SNP split on independence strategy ramps up ahead of conference

A row over the SNP’s independence strategy is mounting ahead of the party’s conference in Aberdeen next month.

First Minister John Swinney and deputy leader Keith Brown have put forward a motion arguing an SNP majority after next year’s Holyrood election is the “only uncontested way to deliver” a fresh referendum on Scottish independence.

However, a number of branches have signed up to an amendment which argues that a pro-independence majority – including the SNP and any other pro-indy party – would be enough to “negotiate independence”.

A second amendment from the West Fife and Coastal Villages branch also seeks to widen the scope to all pro-independence parties and candidates, though it does not contest the need for a referendum to take place thereafter.

The motion and amendments will be put to a vote on the first day of the conference on Saturday 11 October.

The party has had various strategies since losing the referendum in 2014 about how it might push the issue again.

That included former first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s attempt to legislate for an advisory referendum, later ruled out by the Supreme Court, and the idea of using elections as “de facto” referenda.

Last year, the SNP’s manifesto said winning a majority of Scottish seats at the general election would empower the Scottish Government “to begin immediate negotiations with the UK Government to give democratic effect to Scotland becoming an independent country”. It lost most of its seats, ending up with just nine MPs.

Swinney has repeatedly stated since become SNP leader for the second time last year that the only way to win independence was via a legal referendum, but this would require the agreement of the UK Government to go ahead.

It is claimed that winning a majority at Holyrood, as the party did in 2011 which led to the 2014 vote, would make it politically impossible for the UK Government to refuse the necessary section 30 order.

The Swinney/Brown motion states: “Conference therefore endorses an approach to the SNP’s 2026 campaign designed to deliver a mandate that cannot be contested or rejected, which will include… a clear target therefore of repeating the 2011 achievement of securing an SNP majority in the election, with at least 65 SNP MSPs, as the only uncontested way to deliver a new vote on Scotland’s future.

“We will therefore ask people to vote SNP in the constituency vote to deliver an SNP government and to vote SNP in the regional list to deliver an SNP majority and an independence referendum.”

It also says a new Scottish Constitutional Convention will be established to build support for the independence campaign.

But an amendment, which has been co-sponsored by nine branches from across Scotland, argues that “consideration should be given to fighting the next Scottish Parliament election in 2026 as a de facto referendum on independence”.

“A majority at that election for the SNP – or the SNP and any other party with which we have reached a pro-independence agreement – will be considered a mandate to negotiate independence,” it adds.

It also states that a majority of the list vote for independence-supporting parties, which would not necessarily deliver a pro-independence parliament, would be considered a mandate.

The West Fife and Coastal Villages amendment argues that mandate should be linked to “50 per cent of voters supporting the SNP, or other political parties and independent candidates… on the regional list”.

Other amendments seek to reiterate the party’s position on rejoining the EU and urging the party to work “across political boundaries” to convince voters who are “sympathetic and supportive of independence, but are not yet SNP supporters”.