SNP – Hoang Viet

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Aug 30 2024

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn says smoking ban plan ‘is a smokescreen to deflect from Labour’s austerity doom and gloom’ | UK News

The SNP’s Westminster leader has described Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to ban smoking in beer gardens and other outdoor venues as a “smokescreen” to deflect from the UK government’s austerity “doom and gloom”.

Mr Flynn noted smoking causes around 9,000 deaths per year in Scotland, putting “significant pressure” on the NHS.

Although agreeing that would make a “fair and reasonable starting point” for any discussion in relation to smoking bans, the MP for Aberdeen South claimed the proposed move by the UK government was an “attempt to deflect”.

He told Sky News Breakfast: “Because they know that the public are very much focused on the fact that the first 100 days or so in office of this Labour Party appears to be doom and gloom, that things are going to get worse.

“And they don’t want people talking about austerity, so what they are doing is suggesting that people in some way shouldn’t be able to smoke outside.

“It appears to be using a hammer to crack a nut when it comes to some of the challenges which face the NHS, and which face those individuals who do indeed smoke.

“But ultimately, this is a smokescreen from the bigger issues of the day, which is the austerity agenda that the Labour Party are pushing.”

Speaking to Sky News on Thursday, First Minister John Swinney said he was “unnerved” by the prime minister’s speech on Tuesday, saying he interprets it as a “continuation of the austerity agenda of the Conservatives”.

Mr Flynn believes there will be “less money to do the things that we want to do”, but elected members and the party must come together to “take a message of optimism that things can and will get better to the public”.

Mr Flynn was speaking ahead of the SNP conference, which is taking place in Edinburgh between Friday and Sunday.

The conference is Mr Swinney’s first as party leader in almost two decades and comes after the SNP lost dozens of MPs in July’s general election, falling to just nine seats.

The party’s drubbing at the polls followed months of internal turmoil and an ongoing police investigation into the SNP’s funding and finances.

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Mr Flynn accepted it’s been a “challenging time” for his party.

He said: “That’s why it’s so important that today we come together, we reflect upon where we’ve been, how we’ve managed to get ourselves into this situation, but more importantly, to discuss how we refocus, reprioritise, and re-engage with the people of Scotland to renew the trust that we’ve lost.

“And ultimately, towards 2026, what their priorities are and deliver an SNP victory.

“Now, that’s going to require some frank and honest debate. But I think that’s a positive thing, I think it’s perhaps overdue.”

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Mr Flynn would not get drawn on committing to a timeline for delivering a second Scottish independence referendum.

Instead, he said his party must focus on improving people’s lives and aligning that with “some hope and optimism”.

Speaking about Indyref2, Mr Flynn said: “I don’t think it’s fair or reasonable for me to put a timescale upon that, because it’s for the public to determine what they want and when they want it.”

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May 13 2024

Police Scotland’s chief constable: SNP finance probe heading to prosecutors ‘within weeks’ | UK News

The police investigation involving Nicola Sturgeon’s husband is “moving on” with prosecutors to receive a file within weeks, Scotland’s most senior officer has told Sky News.

The former first minister and SNP leader’s spouse, Peter Murrell, has been charged in connection with embezzlement of party funds.

In her first interviews since taking on the UK’s second biggest police force, Chief Constable Jo Farrell insisted her officers are “objective” but refused to be drawn on whether the long-running probe will end imminently.

The investigation, dubbed Operation Branchform, was launched in July 2021 after officers received complaints about how SNP donations were used.

There were questions about more than £660,000 raised for a second Scottish independence referendum campaign.

Police Scotland has said Nicola Sturgeon remains under investigation after she was arrested and released without charge in 2023.

The SNP’s former treasurer, Colin Beattie, was also detained for almost 12 hours for questioning in spring last year.

The 72-year-old has told Sky News he had heard “nothing at all” from police recently.

Murrell, 59, was chief executive of the SNP for two decades.

He quit the role weeks before his arrest and resigned his SNP membership in the wake of his police charge.

The probe has involved detectives seizing a £100,000 motorhome from outside the home of one of Murrell’s elderly relatives.

