So the SNP Conference is over for another year, by all accounts it was not very well attended as the SNP held another conference online with as little as possibly 500 in attendance. The First Minister noted that
she “would not be discharging my duty to the people of Scotland if I did not seek to keep the promise on which we were elected – to offer the people of Scotland the choice of a better future through independence”.
She said the independence campaign would “resume in earnest” in the spring, Covid permitting.
“In the course of next year, I will initiate the process necessary to enable a referendum before the end of 2023,” she said. “And just as importantly, our party will set out afresh the positive case for independence.” This will include the “opportunities and advantages”, as well as the “challenges”. (The Scotsman)
The problem I have is the mixed messages that continue to come out of the SNP on the issue of another referendum, not that I support a referendum, that ship has sailed and anything less than a plebiscite election I suspect will result in another loss, or at the very least a few more wasted years to add to the 6 already wasted. I also don’t believe Nicola Sturgeon any longer on this issue, too many marches up the hill to be marched all the way back down again. Although it is a bit funny that a member of Nicola Sturgeon’s own staff is calling her an idiot, yes Mhairi Hunter of the 50 jobs on the public purse or something. Could also be that Mhairi is the one telling the truth, time will tell.
Addressing Prime Minister Boris Johnson directly, Ms Sturgeon said: “If you have any respect at all for democracy – and if you have any confidence whatsoever in your argument against independence – you too will let the people decide.” This is definitely one for a chuckle, she is aware that this is Boris Johnson we are talking about here, he doesn’t give a shit about democracy, about Scotland, or England for that matter, and he will call a General Election before he agrees to any referendum, that is why a referendum is a dead duck and people need to wake up to that fact and soon.
I was pleased to hear that the Scottish Child Payment is to be doubled, no idea how Scotland pays for it without making cuts somewhere else which might be a double edged sword but welcome all the same as poverty is a stain on Scotland and the UK. But either way this conference really didn’t have all that much. Members want the return of the National Council, that will be ignored again, they also want a separate Scottish currency, that too will be ignored.
At the end of the day as I continue to be underwhelmed in the extreme by these latest announcements on independence the fact remains, if we really want our independence we are going to have to take it.
grumpyscottishman.wordpress.com 
In ‘Spring’ the SNP will need votes at the Council elections, hence the latest cry of “Wolf!”
The ‘positive case’? There is no need for that – start making the obvious case:
Independence is NORMAL. The British Union is the ANOMALY.
Duncanio
Yeah it stinks of give us another mandate doesn’t it. You are spot on with your comment ‘he ‘positive case’? There is no need for that – start making the obvious case:, that is so true. I was just underwhelmed with everything I read about the conference and it doesn’t sound like it was all that much with the gender warriors maintaining their hold and members not even standing for election, sounds like a party on the way down now.
Thanks for commenting.
Bruce
Yes Bruce, that carrot is starting to look a bit rancid, dangling on a distinctly threadbear string.
Forget it Nicola, we see you!
Nally
It just feels more of the same, give us another mandate in the council elections next year then it will be the GE in 23 as Johnson is bound to go early, just so bored with it all now and hopefully more people are seeing through Sturgeon now.
Thanks for commenting.
Bruce
Dear ‘grumpyscottishman’, I’m sure that you’ll know about many, many others that are every bit as grumpy with this so-called SNP (I stopped being a member), and ‘grumpy’ is too polite for me!! I noticed that many call them: “the British SNP”, nowadays; and who knows how many more are thinking of leaving that disappointing party?
Ewen
I left the SNP about 6 months after Sturgeon took over and brought in all women short lists and consolidated her power in the leadership and basically taking all power away from the members, that was enough for me and nothing she has done has made me feel different about her. She is a coward, not all that great as FM just good at presentation and I feel is deliberately delaying independence because she is either a devolutionist or coward.
Thanks for commenting.
Bruce
Ach, Bruce, some of us are more in tune with matters than I am. However, the situation’s gradually becoming more rcognisable and hopefully, our electorate will recognise the realities in time!
I find it interesting you wish to deny democracy – “take it” – are you saying we should create civil unrest in the face of a democratic vote in 2014? There is not a majority for independence in Scotland just now. Until there is a majority in favour it is not possible to obtain.
Anon
A vote on a single issue manifesto in an election for voters to decide is not denying anything.
Thanks for commenting.
Bruce
Reblogged this on Ramblings of a now 60+ Female.
I expect the response from Westminster if the SNP do beg again for permission to hold a referendum will simply be – “What part of no don’t you understand”. Would seem a fair response to me.
But it wouldn’t be democratic says the SNP (pot calling kettle comes to mind) to reject it again (I’ve lost count of how many times it’s been now).
Meanwhile the UK Government breaks manifesto pledges left and right – ‘pausing’ the pension triple lock, increasing National Insurance Tax and Care Home costs. Given that there are over 10 million people over 65 in England and that the UK Government clearly doesn’t worry about upsetting them, expecting that somehow they’ll agree to another SNP Section 30 begging letter is well into white jacket territory.
Not that it’s just the tories. All of the other main UK party’s try to outdo each other in how aggressively they state that they would never allow another Scottish referendum.
Thankfully no Section 30 nonsense from Alba. They focus on the main task – ending the Treaty of Union.
Ian
Alba might well be the last hope as all the rest just play the game to maintain their comfy life styles while the rest of us worry when we should put the heating on or an extra jumper. I just saw the announcement as yet another mandate in the council elections next year to keep the gravy train running and then in 23 when Johnson goes early it will be well we can’t hold a referendum in 23 but we will need another mandate, predictable and depressing.
Thanks for commenting.
Bruce
Covid permitting being the key phrase and what would you know after the conference amazingly a new variant comes up.
Think someone had a bet on that would be the case.
Gayle
We are going to have to learn to live with covid as like the flu it is not going away and that should not stop the push for Indy. I don’t favour a referendum anyway, the next GE should be a plebiscite election with all Indy parties having a single issue manifesto. If we e re turn a majority of yes supporting MPS then Holyrood repeals the treaty of union and we immediately start negotiations to leave the UK.
Thanks for commenting.
Bruce
I never liked Nicola Sturgeon – even when she was supposed to be Alex Salmond’s great friend – but was willing to put up with her as I was an SNP member. I was brought up (like many Scots) to consider honesty as the best policy so when anyone proves to be otherwise, as far as I’m concerned, that’s the end of any friendship. So no hope for Sturgeon & Co.
GSM, I agree with you entirely and I’m delighted to wear my FOUNDER MEMBER badge!
Jan
Yeah I know how you feel. I left the SNP in 2016 when she brought in all women short lists and consolidated power in the leadership, that was enough for me. I just think she is preparing the ground for more mandates and there won’t be a referendum any time soon not that I support one. I would rather we have a plebiscite election now but Sturgeon would never go for that.
Thanks for commenting.
Bruce