01-08-2025
Hardcore Nats want to ‘dissolve the union' if Westminster blocks IndyRef2
They rejected a strategy by the First Minister
INDY REBELS Hardcore Nats want to 'dissolve the union' if Westminster blocks IndyRef2
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NATS rebels want MSPs to 'dissolve' the Union if Westminster blocks their path to independence.
The hardliners insist talks on a UK split must start if pro-indy parties win a majority of List votes at next May's Holyrood election.
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Hardcore Nats reckon the Union should be "dissolved" if pro-Indy parties get a majority of List MSPs
Credit: Alamy
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They rejected John Swinney's strategy
Credit: PA
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Longtime party activist Graeme McCormick is one of the people behind the strategy
Credit: Graeme McCormick
They have rejected John Swinney's strategy and instead want the party to back their hardline tactic.
Mr Swinney said last month that a majority of SNP seats at May's Scottish Parliament election would be a mandate for a second referendum.
But the rebel group of 43 branches want Holyrood to begin negotiations on leaving the UK if half of voters back any pro-independence party - meaning the SNP, Scottish Greens, Alba or any other nationalist candidate.
If Westminster refuses to acknowledge this approach then Holyrood should immediately 'dissolve the union', they say.
It comes despite a landmark Supreme Court judgement in 2022 which effectively ruled out any legal path to independence other than a referendum agreed to by Westminster.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: 'This spat just demonstrates how out of touch John Swinney and the SNP are with ordinary Scots.
'Under the nationalists, our public services are in meltdown and taxes are sky high.
"But instead of fixing the mess they've created, they're fighting about how best to push their independence obsession.
'John Swinney should stop fixating on tearing up the UK and focus on his day job.'
Alastair Cameron, chair of Scotland in Union, said: 'Imagine if the SNP spent as much time exploring how to save the NHS rather than fighting over different wheezes for an unwanted second referendum.'
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The SNP 'Group of 43' has submitted a motion for approval by the SNP's conference committee which states: 'Conference instructs the Party to prioritise obtaining a mandate from the sovereign Scottish people to deliver independence.
'This will be possible by achieving a majority of the popular vote on the sum of the Independence Supporting Parties' List Votes in the 2026 Scottish parliamentary election.'
Longtime party activist Graeme McCormick, one of the people behind the strategy, told The Herald: 'As you can imagine in the SNP, there are lots of views on how to achieve independence. A few of us who have been involved in the movement for a long time came together to propose this plan.
'If we get a majority of pro-independence votes on the list, we'll open negotiations with the UK Government around independence. If the negotiations aren't successful, then we'll move to dissolve the union. It's perfectly legal to do so.'
The group will meet at St Matthew's Church in Perth to 'plan strategic amendments' and 'decide together how we take this initiative forward.'
An invitation to the meeting stated: 'We are done asking for referenda. Never again will we accept a Scottish SNP leader or First Minister going cap in hand to Westminster for permission to leave the Union. That time is past.'
Kenny MacAskill, leader of the Alba Party and a former member of the radical '79 Group' that dragged the SNP to the left under Alex Salmond, said he 'recognised and welcomed the old radical fire that still exsits within the SNP membership'.
He said: 'They are now way ahead of the SNP leadership on the question of delivering independence.'
