SNP MPS to be told to get out of Westminster
Snpmpsaretobetoldtospend less time in Westminster and more time in their constituencies as part of the party’s plans to prepare for a second independence referendum.
Ian Blackford, the SNP’S Westminster leader, is set to tell his colleagues to “engage more closely with local voters to better understand fears about independence and boost the chance of a successful yes vote”.
The party also reportedly plans to have its MPS spend more time “engaging with institutions overseas”, in a bid to derail any potential problems with European countries, especially Spain, if Scotland were to vote yes in any second referendum.
The moves come as the SNP steps up its campaign to convince Boris Johnson to grant a Section 30 Order for a second vote, claiming that the result of the general election was a mandate for a referendum. However, the Prime Minister has said he will not agree to the holding of a re-run of the 2014 referendum, which saw Scotland vote to remain in the UK.
According to a party source Mr Blackford aims to introduce a rota to get MPS out of the “Westminster bubble” to “win hearts and minds on independence”.
The source commented: “The idea is still to take our Westminster responsibilities seriously, but we also want to do more building that conversation about what the new Scotland should look like – in constituencies and in conversation with civic Scotland and internationally with bodies like the EU and other countries as we build the case for Scotland to be an independent country.”
An SNP spokesperson said: “All SNP MPS will spend each and every day standing up for their constituents and against the damaging plans of the Tory UK government.”