Swinney puts Indyref2 above the voters’ main concerns - Sue Webber
Speaking to voters on the doorsteps at the start of this election campaign their priorities were clear − cost of living, anti-social behaviour, access to health care, terrible roads. But in the last couple of weeks something has changed.
Now the possibility of a second independence referendum comes up with increasing regularity, but not because those concerns have suddenly become less important, but precisely because they are clearly not a priority for the SNP.
They know the polls are predicting the nationalists will be the biggest party and are hearing what John Swinney is saying about another divisive independence campaign, and they know their priorities and those of the SNP leader are not the same.
Only on Monday, he said that, majority or no majority, his first act after the election would be to seek the Scottish Parliament’s approval for a referendum and then publish draft legislation.
Not look at cutting household bills by slashing exorbitant taxes, not tackle NHS waiting times, not ensure there are enough police officers to make our streets are safter, but stoke division when there is no appetite for a re-run of 2014.
This, we are told, is just about motivating independence supporters to vote SNP when their support is well down on the 2021 election − an average of all recent polls put them on 29 per cent for the regional list vote and their lowest percentage since 2003 – but that doesn’t mean the threat shouldn’t be taken seriously.
Given the chaos now engulfing the Labour government in Westminster and Sir Keir Starmer’s inability to stick to a decision, what guarantee is there the Prime Minister wouldn’t cave to demands from an emboldened SNP?
Well, as much guarantee as there was that workers wouldn’t face higher taxes, that welfare spending would be reduced, and there would be a mandatory digital ID scheme, to name but three in a list of about a dozen of his major policy U-turns.
For those of us who believe Scotland is better off within the United Kingdom − about £26 billion better off according to the most up-to-date figures thanks to higher devolved spending – it would be stupid for this threat to be taken lightly.
Yet the Scottish Conservatives have attracted some criticism for focusing on opposing a second referendum, but as the official opposition to an administration which has repeatedly made it the top priority it would be grossly irresponsible to do otherwise.
If there is no strong opposition to another referendum, then before we know it we could have sleepwalked into the nightmare of another campaign for separation. That’s a prospect which should fill all unionists with dread, not because of the possibility of losing a fight I believe we would win, but reigniting the flames of bitterness which have so scarred this country for the past 15 years.
Fellow separatists in the Greens obviously excepted, no party other than the Conservatives can be trusted to mount stiff resistance. The Lib Dems cosied up to John Swinney by backing his budget, Labour will do anything to get out of its tailspin and Reform’s leader Malcolm Offord is holding the door open to a referendum while fielding pro-independence candidates.
I would say this wouldn’t I, but the best way to stop another referendum is to vote Scottish Conservative on the peach ballot paper.