The past year has seen the SNP rocked by infighting and scandal, with the once united party now teetering on the edge of civil war. Disagreements over various cultural and political issues, combined with a personal leadership feud, have created a toxic argument that could spell doom for the movement.
The latest development in this political drama is the sacking of front bench MP Joanna Cherry. A fierce critic of Nicola Sturgeon, Cherry has been accused of transphobia over her opposition to reforming the Gender Recognition Act, legislation designed to make it easier for individuals to change their gender legally. Those within the SNP who share her views have been extremely critical of her removal. One unnamed activist claimed it would stifle healthy discourse, creating a ‘chilling effect’ on those who wanted to speak out.
Another recent spat arose when the National Executive Committee (NEC) decided to reserve the first positions on the party’s regional lists for BAME or disabled candidates. Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, said the decision had been taken to ‘break down historic barriers’, but several members criticised the NEC for a move which they claim was unnecessary and politically motivated.
These cultural battles feed into personal rivalries among party elites. Alex Salmond is now openly at war with Nicola Sturgeon over her testimony to the Holyrood sexual assault case inquiry. With Salmond set to give his account on February the 9th, some view the dismissal of Cherry as an attempt to purge the SNP of the former leader’s supporters. The outcome of this dispute will depend mainly on the evidence he can present to the inquiry. If he succeeds in convincing MSPs that Sturgeon lied to them, she will be ousted as First Minister; if he fails, then she has a chance at remaining in power.
How the SNP will respond to these recent trends remains to be seen. The party is unlikely to split although a change of leadership is very much on the cards. This would be well overdue given that they have not had a contested leadership election in over 15 years. However, such a contest could highlight further divisions, particularly those surrounding the route towards independence, with some factions favouring an illegal second referendum. The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party are now the only ones that stand in the way of an increasingly unpredictable nationalist movement. A vote for the Conservatives is not just a vote for prosperity and unity but also stability and security.