PROPOSALS for Scotland to declare independence without a referendum or agreement from Westminster are “just not feasible”, the SNP’s foreign affairs spokesperson at Westminster has said.
Brendan O’Hara, the MP for Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber, told The National Podcast that suggestions of a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) were “talking to the converted” and would not convince the voters who needed convincing.
However, he also said that if support for independence was around 75-80%, then it would be a different story.
Last month, former diplomat Craig Murray published a plan for Scottish independence that involved a UDI followed by a possible armed confrontation with the UK. “If, in the end game, you are not prepared to stand unarmed in front of a British army tank to achieve independence, you are not actually a supporter of Scottish independence at all,” he said.
A poll run for The National then found that around one-third of Scots (35%) would support a UDI.
O’Hara said: “I believe there are 30% of Scots who would eat grass and live in a field to be independent. There are 30% of Scots who would eat grass and live in a field to remain part of the Union.
“But in the middle, there's this huge pragmatic bloc who will do what's in their best interest, the best interests of their family, the best interests of their community, and the best interests of their country. That's where we have got to win this argument.”
He said that Murray’s argument was “not the greatest pitch in the world”, going on: “It's talking to the converted. It's the easiest thing in the world.”
The SNP MP further said: “I would never criticise fellow independence supporters and the tactics that they use. If they use peaceful democratic tactics, I will never criticise – but I don't believe it. I do not believe that we can declare UDI.
“I don't think that, as foreign affairs spokesperson, someone who has for the last 10 years banged on about international law, it just doesn't ring true to me that Scotland could declare UDI.
“And how do you declare UDI when you are literally stuck at 50%? How do you take that other 50% with you? You simply couldn't.”
He added: “Now, if we were sitting on 75%, if we were sitting on 80%, if there was enough hands on the shaft of that spear to say we absolutely demand it, then you have a different argument.
“You can't declare UDI because 35% of people would, and 50% of people believe in independence. It's just not feasible.”
On Thursday, The National revealed that the SNP was facing anger from members after a leaked draft of the party's conference agenda revealed that no debates on independence strategy had been approved.
One insider said that party leader John Swinney had "shut down debate in the SNP".
You can watch the full episode of The National Podcast on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
