The conference of the ruling Scottish party SNP begins in Aberdeen. The Scots will use Liz Truss’ bad start as another argument for secession
“Independence is the only way to get out of the Westminster mess once and for all,” said SNP deputy leader Keith Brown. A heavy-handed statement, but which the members of the Scottish National Party (SNP) will fight to support in every way at their conference starting today in Aberdeen. British political analysts believe the party will use Prime Minister Liz Truss’s admittedly failed start at Number 10 as another strong case for independence. The aspirations of the party and the leader of the SNP, Nicola Sturgeon, are not hidden. She has ruled the country for 15 years and only won the renewed vote of the citizens in May 2021, having as her pre-election commitment a new independence referendum.
The strained relationship between Truss and Sturgeon
Opposing her ambitions is the British government. Boris Johnson has made repeated attempts to find common ground with Nicola Sturgeon, but Liz Truss does not show the same will. Shortly before the start of the conference, Sturgeon expressed her displeasure that Truss had not even made the official phone call after her election, stressing that she had immediately contacted Theresa May as well as Boris Johnson. In fact, Theresa May had made an official visit to Glasgow in the first month of her government, while Boris Johnson had also visited Edinburgh since his first week in the prime minister’s chair.
Nicola Sturgeon specifically stated in her interview with the BBC yesterday that she considers it “absurd” and “unprecedented” that the prime minister of the country did not call her, adding: “I don’t know if it’s arrogance, lack of respect, insecurity or anything else, but it’s not the right and grown-up way to rule.” Truss, on the other hand, during the Conservative party succession race, had stated that “the best thing to do with Sturgeon is to ignore her. He’s just looking for attention, that’s what he does.”
Also, the British Prime Minister has made references to the “poor” education system of Scotland, but also the incomplete health system, leaving spikes for the Sturgeon administration. Concerns for the First Minister of Scotland, who indeed has to deal with upcoming strikes in these industries. It is pointed out that although Liz Truss calls herself a “child of the union” she has not called as it appears Welsh Premier Mark Drakeford either, showing that she is not closely involved with devolved administrations.
However, according to recent opinion polls, Scotland is still divided on the independence decision. Sturgeon has set a referendum date of October 19, 2023, but the actual decision on whether the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) will give the go-ahead for the referendum will be seen at a High Court hearing next week.
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I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
