THE SNP’s Westminster leader has told colleagues to prepare for the Scottish independence campaign to be ramped up next month, according to leaked emails.
In an update to party MPs, Ian Blackford outlined a handful of changes to his team and promised further details on plans when recess comes to an end.
Tommy Sheppard, currently Cabinet Office spokesperson at Westminster, will be moved to a new position focused on the constitution.
Meanwhile Brendan O’Hara, MP for Argyll and Bute, will take on Sheppard’s old role.
In his message, seen by the Daily Record, Blackford told his team: “We will be moving into a new phase of independence campaigning when we return in October. I will be addressing this in more detail with the group when we return from recess.
“As part of this I will be asking Stewart Hosie to work directly with me coordinating our independence campaigning.
READ MORE: Scotland should be independent as UK is 'f*****', College of Europe professor warns
“These changes will collectively enhance our ability to hold the UK Government to account and prepare for us for the tasks ahead in the drive to win the arguments for independence.”
The SNP have been contacted for comment.
Some SNP figures have been critical of the pace of work on independence, while Alex Salmond’s Alba have consistently accused the party of failing to prioritise work on self-determination.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to hold a second legal independence referendum before 2023, Covid permitting.
Last week, the SNP hit back at claims that they aren’t serious about holding indyref2 after former Tory MSP Adam Tomkins claimed the reduction in Scotland Office ministers suggested the UK Government isn’t too worried.
SNP MSP Gillian Martin responded: “Adam Tomkins seems to be indulging in some wishful thinking on his part because I can tell him for sure that the SNP government is 100% committed to delivering the referendum for which there is a cast-iron democratic mandate. No amount of desperate Tory bluster will change that.
“Boris Johnson’s bid to defy democracy is not just unsustainable, but entirely a result of knowing that being governed by Westminster is dragging Scotland down, and increasingly more people are realising that.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel