JOHN Swinney has been the best first minister at engaging with the grassroots Scottish independence movement while Nicola Sturgeon "largely ignored" activists, the founder of Believe in Scotland (BIS) has said.
Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp gave his verdict on each of the Scottish leaders he has worked with since the formation of the pro-independence organisation on The National's podcast.
With no hesitation, he argued Swinney had been the best to work with after signing an agreement with Believe in Scotland last year stating they will "work together to advance independence as the democratic will of the Scottish people".
He went on to say that BIS had a "better relationship than ever" with the Scottish Government which gives him "hope".
Meanwhile, he said while Sturgeon did "good things" as first minister, he felt as if "independence was on the back burner" and she and her team "didn't want to talk to us".
Asked who he felt had been the best first minister to work with, MacIntyre-Kemp said: "As of right now John Swinney.
"John Swinney has signed an agreement with Believe in Scotland which essentially says the SNP accept you guys [Believe in Scotland] are running he independence movement.
"That is a big acceptance from them given that we were largely ignored during Nicola Sturgeon’s reign, shall we say."
He went on: "I’m not knocking Nicola Sturgeon, she obviously did many things as leader that were very good. During Covid, looking around the world, what leader cared more about what happened to people than Nicola Sturgeon? You couldn’t find one.
"But as far as I was concerned, independence was on the back burner. They just didn’t want to talk to us."
Reflecting on working with Humza Yousaf, he said the relationship was positive and progress was being made, but his reign was not long enough for much to develop.
"Humza really understood Believe in Scotland, we started to get access we’d never had before, but he was not around long enough," said MacIntyre-Kemp.
"John took over, things dipped because he had his eye on fixing the gaping holes in the ship, and then things suddenly turned.
"Now I would say, not just with John but with Callum McCaig as the new [SNP] chief executive, we’ve now got a better relationship than ever and that does give me hope."
Believe in Scotland and the SNP have said they will "share research, evidence and analysis relevant to strengthening the credibility and reach of the independence campaign".
They will also establish "regular and structured channels of consultation" between SNP office bearers and activist representatives.
