Kenny Macaskill: My message to those deserting the SNP
The anger caused by the SNP NEC’S decision, in effect, debarring Joanna Cherry, MP, from standing as a Holyrood candidate, has seen many members resign. Quite a few, from what I understand, and that’s not good for either the party or the independence cause just when the British state’s falling apart under Boris Johnson. My call to them is stay and fight and change the party from within. If they’re considering it then don’t, and if they have then re-join.
A conference of sorts is coming and it’s important that actions are debated and individuals held to account. To achieve that every member is required and those most aggrieved should get involved not leave. It’s not as if the SNP hasn’t been through this before. Back in the early 1980s I was expelled along with Alex Salmond, Roseanna Cunningham, now Environment Secretary, and several others.
A few left in umbrage, including my now Westminster Group Leader Ian Blackford, who departed for the Labour Party as did a few others, despite the protestations of Margo Macdonald and Jim Sillars. But most stayed to support us as we fought for re-admittance and change. A rapprochement was forged with Gordon Wilson and other protagonists. And together we were successful, with the modern SNP being born. The SNP is a membership-based party, built on those who fund it and sustain it, in good times and bad. It may be a size and scale now that it’s never known before, but the founding principles remain the same. Being in government further complicates matters, as decisions often need taken that either cannot await a party conference or don’t precisely fit an existing motion. But there are ways round that and maintaining the spirit of the agreed position or seeking early confirmation for actions taken is essential.
Recent NEC decisions have rightly angered members and trust has been broken for some. Parliamentarians and Government Ministers may grab the headlines but it’s the NEC who run the party. It can be a thankless task with innumerable meetings and little thanks let alone reward; I know, as I sat on it for many years, as well as holding office as policy convener and national treasurer. But it’s they who run the party along with the full-time staff who work to them.
In recent years positions have been created representing organisations rather than grassroots members. That appears to be part of the problem, as well as a lack of democratic accountability. There are individuals sitting around an NEC table who seem to represent the narrow views of the clique they represent rather than the wider views of the membership, let alone the cause the party exists for. Power needs to belong to the rank and file not anointed groups. The NEC and its office-bearers also need to oversee party staff, who must act subject to suitable direction and oversight.
Recently, I was told the sad news that an old party stalwart had died. She was a “weel kent” face around party circles as her late husband had held one of the posts I later succeeded too. Remembering her brought back memories of others such as Angus Mcgillivray in party publications and Irene White, the office manager. The mere mentioning of Angus’s name still makes me smile, as he was a real character. They were rooted in the party and knew it and everyone.
Serving the party for decades through lean years and those earlier difficult times, they didn’t always agree with myself or others of my wing of the party, but trust and friendship existed. That too needs restored. The size of the party now makes the loss of much of the old camaraderie understandable. Yet retaining trust remains integral and that has dissipated over recent years. HQ now seems distant and cold to many.
The fact that the NEC has apparently only met twice since lockdown itself is an issue. Like many others I’ve had weekly Zoom meetings with council colleagues and local party office-bearers. There must be scrutiny in what after all is the largest party in Scotland and the party of government. Staff need to act to policy direction set by the elected leadership.
Questions over who and how individuals are appointed to salaried positions remain unanswered. Scrutiny of finances and holding officials to account remains fundamental. Those are what the NEC should be doing not indulging in political chicanery for their own narrow agenda. The current NEC needs held to account for the decisions it has taken and it or its successor must represent the interest of the membership, not self-serving cliques. The party belongs to the members which is why all should remain and change it from within.