A guest article by Bill Clark, a YES supporter who lives in Fort William.

Nicola Sturgeon will not work with Alex Salmond’s Alba Party

The SNP leader said her party wants to persuade people to back independence, not ‘bulldoze’ the decision through

Unionist parties will drop their differences in an effort to stop Scots  submitting their political views on Scottish independence in a referendum.  They will do a lot more than cajole to ensure success.  To counter this, the independence movement will require to be united and at this moment in time it is anything but.  

By their actions, the leadership and a number of elected members intentionally or unintentionally have been throwing more titbits to the unionists.  MPs have agreed to give support to Patrick Grady MP after he was found guilty of an unwanted sexual advance.  He will be welcomed back into the SNP group as confirmed at a private meeting of SNP MPs.The person who leaked and provided the recording of that meeting is now being threatened with the police as detailed in an email sent to MPs by the SNPs chief whip Owen Thompson. Why was this information to give Patrick Grady support and welcome him back-deemed to be private in the first place? They knew they were wrong in doing so and did not want it in the public domain.  Amy Callaghan MP said her piece in line with Ian Blackfold’s support of Patrick Grady because she knew it would go down well with the leadership.  She was caught out by that recording. We are led to believe that no one showed any empathy towards the recipient of Grady’s unwanted attention and that only one MP reached out to him earlier in his ordeal.   Each and every MP in attendance are complicit by their applause as were those who remained silent.

On the other hand, former First Minister Alex Salmond who was found not guilty in a court of law is fair game for a pile on of abuse.There was no welcome back for the former First Minister by those same MPs who are now giving their support to Patrick Grady MP, a colleague, who had been found guilty. The SNP have known of Patrick Grady’s misconduct for some years yet took no action that would have been acceptable in a court of law.  What say you, Angus Robertson? Thomas Carlyle, once said “talk that does not end in any kind of action is better supressed altogether.” It would appear that the SNP have taken his words on board.  It shows not for the first time there is injustice within the SNP leadership.  Freedom of speech or negative opinion on any peripheral issues like self-ID is frowned on by the new SNP and certainly not encouraged.  

Scotland’s independent movement has to be as one without any equivocation on anyone’s part and that has to show itself.  This has to start with the First Minister.  Alex Salmond has made his position clear that his differences with the FM are as nothing to the goal of independence.  Unfortunately, the FM still has a boulder on her shoulder and was extremely negative when asked the same question.   Leadership means putting the best team on the park even if it means including those out with the SNP and Green party members. It cannot be a case of the SNP and Greens carrying the independence banner with everyone else having to pay homage to Nicola Sturgeon.  

The political parties in Ukraine including the defeated past President and his party have joined as one in their fight to retain their countries freedom.  Many Ukrainian families have paid and many more will continue to pay the ultimate price for doing so.  They have shown that they are ready to die for that dream.  I know of another man, a Scotsman, who said “the dream will never die” in relation to Scottish independence.  The SNP commitment to the cause of Scottish independence will be determined and put to the test on whether their outstretched hand to Alba members is open and welcoming rather than clenched in temper. If this is not forthcoming any failure will lie with Nicola Sturgeon and the Westminster leader Ian Blackford.  To date the FM has not shown the leadership that will bring everyone together.  The FM is obsessed in a negative way with Alex Salmond and has ingrained her views into her supporters but is fortunately still in the position to lift that accursed spell and let everyone genuinely come as one to Scotland’s defence. We are not having to put our lives on the line like the Ukrainians.   Surely bringing everyone together is a price worth paying for Scotland’s independence.

MY COMMENTS

Bill is right. We need a unified pro Independence army. That is currently a big ask as the Leader of the SNP has thus far refused to make any attempt to make it happen. Let me be blunt, it wont happen until she does. If that is too big an ask, then the solution is obvious. She must hand over control of any campaign to those who want to work with everyone, unite all pro Indy forces, and recreate the spirit of 2014. Anything less is a betrayal of Scotland and could surely be only considered by someone whose self conceit and bitterness outweighs any love or loyalty to this nation.

I am, as always

YOURS FOR SCOTLAND

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