Officers concluded in April there is sufficient evidence to charge Murrell in connection with embezzlement of party funds.

The next stage is for Scotland’s prosecution service, the Crown Office, to receive a report on the case from police and decide whether to proceed to court.

A Crown Office spokesman said: “All (of) Scotland’s prosecutors act independently of political interference.

“As is routine, to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations, we do not comment in detail on their conduct.”

Chief Con Farrell was questioned by Sky News about why the investigation was taking so long to conclude.

She said: “It’s a live investigation, complex investigation and the matter has been progressed, and we expect the report to go to the Crown Office in a matter of weeks.”

Asked about this probe continuing in a general election year, she said: “We’ve investigated allegations. That’s moving on.

“We have very skilled, professional, objective individuals working on that case.”

The senior officer refused to say when the SNP probe would be fully concluded or whether other individuals would face further questions.

“I’m not going to make a commentary on the length of it. One person’s been charged, the report will go to the Crown Office and it’s a live investigation,” she said.

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Ms Sturgeon unexpectedly announced her resignation as SNP leader and first minister of Scotland months before police arrested her and her husband.

She has always insisted the probe never played any part in her sudden departure from office.

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May 5 2024

Graeme McCormick pulls out of SNP leadership race paving way for John Swinney | Politics News

Graeme McCormick has pulled out of the race to become SNP leader and instead endorsed rival John Swinney as Scotland’s next first minister.

Mr McCormick’s decision not to pursue a leadership bid leaves Mr Swinney as the only official candidate after Humza Yousaf announced he is stepping down.

Mr Yousaf said he was resigning last week after he decided to end the power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Green Party.

In a statement shared with Sky News, Mr McCormick, a party activist, said he had had a “lengthy and fruitful conversation” with Mr Swinney, adding that he had “met the threshold set by the party rules”.

“John and I agreed the challenges which the SNP, our government and our people face, and explored new thinking on a range of issues which I am confident, as they are advanced, will inspire activists both within the SNP and wider independence movement in the following weeks and months,” he said.

“This is a fresh start for our members and our politicians, and I’m sure that John’s determination to deliver Independence will be rewarded at the forthcoming general election.

“I have therefore concluded that I shall not proceed with my nomination for party leader but instead support John Swinney’s nomination for party leader and first minister of Scotland.”

It means the party will avoid a three-week leadership contest, which would have been triggered had Mr McCormick not stepped aside and received. the required 100 nominations.

Barring a bombshell – Swinney will become leader tomorrow

The SNP establishment is quietly breathing a sigh of relief after a wildcard challenger pulled the plug.

Grassroots member Graeme McCormick has been a thorn in the side of the party hierarchy for a long time, but the truth is he never stood a chance of becoming leader.

Apparently, he was gathering the required 100 signatures from party members on his clipboard at an independence rally in Glasgow on Saturday. It doesn’t get more grassroots than that.

His move to trigger a contest would have delayed the inevitable Swinney win, but it would have forced the party to spend three weeks having another internal debate.

It would have been difficult (and embarrassing) for Mr Swinney and co as they try and pull a divided party back together.

Mr McCormick told Sky News he had a discussion with Mr Swinney on Sunday, and it seems the pair came to some sort of agreement.

Many will see this as a small diplomatic win for the incoming first minister as he uses soft power to spare the SNP’s blushes.

Barring a bombshell, Mr Swinney will become leader tomorrow and first minister of Scotland on Tuesday as Humza Yousaf packs his bags and heads for the same door he kicked the Greens out of a few weeks ago.

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Earlier on Sunday, Mr Swinney warned potential challengers from entering the race, saying it would delay the party from “rebuilding”.

“My bid to become SNP leader has received very, very comprehensive support within the SNP. I have sent out a message which is about unifying the SNP to strengthen our party and win Scottish independence,” he told Sky’s Trevor Phillips.

“I think that is necessary as the SNP is not as cohesive today as the party needs to be, and my campaign has attracted very wide support.

