This was the third of the interviews I undertook on behalf of The National newspaper of the Scottish political parties' economic spokespeople. In it, I discuss the economic policies of Alba with its former MP, Neale Hanvey:
For reasons all of its very own the YouTube will not embed here and so please follow this link to watch the video.
I also wrote a column for the National yesterday summarising my feelings on these three interviews I have done (all available on this blog, this week). I concluded:
Where does this leave readers? Alba and the Greens are not going to win seats in this election. The SNP undoubtedly will. They are going to be a vital part of the parliamentary opposition to a massive Labour majority in the next Westminster parliament. Voting for them is essential, but I cannot help but say that if I could do so I would whilst simultaneously wishing they were much more convincing when it comes to economics, and other issues.
I suspect I am not alone.
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Given their background, there is little possibility of our Eck or Forbes ever shifting from their neoliberal mindset.
There is no reason why the Scottish currency issue cannot be debated and resolved long before any Indyref2, which is unlikely anyway given the LINO leadership’s lack of understanding of Scottish politics.
Eck neoliberal? If by Eck you mean Alex Salmond, aye right.
About 10 minutes 40 seconds in mention is made of an agreement between the U.K. and Scottish Governments. A bad deal for Scotland. My recollection is John Swinney was Finance Minister when it was signed. Already designed to be moderate, the Scottish Parliament was further hamstrung. Thanks John.
The SNP manifesto released this week covers Independence. Inspection reveals that means the SNP would rely on being granted a Section30 referendum vote. More ‘carrots’ pre election will lead to no action post election. The ‘independence carrot’ may save some SNP seats, salaries, nice pensions, etc. That will be it. Scottish MPs can’t outvote ‘English Parties’ to enforce a S30. Strange. You’d think the ‘English Parties’ would support the vote given we are ‘subsidy junkies’ – not.
Compare Scotland’s situation to Northern Ireland. Or imagine if say Siberia wanted to declare independence from Russia and asked for permission to hold a referendum. Let’s say Russia refuses permission. I suspect that immediately ‘our’ leaders and MSM, including in the UK, would be falling over themselves to support a referendum – or any other means – by which they think Siberia could split from Russia. Double standards? My understanding is that most countries haven’t used a referendum to gain independence. Why not Scotland? Salvo/Liberation have done interesting work on this.
I’d suggest to get any progress at Westminster all independence supporting MPs need to boycott it and refuse to take the oath (and the very similar oath of Holyrood). Like Sinn Fein, MPs can still take funds to run constituency offices.
I firmly believe that a majority of the current Alba leadership is left of centre. But, all politicians are ‘worth the watching’. Vote for the SNP as currently is? No thanks. John Swinney and Kate Forbes, I hae ma doobts (euphemism alert). Can the SNP leadership be dragged back from devolution to independence. Possibly, with serious surgery, following a 2024 electoral loss. Best for Scotland in the near term (2026).
There is much wilful mischief in circulation over what the SNP manifesto purportedly says – eg You commented – “The SNP manifesto released this week covers Independence. Inspection reveals that means the SNP would rely on being granted a Section30 referendum vote.”
The statement in the manifesto reads “Give the people of Scotland a say on their future. Demand the permanent transfer of legal power to the Scottish Parliament to determine how Scotland is governed, including the transfer of power to enable it to legislate for a referendum.”
Where SG has the legislative capacity to call a referendum, there is NO Section 30 required.
Bob, the SNP manifesto makes lots of demands. The one you raise is a fine one. Problem is after the 2015, 2017 and 2019 Westminster elections a significant majority of Scotland’s MPs were from the SNP, nominally an Independence party but, even with Brexit, the independence cause hasn’t moved forward. The SNP has had ample opportunities to push said demand. At any time they could have put forward a motion making the demand, got it voted down and did a permanent walk out to create a constitutional issue. They could have supported the 2 Alba MPs when they walked out. But, no action.
Post 4th July, the SNP will have a minority of Scotland’s seats in Westminster. Who are they going to “Demand the permanent transfer of legal power” from? The UK Parliament? The answer will be along the lines of ‘you represent a minority, go away’.
The SNP claim a Holyrood mandate. Again, not used to give actual progress. The SNP manifesto still pushes ‘Independence in EU’. Guaranteed to get some to vote against Independence. Genuine/smart politicians for Independence would de-couple any EU membership. If an Independent Scotland electorate want it, it would take a long time to agree. EFTA must come first.
Die hards will continue to vote SNP. Others have worked out that the leadership is past its use by date. The SNP can take the warning it’s going to get. Following that the SNP can agree a sensible way forward for suggested voting at the next Holyrood election (e.g. SNP say SNP 1 and Alba 2 and Alba say Alba 1 & SNP 2, with hopefully room for ISP and independents). The impact on the campaign of all those in favour of independence working in unison would be significant. A large pro independence majority can be achieved this way or, the SNP can continue with SNP votes 1 & 2 and again pay the price.
As I said, there is much wilful mischief in circulation, “the 2015, 2017 and 2019 Westminster elections” is another favoured meme now reframed to cover the original ‘mischief’ without retraction or apology.
One or three years (2015, 2017) after defeat on Indyref, you suggest SG should have demanded another ? I seriously doubt Scots would have appreciated that one iota, it may indeed have set back the cause you purport to support.
As for the favoured ‘have done nothing’, can you recall the phrase “Now is not the time” and the context ? – Can you recall the Supreme Court ruling in 2022 that the Scottish Parliament did not have the power to legislate for a referendum on Scottish independence and the context ?
I doubt SNP are under any illusions of success over such a demand, but it serves the purpose of demonstrating to the international community that all legal routes to holding a democratic referendum have been blocked.
That will not only put enormous pressure on London, it will encourage alternative means to be considered as valid, then it’s game over.
The mistake you make is believing it’s about specific political parties moving things quickly, rather than the slow and methodical exposure of democracy gone wrong – The last estimates I saw over 2 years ago showed 40% Indy support in Labour and 20% in the Conservatives, and there are a great many more who hold no party allegiance at all, myself included.
That’s why London has thrown everything it can at preventing IR2, they know what’s coming.
I wasn’t suggesting another election rather real action following any of the elections since 2014.
The SNPs MPs went to Westminster, picked up nice salaries/pensions and effectively did nothing to progress independence – what the electorate thought they were sent for. If I missed something please enlighten me.
I don’t purport to support independence; I’d take it today.
The Supreme Court should never have been asked as many said prior to the case. Whatever, the electorate of Scotland will decide at every election. If enough vote for independence supporting parties independence will happen.
You talk about my mistake and mention “moving things quickly”. As McEnroe said “you cannot be serious”.
The SNP will lose badly on 4th July. It can then choose to get back to serous campaigning for independence or not for 2026 or earlier. It can do this and retain influence or carry on as is and the electorate will dump it – but not independence – again.
Following John Swinney ‘dancing on the head of a pin’ today on Laura Kuenssberg show, I wouldn’t hold out much hope for the SNP with him – or Kate Forbes – as leader.