In her policies and style, Nicola Sturgeon is a social democrat in the true sense of the word.
In her policies and style, Nicola Sturgeon is a social democrat in the true sense of the word
To say that the SNP faithful, in Perth this weekend for the party’s annual conference, meet in buoyant mood would be an understatement.
The irony will not be lost on them that since losing the referendum on independence they are seeing increasing support, while Labour north of the border are in turmoil.
SNP membership has soared, so much so that it now outstrips the UK-wide Liberal Democrats, and has way more than the estimated number of Labour activists in Scotland.
Meanwhile, recent polls have pointed to a potential Labour meltdown next year in what was once thought of as its heartland area, which is likely to deny Ed Miliband the keys to Downing Street. And to add to the SNP’s mood of glee, some polls suggest that a majority of Scots would vote for independence should a referendum be held anytime soon.
Simply put, Nicola Sturgeon could not have hoped for a better climate in which to take forward the baton of independence. She will take the SNP leadership from Alex Salmond later today.
As Salmond makes his final speech to the conference, he will declare that the independence debate is not over. Nicola Sturgeon meanwhile has told Sky News that Scotland will, she believes, become an independent country sooner than we might think.
Conservatives, Labour and the Lib Dems will no doubt cry foul and attack the SNP for stoking the flames of independence after a resounding ‘no’ vote just a few months ago.
The reality however, is that for all the bluster, the sound of Westminster politicians telling Scotland what it can and cannot have only serves to boost support for the SNP. Furthermore, given the extraordinary surge in support for the nationalists, politicians in London would do well to stop interfering.
The last hope for Scotland remaining in the Union is for Scottish Labour to regain its sense of purpose, to change in the same way that the mood of Scotland has changed, and ultimately to return to Government at Holyrood.
This requires first of all a leader who can take on Nicola Sturgeon and win. Such a task will be enormous.
As Labour in Scotland continue a period of internal navel gazing which has seen the General Secretary of Unite, Len McLuskey, accuse Jim Murphy on Labour List of being “the candidate of the past and the candidate of division”, Ms Sturgeon has parked her tanks on Labour’s lawn.
In her policies and style, Sturgeon has the makings of a social democrat in the true sense of the word, fighting against the scourge of poverty and inequality, and her efforts are already paying off. Glasgow’s decision to support independence in the referendum was in no small part due to the efforts Sturgeon has made to woo Glasgow to the SNP cause.
The SNP are on a roll. The flame of independence burns brightly and only Scottish Labour can save the Union – but the omens are not good. The SNP have multiple reasons to be cheerful this weekend.
Ed Jacobs is a contributing editor at Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter
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16 Responses to “The SNP have many reasons to be cheerful this weekend”
swat
Its only when you lose something that you realise how good it was and wish for it back again desparately. So Scotland will get their Independence after all. And England, after leaving the EU and the roof falls in and jobless queues and welkare queues a mile long gather outside No 10, will there be a demand from the People for a 2nd Referendum, to get us back into the EU asap, on whatever terms the EU would impose on us.
Hearthammer
And it’s gonna get worse. The Scottish “leadership” elections will be coming along next month and the papers still think Jim Murphy will be the winner despite virtually no support on the ground and even less from the unions! The only people that seem to be backing him are the Westminster cabal;, where he’s seen as the candidate to pull those rebellious Jocks back into the fold! You can be sure that if Murphy wins, the shutters will come down on “Scottish” Labour!
Norfolk29
Independence carries with it a lot of expense, as Ireland found. It also carries with it the temptation to make easy money by making deals with foreign countries in exchange for jobs and investment. Lower corporation will starve England and Wales of tax revenues we currently get and have to fight for. Scotland and the SNP may find it hard to generate the revenues required to run even a country like Ireland. When I was growing up there, in the 1940’s and 50’s it was bleak place that offered little opportunity for work or career development. It exported 50,000 young people every year and did nothing about reducing its birth rate (being run by the Catholic Church, it had no incentive to do so). I would not wish that situation on an enemy. I would have voted Yes in the Referendum but for independence within the UK but we may be past that option now.
Norfolk29
He is still the best of the three candidates, no matter what is said. If he wins he may revive Scottish Labour. God knows, that would not be hard to do.
Britlab
Checked Hearthammer on twitter and appears to be nat supporter.Take comment with qualification. Note words :demand from the People!+ EU on any terms!Aman of reason.