SNP MSP Stephen Gethins urges parties to ‘listen to the voters’ on independence
SNP MSP Stephen Gethins urged John Swinney’s incoming Scottish Government to prioritize Scottish independence alongside addressing the cost-of-living crisis, citing the party’s pro-independence majority as a mandate from voters. Pollster Mark Diffley noted the SNP retained power despite losing a quarter of its 2021 vote share, attributing this to Reform UK’s disruption of anti-SNP votes in constituency seats.
Scotland’s SNP will form the next government at Holyrood despite losing seats in the May 2024 election, with First Minister designate John Swinney securing a mandate to revive calls for an independence referendum. SNP MSP Stephen Gethins, elected for Dundee City East, emphasized that independence should remain a key focus, arguing the party now holds the largest pro-independence majority in Parliament history. He noted that including the Scottish Greens—who support independence—strengthens the pro-independence bloc further. Gethins argued that political parties must ‘listen to the voters,’ who he claimed delivered a clear message for independence, particularly after Reform UK’s rise split opposition votes. Pollster Mark Diffley confirmed the SNP’s vote share dropped by about 25% since 2021 but retained power by winning seats with lower margins, thanks to Reform UK siphoning off anti-SNP support. Diffley highlighted that Reform UK’s constituency-level performance acted as a ‘big disruptor,’ allowing the SNP to hold onto six fewer seats than expected. Swinney had campaigned for an overall majority to push for another independence referendum, following the 2014 vote under then-Prime Minister David Cameron. Gethins referenced the 2011 election, when the pro-independence majority was smaller, to underscore current momentum. He also stressed the need for dialogue between parties under Holyrood’s proportional representation system, though voter priorities must guide decisions. The SNP’s emphatic victory across Scotland’s regions, combined with the Greens’ gains, reinforced the pro-independence narrative, according to Gethins. Diffley’s analysis suggested the SNP’s resilience stemmed from structural vote shifts rather than broad support retention, with Reform UK’s emergence reshaping electoral dynamics. The incoming government now faces pressure to translate voter sentiment into policy, particularly on independence and economic challenges.
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