Scottish independence: Why Joanna Cherry vs Nicola Sturgeon would be a disaster – Helen Martin

The SNP risks damaging divisions following Alex Salmond’s trial and acquittal, writes Helen Martin.

Will Joanna Cherry challenge Nicola Sturgeon for the SNP leadership? (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

THERE were divisions among SNP voters over waiting for UK permission for Section 30, or pushing on for an independence referendum without approval from Westminster.

Now there seems to be a far more complex political division following the result of Alex Salmond’s acquittal, with MPs and MSPs, plus other folk in the government “arena” appearing (not necessarily admitting) to take sides in a Sturgeon vs Salmond battle.

I have no “bug” in Bute House, no “ear” to the door or the remotest understanding of what’s going on, other than picking up info from well-informed pieces of journalism.

For example, do we really have Joanna Cherry as pro-Salmond and anti-Sturgeon? Is this an issue about government-employed feminists who can’t say “F off” to a bossy, sexual, flirty womaniser and kick him in the...?

Or, to be fair, does it draw a parallel between Salmond, Trump and Johnson?

Covid 19 is more important than anything at the moment but at least hearing what Salmond promises to reveal, and the response from others and whoever he accuses, would be a good distraction from distancing and lockdown.

More seriously, this division really could be damaging to the SNP. Sturgeon is doing a great job. But until recently, the SNP has always appeared united following its main goal of a more socialist attitude than Westminster and ultimate independence. As a party it had to cope with minor, individual scandals but nothing that could lead to it falling apart.

If the trial had never happened, Salmond hadn’t put a foot wrong, and the pair worked together again, it would be stronger than ever. That won’t happen. One of the worst, shattering prospects could be Cherry versus Sturgeon.