Exclusive
By a staff writer

The SNP is “far from the anarchic band of young radicals that was once imagined” new research, exclusive to Holyrood, reveals.

The study of SNP membership, conducted jointly by the University of Strathclyde and the University of Aberdeen, shatters a number of long standing myths about the nationalist party’s make-up. 

Contrary to a common conception of it as a collective of disparate political positions united solely by a desire for independence, the research shows that the SNP is a relatively conventional and coherent party. Presenting the findings, Professor James Mitchell of the University of Strathclyde, who led the research, says the SNP membership was found to be moderately left of centre. 

On the question of independence, members surveyed were also fairly moderate. Most list constructive engagement through devolution as their preferred route to independence and there was little evidence of radicalism. In fact one in ten members chooses giving Holyrood more powers as their first constitutional preference. This appears to scupper the old impression of a party split between fundamentalists and pragmatists.

In terms of demography there are also a few surprises. Despite the image of the SNP as a youthful party, the average age of members is 59. Only a third of members are women and the majority are middle class. 

“The main findings confirm what serious observers have long suspected. The SNP is a fairly pragmatic, left of centre party that is self-consciously civic in its nationalism.” Mitchell says.     

The research has some important messages that the party would do well to take on board according to the Professor. If the SNP wants to maintain its popularity it must address the lack of women and of youth within its membership, he cautions. 
 
“But there are a few matters that the party requires to address. These may be problems afflicting most parties, especially those in decline at the moment, but the SNP cannot take too much comfort from its rising membership. The SNP is not attracting women members. Finding a means of bringing women into the SNP and encouraging participation at all levels is amongst its main challenges in the next few years. Just as challenging will be attracting young people into the SNP.”

As the SNP veers towards the centre Mitchell, a leading authority on Scottish politics, also warns of the consequences of abandoning idealism for pragmatism. If it does not guard against this the SNP risks following the route of New Labour, he believes. 

“Perhaps related to this is a longer-term problem. Pragmatism has obvious advantages but it can be no substitute for idealism. Idealism provided the SNP with motivation and drive.

“The SNP is the model of respectability and pragmatism but it must guard against what happened to New Labour and lose its radical cutting edge. When viewed in this way, independence and further constitutional change becomes less a burden than an essential element in the SNP's make-up.”

The research is good news for Alex Salmond too as it finds members to be overwhelmingly positive about the party leadership. This marks a break from previous periods for the party where leadership was often a source of division.  

The study was sponsored by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).