IT was with regret that I heard that the MP Angus MacNeil had been expelled from the SNP, but not surprised. Mr MacNeil has always been a bit too independent-minded for the party hierarchy’s liking.
I disagree with his statement that his expulsion is a sideshow, as it’s the culmination of a trend seen over the past few years whereby elected representatives have to be seen to be “on message” at all times, regardless of the message. Any divergence from the HQ line and you’re out.
READ MORE: Angus MacNeil: My expulsion from SNP is a sideshow to independence
For the current hierarchy it’s independence that has become the sideshow and they’ll talk about anything BUT independence ‘til the cows come home. The independence vote at the next election looks like being split, and Labour handed the seat on a plate. The “wine bar luvvies” at SNP HQ have won again!
Drew Reid
Falkirk
SATURDAY’S National devoted much space to the enforced departure from the SNP of Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil. One article by Hamish Morrison headed “SNP given no choice but to give him the boot” caught my attention in particular. In the online version the same article is headed “What SNP MPs are saying about Angus MacNeil’s expulsion.” The article contains three interesting quotes.
One MP told The National he felt MacNeil was “bloody stupid” in refusing to take back the party whip after he had been suspended.
READ MORE: Angus MacNeil: SNP president Michael Russell should resign
One MP said: “I think things could have been handled better on all sides but at the end of the day, the fundamental issue is you don’t get to pick and choose when you take up the whip.
But one MP said that MacNeil had strayed so far from the party line in recent months, it was only a matter of time before he faced the consequences of his outspokenness, telling The National: “He was SNP in name only for a long time.”
Are we to believe that this is “one MP” quoted three times or it was three individual MPs? Most notable of all is the fact that the MP or MPs quoted remained anonymous. If they are so sure of their position on this matter they should be prepared to say so publicly. Could it be perhaps they are concerned that SNP members and supporters in their own constituencies share Angus’s views?
Glenda Burns
Glasgow
THE main job of a parliamentary whip is to ensure all party members – whether that’s MPs, MSPs or even councillors – vote along party lines. That includes encouraging those who dissent to remain part of the party. Clearly this job was beyond Brendan O’Hara, and the dismissal of Angus Brendan MacNeil must reflect badly on his ability as party whip.
The MacNeil case simply highlights the problems facing a weak party leader who can’t control his parliamentarians. There is no doubt Fergus Ewing would have lost the whip for speaking out against the ludicrous policies proposed by the Greens – and their inevitable failure – yet the Ewing name saved him as Humza Yousaf didn’t have the bottle to take him on. Therefore we’re looking at a continuation of the Sturgeon leadership model where cowardice and bullying replaces leadership.
READ MORE: Mike Small: Angus MacNeil's expulsion asks wider questions about political purgatory
The SNP has shown itself not to be focussed on independence – as seen by the sackings of Ferrier and MacNeil – and only interested in a cozy cabal at Holyrood with the clearly inept Green party. There is further to fall for the SNP with Yousaf in charge. I hope those planning to run as MPs have alternative job opportunities – they’re going to need them!
Alex Beckett
Paisley
WHY is there such a stooshie about who is and isn’t in the SNP? All that matters is that there is a majority in Holyrood for independence. Greens and the SNP together make that majority. In any case, I really don’t see why everyone is so worried about independence when we are so obviously being overtaken by a climate emergency. And the best way to avoid any furtherance of this disaster is to vote neither for the Tories nor for Labour. Both major parties in England are hell-bent on stuffing the human race. An independent Scotland might just escape this desperate race for survival.
Tony Kime
Kelso
HEY diddle diddle the cat and the fiddle, the little dog may not be too amused and the cow is wondering will she be safe to jump?. “Race to the moon is on” reports Saturday’s National. Dependent on finding water at the moon’s south pole, Russia, China, India and America all intend to set up lunar stations with plans to extract valuable minerals and make them their bases for exploring Mars.
Should the “little green men” be warned? Given that these nations are not best friends on this planet, will they be quietly carrying weapons to defend their moon plots? Is this a wealthy few hoping to escape from Earth before it becomes uninhabitable, or an example of intrepid human endeavour seeking fresh discoveries in outer space? As some of our species leave behind a world in chaos and stray further into the realms of science fiction, the Man in the Moon may not be pleased.
Iain R Thomson
Strathglass
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