PRO-INDEPENDENCE parties and SNP politicians have had a mixed response to John Swinney’s new strategy.
The First Minister set out his three point strategy in an op-ed for The National on Friday, prompting a furious response from Unionist politicians who accused him of pressing the “panic independence button”.
Swinney said the SNP’s strategy would focus on building support for independence, upping the pressure on Westminster to allow Scotland to assert its right to choose through a democratic referendum, and urging the public to vote [[SNP]] at the election.
The National asked both the Scottish Greens and Alba for their assessment of Swinney’s strategy.
[[Scottish Greens]] MSP Patrick Harvie said describing the plan as a strategy would be “stretching the definition of the word”.
“This is just a party leader asking you to vote for his party,” he told The National.
“There’s far more to the independence movement than the SNP. That was true in 2014, and it’s just as true today.
“We see it in the growing support for the Scottish Greens, in all the unaligned campaign groups across the country, and in the creative and diverse ideas for Scotland’s future, which will never belong to any one political party.”
Harvie (below) added that polling, unlike in 2014, shows the majority are “coming to support independence”.
“We are winning that argument because it aligns with what people see in their lives every day. It isn’t just an electoral strategy for the SNP, it’s building a better future for all of us,” he said.
“The politics of hope, as a contrast to the dangerous and divisive ideas driving UK politics, will be our strongest argument.”
“There’s no strategy there, just the same old song of waiting for the right moment, hoping for a miracle.”
Hanvey added that it was “apparent” Westminster would not give the go ahead for a second referendum.
“Therefore, we must grasp the thistle and take the initiative,” he added.
“The independence movement is fragmented and crying out for leadership and unity.
“The way to achieve unity is for each of the pro-independence parties to include a pledge in their manifestos that a majority of votes cast for pro-independence parties will constitute a mandate for independence.
Numerous SNP politicians have shared Swinney’s strategy on social media, many without comment.
Former SNP MP Tommy Sheppard wrote: “This is a good positive start. Objectives set. Now we need to agree the means by which we achieve them.
“Crucially, how do we turn up the heat on the UK to force acceptance of our right to self determination? Time to get involved.”
Graeme Dey, the higher education minister, said: “The SNP will resolutely make the case for Scotland to be an independent nation.
“No matter who takes power in London, Scotland is an afterthought. Independence will put the people of Scotland in the driving seat of our destiny.”
Mhairi Hunter, an [[SNP]] councillor and Nicola Sturgeon’s former campaign manager, hit out at some of the response to the strategy, suggesting that those who see the [[SNP]] as a “roadblock” to independence are “bonkers”.
“Everyone is frustrated by this but to take that frustration out on John Swinney or the [[SNP]] is ludicrous,” she said on social media.
“The UK Gov strategy is to refuse to engage on any talk of independence in the hope people will become disillusioned & ultimately give up.”
However, others were not as positive.
Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry, sharing the reaction from The National’s columnists to the strategy, said: “I share the views of these unconvinced campaigners that there’s nothing new in John Swinney’s independence strategy.
"As I have argued for years without fresh thinking, consulting the wider movement and a proper reset, it is doomed to fail.”
While they agreed that voting for the SNP was “essential” to winning independence, they said the strategy needed to be clearer.
Noting Westminster’s repeated refusal to allow a second referendum, they said: “He must be much more direct than this.
“We need to go down the de facto route, saying – you vote SNP, you’re voting for us to start negotiations for an independent nation that seeks recognition.
"Precisely because we are blocked from doing it the ‘constitutional way’.”
