Could SNP civil war between Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon threaten election victory next year?

The SNP is facing serious divisions at a time when support for Scottish independence is riding high in the polls, writes Ian Swanson

Happier times - Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon launch the Scottish Government's White Paper ahead of the 2014 independence referendum (Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA)

DIVISIONS within the SNP are firmly in the spotlight as a Holyrood inquiry into the Scottish Government’s botched handling of harassment claims begins taking evidence today.

Former First Minister Alex Salmond won a legal case against the government led by his successor Nicola Sturgeon in January 2019 over how it dealt with complaints against him from civil servants – and the government had to pay him £500,000 in legal costs.

Mr Salmond then went on to be cleared on all counts in a criminal case where he was charged with sex offences against nine women.

But during the trial, in March this year, Mr Salmond claimed some of the allegations against him were “deliberate fabrications for political purposes”. Allies of the former First Minister accuse Ms Sturgeon’s camp of being responsible.

And at the end of the trial, Mr Salmond made clear the matter was not over, promising that evidence which was not allowed to be led at the trial would at some point “see the light of day”.

Both Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon are due to be called to give evidence at future sessions of the MSPs’ inquiry.

And former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars says a book Mr Salmond is said to be writing in the wake of the trial will be “volcano under the SNP”.

Although they have very different styles and temperaments, Ms Sturgeon used to describe Mr Salmond as her friend and mentor, but the relationship now is very different.

Leading figures and activists have lined up behind one or other of the party’s two biggest figures in what looks like an increasingly unpleasant civil war.

The impatience of some in the party with Ms Sturgeon’s more cautious approach over a second independence referendum and the desire of Mr Salmond’s supporters for a bolder stance has fed the conflict.

And the selection battle between big hitters Angus Robertson and Joanna Cherry in Edinburgh Central, now aborted, was seen as a proxy for the Salmond vs Sturgeon face-off.

But all this is happening at a time when the party should be in buoyant mood - the polls show the SNP miles ahead of its opponents in voting intentions for next year’s Scottish Parliament elections and support for independence at record levels.

Ms Sturgeon’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic has boosted her standing, not least because of the contrast with the performance of Boris Johnson south of the border.

And that should stand her in good stead for handling whatever comes out of the committee’s inquiry.

A poll last week found when asked to compare Ms Sturgeon and Mr Salmond, only five per cent of voters backed Mr Salmond compared with 60 per cent who said Ms Sturgeon had been better and eight per cent rated them equal. Within the SNP, Ms Sturgeon had an even bigger lead.

The exam results debacle and the U-turn announced by Education Secretary John Swinney showed the First Minister in a less favourable light. She, like Mr Swinney, stoutly defended the flawed results for about a week before acknowledging they had got it wrong.

In these uncertain times, no-one knows how things will be next May.

A bitter civil war would inevitably be damaging both for individuals and for the party at a time of maximum opportunity. The SNP should be on course for a clear election win. The only thing likely to get in the way may be the SNP itself.

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