AN SNP MP has given his backing to calls for the party to pursue a “Plan B” route to independence.
Douglas Chapman has declared his support for an amendment by MP Angus MacNeil and senior party councillor Chris McEleny, as he warned that the Tory government would not be willing to “play ball” over indyref2.
MacNeil and McEleny want the SNP’s party conference in Autumn to back a plan stating that an independence referendum should be held by October next year.
If the UK Government refuses permission for this, they say the next Holyrood or Westminster election should be fought on a manifesto that would see victory mandate the Scottish Government to open negotiations on independence.
The original resolution was rejected by the party’s committee, who said it was too significant a development for a single conference debate, but the pair are now seeking to present it as an amendment to a motion celebrating the achievements of the Scottish Parliament.
MacNeil and McEleny cite support from SNP branches across the country, and already have the backing of MP Lisa Cameron and MSP Christine Grahame.
READ MORE: Fresh hope indyref2 Plan B will be debated at SNP conference
Joining their voices in calling for this approach, Chapman said: “We have to take pragmatic steps to ensure that the people of Scotland have their say on the future of their own country.
“All the signs are that a right-wing Tory government are not going to play ball over another Edinburgh Agreement.
“The 45% have now become the 52% and the risks for any UK government have become too high for them to contemplate being co-operative ... probably quite the opposite. They will frustrate, deny resources and use every legal barrier to stop our progress.
“You just have to look at the frenzy within Labour following the comments by McDonnell to see the Unionists are seriously worried about losing their pernicious Union.
“For us through, these circumstances necessitates a Plan B and in the absence of agreement with the UK on a second independence referendum, then pro-independence parties winning a majority of Scottish seats in an UK or Scottish election is a pragmatic way to expressing the legitimacy of our right to self-determination.”
The deadline for submission of amendments to the party conference is tomorrow, after which a party conference committee will determine if the plan will be allowed to make the final agenda.
MacNeil and McEleny believe their amendment will be difficult to throw out without party bosses rejecting the resolution on the achievements of Holyrood, which is unlikely.
However, a party insider has previously suggested to The National that this was not the case.
They said: “If it wasn’t competent as a resolution, it’s not competent as an amendment.
“It doesn’t change some of the fundamental problems with the initial resolution. What is an electoral victory for instance, is it a majority of seats or over 50% of the vote?
“Also an amendment shouldn’t change a fundamental aspect of a resolution.”
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