SNP needs better plan for Scottish independence or other parties will rise up – Helen Martin

Waiting for Boris Johnson to allow a second independence referendum is a mistake, writes Helen Martin.

Problems are mounting up for SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon (Picture: Lisa Ferguson)

SUPPORT for the SNP and independence was flourishing once Brexit was pushed through, a People’s Vote hadn’t been backed up, and the reality of Brexit impact plus the Tories’ apparent push for no-deal became terrifyingly clear.

Now there are growing negatives building up for the SNP. The Scottish Government’s Gender Recognition Act (like the UK’s) and all its problems including smashing women’s rights, potentially having to install unisex or “gender neutral” loos, and creating a strange mob who protest against ordinary women; an apparent dependence and inexplicable belief that Boris Johnson will eventually approve another Indy referendum; and as a result, all of Scotland suffering from the non-EU deals everyone hoped to avoid by leaving the UK by whatever means this year, already caused a rumpus between hitherto loyal voters.

With coronavirus advancing and all economies in trouble, this is not the time for achieving independence. But the SNP will have to plan how to bounce back if and when this nightmare passes, and give voters a clue of how it will be delivered. If not, other independence parties will form. Will they have Sturgeon’s political status? Will they have other propositions on how to leave? Will they join together or battle with each other for supremacy?

Scotland’s future is now a total mystery. No-deal Brexit isn’t a winner. At least, as well as dealing with the virus disaster, Sturgeon may have more time to figure out a new “legal” plan, other than Boris giving a thumbs-up which will never happen.