SNP left wing push back against 'inertia' over independence strategy

The National

a day ago

The SNP Socialists group said that following a committee meeting on July 2, they approved proposals to work with 'progressive left organisations' and interest groups to shape the SNP's policy platform ahead of the Holyrood 2026 election.
Ahead of the party's upcoming conference in October, the left-wing branch have said they want to make sure that the party membership is involved in defining the independence strategy, rather than party bosses.
Co-convener Graham Campbell, an SNP Glasgow councillor, said that the group don't think the party's position has been 'strong enough', particularly in the wake of the shock by-election loss to Scottish Labour in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.
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In a statement seen exclusively by The National, SNP Socialists said that the executive committee met to 'approve proposals to work jointly with other progressive left organisations within the party affiliates and interest groups in order to help shape the SNP's policy platform and election manifesto at this year's Annual Conference'.
They continued: 'We're doing this for two reasons. First, to tackle the seeming inertia in some sections of the party bureaucracy towards forming a strategy for achieving our main goal of independence.
'Secondly, to ensure that the SNP membership is fully involved in defining that strategy.
'We call upon the NEC to accelerate that process since many party members and delegates clearly expressed their views to us at the National Council in Perth on June 21st and after the Hamilton by-election loss on June 5th. We want them to be heard: Loud and Clear.'
Graham CampbellThe SNP National Council met in June, with First Minister John Swinney chairing an open forum for members to put their views to him on independence.
But SNP Socialists insist that ahead of the Holyrood 2026 election, the party must put forward a 'progressive left, democratic socialist, manifesto'.
'We must therefore inspire hope for Independence as THE vehicle for radical change,' the statement continued, adding that changing council tax, reforming land ownership, taxing wealth, tackling the housing emergency and climate change, must be central to what the party puts forward to voters.
'We are determined to make sure that SNP members and activists are at the centre of party policy-making discussions and decisions come October's Annual Conference in Aberdeen,' the statement concluded.
'Only an SNP victory can guarantee we keep taking the necessary next steps towards an independent Scotland.'
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Speaking to The National, Campbell (above) said: 'We don't think that the lessons have been fully learned quickly enough around Hamilton, or indeed just generally.
'Even independence supporters know that we don't have a judicial route to a referendum, they know that we can't do it that way.
'It is obviously wrong for us to call for a second mandate to do that, when it [a referendum] can be blocked.
'So then is a de facto referendum going to be the strategy? It wasn't clear from the National Council whether that's been ruled out. We're no wiser after two conferences to discuss that specifically.'
Campbell argued that part of achieving independence will be 'inspiring people', but that the party needs to work on the vision it is putting forward to voters.
He said that the SNP should be making clear the policies that make lives better for Scots could be at risk if the party loses power – such as mitigating the two-child benefit cap and bedroom tax.
Campbell added that the party then needs to relate manifesto pledges to 'how they relate to an independent country'.
'We need to be spelling out clearly what the content [of independence] is so people know what they're voting for,' he added.
'I think if it's clearer what independence means then you have more of a means, the right to have that focus on the doorsteps, because at the moment they just see it as an abstract thing.'
Campbell admitted that First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney had tried to put more 'flesh on the bones' of the content of independence, but that it needs to be set out simply and clearly to voters.
Responding, SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: 'The SNP will use the period from now until the 2026 election to make the case for Scotland's right to choose its own future – offering a forward-thinking manifesto that reflects the priorities of modern Scotland.
'We welcome all ideas to that which would help create a better Scotland.
'After a year of let downs from the UK Labour Government, it's clear that real change will never come from Westminster – only the SNP will stand up for Scotland and offer a better future with independence.'