'Gimmicks' and attention-seeking displays as MSPs debate independence (again)
Perhaps calling the SNP’s bluff and supporting a second referendum could be the only way of removing the party from power
There was no irony lost on Malcolm Offord, the Reform UK leader in Scotland, when he marched his MSPs out of the Holyrood chamber over what he called a “gimmick” from the SNP on independence.
It is fair to say that John Swinney’s debate on Scotland’s right to decide, was aimed at keeping independence on the agenda after taking advantage of what the SNP leader has seen as a window of opportunity.
But Mr Offord leading his Reform MSPs out of the chamber, noticeably after delivering his speech against independence, was a juvenile and attention-seeking display.
Before Mr Swinney could get on his feet to open the debate, Reform Scotland leader, Lord Offord called on presiding officer, Kenny Gibson to bin the debate, warning the constitution is reserved to Westminster and would be “inappropriate” to be talked about at Holyrood.
“So is immigration”, SNP minister Alison Thewliss harked back at Lord Offord.
“Er, no”, was Mr Gibson’s conclusion.
But Lord Offord was determined to have an afternoon off.
“Reform won’t engage further in these pointless proceedings”, Lord Offord huffed.
“We didn’t come into this parliament to waste our time on vanity projects and therefore I withdraw my amendment and we will exit from the chamber.”
And out they went to jeers from MSPs. Even the Tories were laughing at them, for what Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay branded “silly stunts”.
The Presiding Officer was not impressed.
Following the debate, Mr Gibson warned that as Reform seemed to have no problem with the debate in the lead-up to taking part. He said "this afternoon's antics" were to be classed as "a gross discourtesy to all members of this chamber".
Outside the chamber, the irony claxon was off the charts.
Lord Offord branded the independence debate itself “a stunt” and “a gimmick”.
“We’re not interested in that”, he dared to claim.
But back inside the chamber there was no getting away from the doom loop the SNP has found itself in on the constitution.
Mr Swinney gambled his independence gameplan on securing an SNP majority at May’s election.
That never looked like living in the real world and, unsurprisingly, the First Minister fell short.
So now, the SNP is stuck in a vicious circle that we’ve seen repeatedly in the past.
For those frustrated Yes supporters, it feels like a dead end.
Mr Swinney, as did his predecessors Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon, finds himself in an almost-impossible situation.
He has criticism heaped on him for focusing independence when progress in the NHS and a whole host of his responsibilities produce worrying situations.
But he has to balance that with consistent calls from independence supporters demanding progress in moving forward the strategy to leave the UK.
Unionist critics will cry that it’s desperate stuff from the SNP leader, but could we be seeing a less hostile attitude from the Labour UK government on the idea of a referendum being held at some point when enough people want it?
If anything, the tiny change of attitude and language from Labour allows the SNP to focus its efforts on raising the level of support for independence. Without that, it is clear that a re-run of the 2014 vote is never going to happen.
But there is a hard truth for unionists, particularly Scottish Labour, to wrestle with.
The only realistic way to make the SNP’s hold on Holyrood disappear would be to call their bluff and agree to a referendum.
A second vote, whatever result that throws up, looks like the only method of removing the SNP from power.
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