Activists question John Swinney's independence strategy after by-election loss

The National

a day ago

This activist works for the party and regularly attends national events. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, they said they can't help but worry that the SNP is 'heading back into the same old internal splits' seen at the height of Nicola Sturgeon's leadership.
'Which is exactly what the Unionists want,' they added.
Leader John Swinney is currently facing a wave of discontent from members following the party's underwhelming performance in last week's Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.
READ MORE: 'Foolish': Former SNP MP hits out at John Swinney's by-election campaign
When this paper spoke to activists following the result on Friday, it became clear that deeper fissures of frustration and worry had come to the surface. Members said concerns about party strategy had been dismissed by leadership, which echoes frustrations felt under Sturgeon.
For others, it's a repeat of other past elections the SNP would rather forget.
'It's starting to feel like a repeat of [Swinney's] first time in charge,' the activist remarked.
"We are the establishment and Swinney's been part of that shift, giving he's been at the front line for about two decades.
"If John's serious about independence, then it has to be front and centre in everything we do. Right now, it's not.'
One 2026 candidate summarised the thoughts of the majority: a quiet worry whether confidence in leadership will return in time for the elections. 'John has done a really good job of stabilising the party but it's clear that people have lost trust in all politicians," they said.
'We need to do more so that people know we are on their side, we're working hard to come up with ways to improve their day-to-day lives and that the SNP will fight for them. That message isn't getting through at the moment and we need to reflect on why that is.'
Swinney previously led the party, with a sore end. In 2000, Alex Salmond stepped down as leader of the SNP, triggering a new leadership contest.
Swinney, who launched his bid to become the leader of the SNP, advocated for a gradualist approach to independence and won, becoming leader of the opposition in Holyrood.
After disappointing elections in 2001, 2003, and 2004, which saw the party's vote share and number of seats drop, Swinney resigned as SNP leader. This was despite other pro-independence parties like the Scottish Greens and Scottish Socialist Party making gains in Holyrood.
His strategy then is similar to what is fuelling frustration within and outwith the party today. But it's nothing new and he has stood by his tactics when questioned, most thoroughly by Lesley Riddoch last year.
'I get that Swinney's steadied things after a rough patch, but it feels like we've gone quiet on the one thing that actually defines us,' the activist said. 'And in this by-election, we made the mistake of giving Reform a platform by turning them into a talking point.'
Dr Michael Higgins, a political communications expert at the University of Strathclyde, said the SNP had 'demeaned themselves' by focusing on Reform UK in the by-election campaign.
But Swinney doubled down on Sunday, saying he was 'standing up to Farage'. 'I'm going to make no apology for it,' he added.
READ MORE: Has Swinney 'healed' the SNP or will they end up back on life support?
And when asked if he was still the man to lead the party, Swinney said "Yes. Twelve months ago, the party turned to me.
'I was not seeking high office, I'd held high office for a long time in my life, and the party turned to me, at a moment of real jeopardy, and asked me to use all of my skills and experience, and the loyalty I command in the party, to bring people together and focus us on the future.'
Last week, activists told The National they had voiced concerns over Swinney's strategy and had been 'shut down' for questioning the party's tactics.
An affiliate convenor reflected that they felt the on-the-ground campaign "was good" but they had found more Labour support on the doors than expected, adding: "It didn't feel like it was taken seriously."
Looking towards the SNP's record in government, activists are also angry.
Pledge after pledge has been dropped in the last few years. Its flagship target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 was scaled back, a conversion therapy ban was delayed, the human rights bill was kicked into the long grass, the national care service plan was dropped, and most recently, a new national park in Galloway was scrapped.
One activist, who has been integral in building campaign networks and previously served as an SNP councillor, told The National: 'Personally, I believe there is an issue where the SNP is run from an inner circle that is guided by their own deluded thoughts rather than reality.
'The party I ran for election with was informed by effective engagement with its supporters and membership – not so called 'political insight' from 20-30 somethings who have been at the helm of a party that has not had to work that hard for a monopoly we've been able to sustain against very little organised opposition.
'We now have effective opposition through two forces: a Scottish Labour Party renewed with an impressive manifesto and insight to the issues facing Scotland – and Reform UK who are riding a global populist wave of support from disgruntled people of this nation. Of which I am very much one too.'
They added: 'What is our vision? What is our plan? What are we delivering on right now that is actually aspirational given? Where is the proof that the SNP is working hard for our nation? Because I can't see it.'
But where can the party go from here?
ONCE again, the party is left asking the same question it has asked itself since Sturgeon quit: "What do we do now?"
The former councillor suggests a 'dose of reality', adding: 'No matter how much we repeat that statement on the doorsteps, that 'we don't take any votes for granted,' we are very much taking the entire nation for granted for the very little effort we put in to being strategic on how we are leading this nation."
READ MORE: How did Labour win the Hamilton by-election with an 'invisible man' candidate?
Others have called for the party to simply be 'more inspirational,' with one staffer adding: 'The churn at the top over last few years has meant promises have often been dropped just as quickly as they've been made.'
Another member said they had been 'stunned' by the result on Friday morning, sharing: 'We obviously lost votes to Reform. The Greens and our vote don't seem to be turning out.
'I think John Swinney is a good man but probably not the best person the get the voters excited enough to vote SNP. It scares me for 2026. Stephen Flynn may be better. There doesn't seem to be a direction for independence.'
Former SNP policy convener Toni Giugliano said: 'It's becoming clear that SNP voters, activists and members want to see the party recommit to its founding mission of independence - not with words - but action.
"How the party responds in the coming days and weeks will show whether it is willing to listen and engage with the party's grassroots. The door is open.
"This is an opportunity to get back on track to doing what the SNP was elected to do - deliver a prosperous, independent Scotland in Europe. That's what independence voters expect it to do.'
However, not everyone agrees that Swinney or the party is in trouble, including Swinney himself.
Coming second in the vote, the First Minister said on Monday, is an 'indication that we are still able to perform strongly electorally'.
The First Minister added that his party lost the overlapping seat at Westminster – Hamilton and Clyde Valley – by 9000 votes last year and by just 600 on Thursday.
'So, we are quite clearly in a position where we can achieve electoral success, but we have got to build on that and make sure we're stronger for 2026,' he added.
'Any suggestions the party isn't fully behind John is being peddled by those outwith the party or by a miniscule minority,' activist Logan Unwin said.
Another activist, who campaigned heavily in the by-election alongside Swinney and candidate Katy Loudon, said: "I feel somewhat confident as feel that we are at a better position than last year.
"I do think that what happened in the by-election was strategic errors and hopefully [will be] fixed next year, but do fear that similar seats to Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse might be at real risk and needs work to make sure they stay SNP".
Glasgow activist Doug Daniel agreed, adding: 'The party seems to be in a much better place than it was when John took over, and although it's a shame we didn't quite get over the line in Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse, it's not quite the catastrophe some commentators are making it out to be.
'I think people forget we've only won one of the five previous Holyrood by-elections that have taken place since 2007, and this one was far closer than any of those. I think it'll be a different story in 2026 when people are asking themselves who they trust to stand up for Scotland against a failing Labour UK Government.'