“So I think the SNP has got a chance to start rebuilding from the difficult period that we’ve had under my leadership and, bluntly, I would just like to get on with that as quickly as I can do because every day that we spend in an internal contest, which I think we all probably know the outcome of, we delay the ability for the SNP to start its rebuilding and I want to get on with that as quickly as I possibly can do.”

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Apr 29 2024

SNP stands at a crossroads – but what direction will party take? | Politics News

Humza Yousaf will no doubt be riddled with regret at the colossal miscalculation to bin the Greens last week.

His options to fight on, despite the severe headwinds, eventually evaporated and, short of striking a deal with Alex Salmond, he was boxed in.

Mr Yousaf inherited a lot of his problems. The Green pact was signed by Nicola Sturgeon and the ongoing police investigation is out of his control.

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Many senior SNP figures feel governing as a minority government, free from the shackles of the Greens, is exactly what the party needs right now to win back its supporters who have fled.

There is no doubt the SNP is still the biggest political force in Scotland, but a series of controversial policies have grabbed the headlines and dominated all the public narrative.

Mr Yousaf presided over a heavy loss to Labour in the Rutherglen by-election and was defeated in a court battle over the notorious gender recognition reforms.

The biggest focus now is who comes next and the process that follows.

Labour looks set to gain in the polls from any strife the SNP endures – but could a new leader unite the party in a way Mr Yousaf failed?

It got extremely messy when Ms Sturgeon departed last year. No one in the party wants to rip open old wounds.

John Swinney is seen as a party heavyweight and many current cabinet ministers will rally behind him.

But others fear he is yesterday’s man and will not deliver that change the SNP must have if it is to cling on to power.

If one-time leadership candidate Kate Forbes throws her hat in the ring, will the Yousaf wing of the party listen to what she has to say? Will they recognise she got almost 50% of the vote in the contest last year?

She is seen by many as competent and controversial. Her leadership could be plagued by old rifts from colleagues who believe her premiership would be a lurch to the right.

The SNP and Scotland stand at a crossroads.

The turmoil is becoming a familiar rhythm in a parliament where views are increasingly entrenched and tribal.

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Oct 13 2023

SNP to seek Scottish independence talks even if party loses 20 MPs at next general election | Politics News

SNP leader Humza Yousaf has rejected suggestions it would be “ludicrous” for his party to open formal independence negotiations, even if he loses 20 seats at the next general election.

Ahead of the SNP’s annual conference, Mr Yousaf also told Sky News it is difficult for his party to make progress “the longer” the major police investigation examining its funding and finances continues.

The SNP’s independence strategy has chopped and changed in the past 12 months as the party became engulfed in unprecedented scandal.

Nicola Sturgeon previously pledged to turn the next general election into a “de facto” referendum. She suggested winning more than 50% of the votes in Scotland would be the same as a result to begin talks over Scotland’s exit from the UK.

Ms Sturgeon quit as leader in February before being arrested as part of the police probe. She was released without charge and insists she is “certain” she has done nothing wrong.

Her replacement, Mr Yousaf, later proposed that winning “most” seats in 2024 would open the door to Downing Street negotiations.

It has now been suggested SNP activists could vote at their Aberdeen conference this weekend to switch the wording to a “majority” of seats.

Mr Yousaf told Sky News he is “open” to the tweak, which would set the bar at 29 seats. The SNP secured 48 MPs in 2019.

During an interview in Glasgow, Scotland’s first minister was questioned whether it was credible to suggest a scenario where the nationalists secure just one more seat than Labour at the 2024 election, and that equating to a clear mandate to trigger independence discussions.

He was asked about a hypothetical situation where Labour could get 23 seats and the SNP drops from 48 seats to 24.

The first minister replied: “If you win the most seats, you tend to be the winner of the general election.

“If you are denying the Scottish people the choice over their own future then the next election, we can test that proposition. In a general election, the rules are pretty simple – those that win most seats, win the general election.”

Mr Yousaf said he would seriously consider a switch to the majority of seats when party members finalise the plan on Sunday.

He added: “Let’s remember before the referendum in 2014 we were at six seats so actually that number will undoubtedly fluctuate election to election.”

