to 19 – by far the lowest they have had in almost a decade – then surely his position would be untenable?

Take this month, for example, I mean April 2024 really is quite a time to be alive. Not only did a hate crime law come into force which, according to yesterday’s Sunday Times, only one in five Scots wish to retain, but all MSPs last week also enjoyed a new 6.7% pay rise, which became live on April 1.

The SNP like to point to Westminster’s deficiencies, but MP salaries are defined by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), whereas Holyrood can increase their own as they please.

Increase their own salaries at will, they may, but mark their own homework, they do not. That job belongs to the electorate and Scottish voters will only permit poor oversight of education, healthcare and

housing as well as the passing of legislation they dislike on gender reform and hate crime so long before holding up their electoral palm and saying: “Hud it, this far and nae further”.

The same poll has Labour at 28 seats in Scotland and, bear in mind, this is without Sir Keir Starmer offering much, if any,

detail on his own constitutional agenda for Scotland.

The constitutional question is simply not as high on the agenda as the SNP need it to be to retain a majority of MPs but Humza may not be the only casualty of an SNP collapse, but independence also. Regarding those leading the SNP, party stalwart Jim Sillars, in an interview in The Herald, said: “They seem to be unaware their inability to be able to think deeply on policy and the mistakes they have made in governmental positions is extremely damaging to the independence they claim to adhere to.”

If you – the voters – reject an SNP majority at Westminster, as this poll indicates, then a few other options are likely to play out. Firstly, the SNP will expect Yousaf to relinquish the reins as first minister and as party leader. Personally, I do not believe he will be in the same post this time next year.

Secondly, Sir Keir Starmer will not have to worry about questions relating to another referendum in Scotland for the entirety of his tenure as prime minister. And that will be sweet relief to him and to every unionist reading this column. Your tonic has thus been served.

Humza Yousaf’s party could face a tough time at the polls.