A SENIOR SNP MP has criticised Andrew Wilson after he urged a gradual build-up to the “softest possible” form of independence.
Joanna Cherry QC, the SNP’s justice spokeswoman at Westminster, took to Twitter to disagree with Wilson, the author of the party’s Growth Commission and a weekly columnist in The National.
She said independence was needed as soon as possible to protect Scotland from Brexit, and promoted the call for a second referendum.
Wilson, a former MSP , said on Thursday that Nicola Sturgeon should play a long game on independence in order to woo voters and “win big”.
He wrote in The National: “In the parlance of Brexit, we offer the softest of possible changes to the current arrangements, not the hardest. We recognise the level of integration and all the ties that have bound us for centuries. We create a platform that can unify a majority for progress that stands a chance of winning and winning big.”
He said more time was needed to recast the 2014 case for independence, likened leaving the UK to a “process rather than an event” and said Scotland was on a “journey without end”.
He also criticised Yes supporters who want independence to be swifter and more radical.
“Some (a very small number) would rather move immediately and overnight to a Marxist revolutionary state. That is their right, but they won’t win the chance to try,” he said.
The comments drew a sharp response from Cherry on Twitter.
She said: “You don’t have to be a ‘Marxist revolutionary’ to disagree with this softly softly strategy. Brexit is a catastrophe about to hit Scotland & the only way to protect our society & economy is #independence #indyref2.”
In a second tweet, she added: “As an MP on the #Brexit Select committee I’ve watched this disaster proceed in the face of all the evidence. I’m also aware that many of #EU27 are very sympathetic to #independence for Scotland & once UK is 3rd state that can translate to action #indyref2.”
Cherry’s intervention is the latest development among SNP figures in a debate over the timing of a new independence referendum and come as the First Minister is expected to announce her plans regarding a possible new vote in weeks.
Supporters of an early referendum include the MP Angus Brendan MacNeil, who has called for a fresh vote this year, and the former MP George Kerevan who also supports a vote in the short term. But others back a longer term approach. They include the Glasgow South MP Stewart McDonald, who recently said his party would be rejected by voters if it tried to “bounce” the country into a second independence referendum. McDonald, who is the party’s defence spokesman, also said it would be the “height of irresponsibility” to try and rehash the Yes campaign of 2014, and its tenor needed to “utterly change”.
Alyn Smith, the MEP, also backs a longer term strategy, saying last month: “I don’t think we’re ready to press the button on a independence referendum yet, because there are too many moving parts to Brexit.”
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