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Police Scotland told Sky News that the SNP finance investigation – dubbed Operation Branchform – is continuing.

The Crown Office, the body which will decide whether or not to charge individuals, said it has received no complaints about the probe so far.

Mr Yousaf agreed the police probe has “hurt” the SNP.

He said: “Of course it has… the longer the police investigation goes on, then the more difficult it is going to be for the party.

“I respect the police has to take whatever time it feels necessary.”

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Sep 28 2023

Suspension of SNP rebel Fergus Ewing is ‘proportionate’, says minister | UK News

Suspending rebel SNP MSP Fergus Ewing from the party’s parliamentary group at Holyrood for a week is proportionate, a senior member of the Scottish government has said.

Net zero secretary Mairi McAllan backed the proposed seven-day suspension of the former rural affairs secretary, who has been a vocal critic of Humza Yousaf’s government in recent months.

The suspension – which Mr Ewing has two weeks to appeal against – was approved after he voted with the opposition at Holyrood in a vote of no confidence against Scottish Green co-leader and government minister Lorna Slater amid the controversy surrounding the deposit return scheme.

Mr Ewing has also spoken out against the Scottish government on issues such as the new licensing regime for short-term rental properties as well as the stalled deposit return scheme.

He has also traded barbs with the Scottish Greens in recent months, describing the party as “wine bar revolutionaries” and “hard-left extremists”, as well as calling the atmosphere within the SNP group “toxic”.

The Inverness and Nairn MSP – son of the late SNP trailblazer Winnie Ewing – said: “The SNP is not an ordinary party – we are a party that has always put Scotland first, and that means to me, putting the interests of the people of Scotland first.

“But in good conscience, and it grieves me to say this, I don’t believe that is any longer the case.”

A meeting of SNP MSPs at Holyrood on Wednesday night resulted in a vote of 48 to nine in favour of Mr Ewing’s suspension.

But speaking on BBC Radio Scotland on Thursday, Ms McAllan said there is still room for free thinkers within the SNP.

Asked if she had voted in favour of his suspension, she said: “In full transparency, yes I did.

“It is something I certainly would expect to be the outcome if I had done what Fergus did.

“It is part of a normal party mechanism in a democratic system.”

Asked whether politicians can express their opinions within the SNP, Ms McAllan added: “Of course, I like to think of myself as a free thinker.

“In particular the first minister has been quite clear he wants people to come to him and to speak to him internally if they have any concerns they wish to raise, he has an open door in that regard.

“But Fergus is a longstanding MSP, he has been a minister, he understands the procedures here and what the outcome is of voting the way he did.”

SNP MP Joanna Cherry claimed his rebellion was “the product of years of inadequate debate in our party about policy making”.

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In a statement posted on social media, Ms Cherry – who has criticised the Scottish government’s policy on gender recognition reform – said: “I may not agree with Fergus Ewing on everything but he is a man of integrity.

“I’m glad there were rebels on this vote. His rebellion is the product of years of inadequate debate in our party about policy making. That needs to change. Don’t shoot the messenger.”

Ms McAllan made it clear she does not agree with Ms Cherry’s comments, adding that suspending Mr Ewing was “a proportionate response to a serious breach of party standing orders which was voted on by majority, overwhelming majority, by the group in Holyrood”.

Mr Ewing was flanked by his sister and fellow SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing, former party leadership contender Kate Forbes, MSP Christine Grahame, and his lawyer John Campbell KC.

Asked how he would conduct himself in the future, Mr Ewing said: “I choose to defend my constituents’ interests and let the cards fall where they may.”

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Apr 23 2023

SNP has ‘nothing to hide’, says deputy leader who was not told auditors had quit | Politics News

SNP deputy leader Keith Brown has insisted the party has “nothing to hide” and urged greater transparency as he admitted he did not know its auditors had quit until shortly before it was made public.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Brown acknowledged current challenges and the need to rebuild trust, but argued the SNP’s “best days lie ahead” as a crisis engulfs the party with a police investigation into its finances, which has seen its former chief executive and treasurer arrested.

