‘Nil’ chance of indyref2 this year, insist SNP veterans
● Macaskill and Sillars downplay expectations of a new vote in 2020
Two veteran left-wing SNP politicians have ruled out any chance of a second independence referendum this year.
Kenny Macaskill, who served as justice secretary in Alex Salmond’s cabinet and has just been elected as MP for East Lothian, said the chances of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon achieving a second vote on independence in 2020 are “slim”, while former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars believes the SNP leader is leading independence activists “up the garden path”.
Mr Macaskill, who left the Scottish cabinet when Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister in 2014, also called for a new alliance with the Labour Party to “build on the anger” felt in Scotland towards Boris Johnson’s new Conservative government.
Writing in the forthcoming Scottish Left Review, Mr Macaskill encourages Scottish elected politicians and parties to work together, the goal of which should be “a united demand for Scottish independence, or at least unity on the right of the Scottish people to choose their own future”.
“It can be the basis to show the world that it’s not one party, but the people who are demanding it,” he writes.
However, he said the chances of a second referendum this year were “slim – indeed, more likely nil”.
In the same issue, Mr Sillars writes: “Everyone with any political nous knows that Nicola’s demand for indyref2 in 2020 is play acting to up the grudge feeling when Johnson says no.
“How the activist gallery to which she is playing don’t see they are being led up the garden path beats me.”
He also accused Ms Sturgeon of undermining her claim to have a mandate for a second vote by muddying her campaign messages in the election, moving away from independence to focus on Brexit.
“Nicola Sturgeon never went for an unambiguous vote for independence, using the softest language on indyref2 with a formula that it was right for Scots to make a decision about our future – something difficult for any reasonable person to disagree” he writes.
“Then, she changed tack, and made the last lap all about stopping Boris and Brexit.
“So another election goes by and the SNP sought ‘remainer’ Unionist votes, thus undermining the claim to have a mandate for indyref2. [It is] another chance missed to build the independence vote.”
Mr Sillars said that Boris Johnson’s refusal for a referendum would leave Scotland “stuck”, and the SNP with more MPS, but who would only “demonstrate their impotence” in London.
Tory MSP Maurice Golden said: “The arrival of a new year doesn’t seem to have eased the tensions at the top of the SNP. If anything the divisions are growing deeper. And as the party of government in Scotland continues to tear itself apart over constitutional issues, our schools, hospitals and infrastructure suffer.”
Their comments were also welcomed by Scotland in Union, which said they proved the First Minister should drop her demand for a section 30 order.
However, a spokesperson for the SNP said: “In line with repeated election mandates received from the people of Scotland, a referendum should be held before the end of 2020 with the precise timing a matter for the Scottish Parliament. Scotland’s future should be in Scotland’s hands, not those of Boris Johnson.”