John Swinney has slapped down an SNP MP who backed the idea of voters supporting another pro- independence party at the Holyrood election.
The Deputy First Minister said he could not understand the logic of Kenny MacAskill claiming that voting SNP twice “doesn’t work”.
MacAskill served alongside Swinney in Alex Salmond’s cabinet as justice secretary, but he has become a critic of Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership.
He was elected as the SNP MP for East Lothian in December and has previously called for Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell to be replaced as SNP chief executive.
Speculation has mounted that Salmond, who is no longer an SNP member, may be considering setting up a new party to contest the regional Lists at next year's Holyrood poll.
The SNP’s strength in first-past-the-post seats limits their ability to make gains on the Lists and some pro-independence activists believe this opens the door to a new party.
In an article this week, MacAskill wrote: “‘Both Votes SNP’ just doesn’t work.
“The focus of the election is almost certainly going to be on the constitution.
“What better way of allowing Scottish voters a choice than a specific ‘independence’ option on the list.”
“People can vote for their preferred candidate for government on the constituency ballot, but for their constitutional choice on the list.”
He added: “It’s time the SNP discussed all options, not just the one that fails to deliver either seats or a referendum.”
Asked about MacAskill’s comments, Swinney told the BBC:
“I didn’t agree with it. And I come from the very simple point of view that if you are a member of the Scottish National Party you should argue and urge people to vote for the Scottish National Party.”
Put to him that the strategy floated by MacAskill could return more pro-independence MSPs, Swinney said:
“No, I can’t understand the logic of it, because in 2011 I was part of a ministerial team, including Kenny MacAskill, that successfully put a message to the people of Scotland, under the current system, that resulted in an overall majority for the Scottish National Party in the 2011 elections.
“And, as a consequence, we secured a referendum on independence. That seems to me to be the reliable and substantial way for us to deliver Scottish independence, and that’s the reliable way for the SNP to argue for people to vote for it.”
Swinney was also asked about claims by another SNP figure that the party leadership is not interested in indyref2.
He said: “I find some of these comments really a bit odd when I look at the opinion polls that have been showing demonstrable majority support for independence for some considerable time.”