Both Peter Murrell – who is former first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s husband – and Colin Beattie were later released without charge pending further investigation.

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The police inquiry centres on how more than £600,000 in donations to the party earmarked for an independence referendum was used.

SNP MP Stuart McDonald has been appointed party treasurer after the resignation of Mr Beattie.

A key task for him will be appointing auditors after accountants Johnston Carmichael, which worked with the SNP for more than a decade, resigned around September.

The party’s accounts are due to be filed to the Electoral Commission in July.

Pressed over when he knew the auditors had quit, Mr Brown said: “Shortly before it became public. We are talking within the last couple of months.”

Playing down the move, he said: “Like many, many other auditors across the UK, the auditors employed by the SNP decided they were going to cut back the activities they were involved in and that was true of many auditors and for many organisations.”

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Arguing it was a matter for the ruling national executive committee (NEC) rather than the wider party, he added: “This was a fairly commonplace occurrence, so this wasn’t a crisis that we didn’t have auditors, this was a change of auditors, and it was a decision by the current auditors in common with many other businesses and third sector organisations across the UK to retract their business.

“This was something that would be dealt with by the national treasurer, was being dealt with by the national treasurer and that’s what’s going to continue to happen.

“The work will be undertaken under the new national treasurer, to make sure we have the auditors in place.”

Mr Brown had previously been involved in drawing up governance reforms, but these had bene rejected by the ruling national executive committee.

He said: “I do regret the fact the party didn’t take on some of those changes, I think they would have helped with the current position.”

But he was pleased these would now be taken forward as part a review ordered by the new leader Humza Yousaf.

He said: “it is incumbent upon everybody on the NEC to make sure that the party members and of course the public have faith in the transparency within the party, they can ask questions and have those questions answered.”

Mr Brown added: “We have nothing to hide. We are by far and away the biggest, most successful party in Scotland.

“I believe the SNP’s best days lie ahead of it, but let’s make sure we are more transparent than any other party.”

He told Sky News: “There are challenges and we’re trying to meet those challenges.

“But of course the SNP has to make sure it takes measures to rebuild its trust with both its members and the people of Scotland.”

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Apr 22 2023

SNP appoints Stuart McDonald as new treasurer after Colin Beattie’s resignation | UK News

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has appointed MP Stuart McDonald as its new treasurer following the resignation of Colin Beattie on Wednesday.

Mr Beattie stepped down after he was arrested in connection with an investigation into the party’s finances.

He was subsequently released without charge pending further enquiries.

His arrest came after the party’s former chief executive Peter Murrell – who is married to the former first minister Nicola Sturgeon – was also arrested and questioned before being released without charge.

The police are looking into how more than £600,000 in donations to the party set aside for an independence referendum was used.

Mr McDonald represents Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch for the SNP at Westminster.

He has held several positions for the party, and is currently their justice and immigration spokesman.

The 44-year-old said: “While it is a difficult and challenging time, I look forward to getting on with the job of national treasurer to help take forward the important work being led by our new party leader, Humza Yousaf, to improve the SNP’s governance and transparency.

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“I’ve no hesitation in stepping forward when asked to do my part in keeping our party firmly on a campaign footing as the case for Scottish independence becomes more compelling that ever.”

The new treasurer has a lot to address, including appointing auditors for the party after the firm Johnston Carmichael resigned in September.

The party’s accounts must be filed to the Electoral Commission in July.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “Stuart McDonald faces an uphill battle dealing with an SNP high command that clearly don’t think the rules apply to them.

“Despite the SNP’s ongoing crisis it has shown no willingness to change.

“It has failed to suspend senior figures embroiled in a police investigation, and its culture of cover-up and secrecy remain in overdrive.

“This arrogant and sleaze-ridden party needs to start operating with some much-needed transparency and consistency, but I won’t hold my breath.”

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Apr 12 2023

SNP warns Electoral Commission over ‘difficulty’ in finding new auditors as deadline looms | Politics News

The SNP has warned the Electoral Commission of the “difficulty” it is having in finding new auditors after its previous firm resigned amid the controversy over the party’s finances.

