The author is chief of the Scottish Labour celebration
When the primary minister of Scotland entered the chamber of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, saying plans to carry an independence referendum on October 19 2023 was not her foremost intention.
Eager observers of Scottish politics will know that final week’s assertion was actually about one factor: positioning the Scottish Nationwide celebration for the following UK normal election.
Boris Johnson, the prime minister, and Nicola Sturgeon usually are not polar opposites — in truth, they’re in a symbiotic relationship, counting on one another to take care of the political establishment that retains them in energy.
The folks of Scotland are going through a value of dwelling disaster in contrast to any we’ve seen lately, and our economic system, nonetheless reeling from the harm of the pandemic, is lagging behind different elements of the UK.
The challenges earlier than the Scottish authorities couldn’t be larger — nor may the chance to sort out poverty, assist companies and kick-start our economic system.
However as a substitute of rising to face these challenges, the SNP is returning to the arguments of the previous and sowing division to distract from the chaos and failures of their authorities.
Relatively than coping with the burning problems with the day, we’ve two governments feeding off each other and making an attempt to tear communities aside for political acquire — however you can not play politics whereas folks’s lives and livelihoods are within the stability.
Because the final elections to the Scottish parliament in Might 2021, nearly 5,000 folks have died of Covid — 51 up to now week. There are over 700,000 Scots on an NHS ready listing, with over 10,000 kids and younger folks in line for a psychological well being appointment. And, as of final week, there have been nearly 20,000 fewer companies in Scotland than when the pandemic started.
Final month, the Financial institution of England warned that inflation may attain 11 per cent — which means greater payments and a deepening price of dwelling disaster.
However fairly than specializing in the restoration and rebuilding our economic system and public companies, Sturgeon is extra involved with making the SNP related in a normal election.
By pledging to make the following normal election a “de facto” referendum on Scottish independence, Sturgeon is sending a transparent message to the folks of Scotland: when you care in regards to the NHS, your baby’s training or supporting companies — don’t vote SNP.
Scottish politicians ought to aspire to be extra than simply barely higher than Johnson and the Tories. However for that to occur, we have to have a political management centered on the folks’s priorities and on our nationwide restoration from the pandemic.
By the way, that is what the SNP promised to do within the Scottish election final yr. At that time, we have been nonetheless dwelling below Covid restrictions. Over 10,000 of our fellow residents had misplaced their lives.
Sturgeon mentioned throughout her marketing campaign that individuals who didn’t assist a referendum or independence by way of the restoration ought to vote for her, protected within the information {that a} referendum wouldn’t be her precedence.
Quick ahead to now and our post-pandemic restoration hasn’t even began. However the Sturgeon who mentioned she needed to drag us by way of is gone and the Sturgeon who desires to divide our nation is again — pursuing a referendum that over half of Scots are not looking for at this second.
The primary minister is utilizing her electoral victory final yr to pursue a politics of division. However the folks of Scotland deserve so a lot better.
