Scottish National Party hit by four successive desertions
The Scottish National party (SNP) appears to be experiencing significant internal stress as evidenced by four successive desertions by senior party officials since March.
The latest senior figure to announce he is leaving the SNP parliamentary party is Alexander Neil, who served as cabinet secretary for social justice, communities and pensioners’ rights between 2014 and 2016.
Neil, 69, has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for 21 years and his sudden announcement about standing down before next year’s Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) election has been met by surprise.
Neil’s surprise announcement comes on the heels of the environment secretary, Roseanna Cunningham’s, confirmation of her not contesting the Holyrood election scheduled for May 2021.
Before the latest two desertions, two veteran SNP MSPs announced their decision to stand down (from the SNP parliamentary party) back in March.
Michael Russell, who has represented the Argyll and Bute constituency at Holyrood since 2011, was the first to announce his decision to stand down before the election next year.
Russell’s desertion was quickly followed by Stewart Stevenson who has represented the Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency since 2011.
Stevenson’s decision to quit was a big blow to the SNP as he is a veteran activist (having joined the Scottish nationalists in 1961), and before boundary changes he had been the MSP for the Banff and Buchan constituency from 2001 to 2011.
These four important desertions will inevitably give rise to speculation as to the strength of the SNP’s internal cohesion in addition to generating fresh doubt about party leader and Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon’s, strategy for achieving Scottish independence.
HTS in Syria says to recognize Israel by end of 2026
UK police question Holocaust survivor for attending pro-Palestine demo
There will be no escape from justice: Pro-Palestinian UK scholar to Zionist genocidaires
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
VIDEO | Russia to begin gas supplies to Iran via Azerbaijan, boosting energy ties
VIDEO | Protesters in Damascus slam Arab silence on Gaza
VIDEO | S African protestors decry America’s ongoing support for global aggression
VIDEO | Spokesperson: EU committed to diplomatic solution with Iran
Iran, Oman discuss arrangements for third round of indirect Tehran-Washington talks
Iran offers mediation as India-Pakistan tensions escalate
VIDEO | Massive rally in Yemen continues support for Palestine despite US aggression
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