The admission to the elections watchdog comes just months before a crunch deadline which requires political parties to submit their accounts to the agency by 7 July, or risk being fined.

The SNP is facing questions and accusations of secrecy over the timeline of the resignation of Johnston Carmichael, which was announced last week.

SNP leader and Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf said earlier on Tuesday they had quit “round about October” – months before the official announcement – but Sky News has now been told the auditors had in fact resigned a month earlier in September.

It is understood Johnston Carmichael informed the SNP in September 2022 that it would not be able to carry out the audit due for 2023 following a review of their client portfolio.

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The party then began approaching alternative firms in late 2022 to no avail, with the search intensifying in early 2023. As yet, the party has not been able to identify a firm with the available capacity.

Mr Yousaf raised eyebrows after he admitted he had also not been aware of Johnston Carmichael’s resignation last year, saying he could not “comment on what was done prior to me becoming a leader of the SNP”.

However, he agreed it was “extraordinary” that the party had failed to appoint a new set of auditors since they had resigned.

The struggle to find replacement auditors comes following the dramatic events of last week which prompted Johnston Carmichael to confirm it was no longer handling the SNP’s accounts.

Days before, Peter Murrell, the former party chief executive and Ms Sturgeon’s husband, was arrested and questioned by police investigating the party’s finances.

Mr Murrell, who had been in the role for 25 years, quit during the contest to find Ms Sturgeon’s successor after she unexpectedly announced her resignation.

Last week he was questioned by Police Scotland as part of its investigation into the whereabouts of £600,000 of party donations earmarked for independence campaigning.

It is understood there have been complaints the ringfenced cash may have been used improperly by being spent elsewhere.

Mr Murrell was later released without charge “pending further investigation”.

Opposition parties said Mr Yousaf’s revelation about the timing of the auditors’ resignation raised further questions about who knew what about their finances.

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MSP Jackson Carlaw, who was leader of the Scottish Conservatives from 2019 to 2020, tweeted: “Why did they hide it from the membership and the public? All very grubby and murky from the Nats. No wonder auditors resigned.”

Mr Yousaf, who was only elected leader just over two weeks ago, said one of the party’s “major priorities” was appointing new auditors “quickly”.

He said the SNP hopes to still have its accounts prepared in time to be submitted to the Electoral Commission in July, although he admitted it would be “problematic”.

An SNP spokesperson said: “We have informed the Electoral Commission of the difficulty in identifying replacement auditors and the national treasurer has made the party’s finance and audit committee aware.”

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Apr 9 2023

Douglas Ross: Row erupts as Scottish Tory leader suggests people should vote Labour to oust SNP | Politics News

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives has suggested that Tories should vote Labour in the next election, prompting fury from his party’s Westminster HQ.

Douglas Ross said people should “do what’s best for the country” and support the candidate most likely to beat the SNP in their constituency – and in many Scottish seats, it is likely to be Labour or even the Lib Dems who are the most serious threat to the Scottish nationalists.

Mr Ross said he wants to loosen the SNP’s grip on Scotland, adding that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer should also be looking “a bit beyond their own narrow party agenda” in favour of keeping the UK together.

He told The Sunday Telegraph: “The public know how to tactically vote in Scotland.

“I will always encourage Scottish Conservative voters to vote Scottish Conservatives, but I think generally the public can see and they want the parties to accept that where there is a strongest candidate to beat the SNP you get behind that candidate.

“If parties maybe look beyond their own narrow party agenda and do what’s best for the country and for me as Scottish Conservative leader what would be best is if we see this grip that the SNP have on Scotland at the moment is loosened.”

But a Tory spokesman in Westminster insisted that tactical voting was not the official position south of the border, saying: “This is emphatically not the view of the Conservative Party.

“We want people to vote for Conservative candidates wherever they are standing as that’s the best way to keep Labour and the SNP out.”

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The news comes just weeks before the local elections, where Mr Sunak and his party are expected to lose more than 1,000 seats, according to a recent report in the Daily Mirror.

This would be a blow to the impression he is trying to give of a prime minister repairing the reputation of the Conservatives.

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