THE SNP must move the debate on independence from “process to substance” in the wake of Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation, the party’s president said.
Speaking on The National’s podcast Holyrood Weekly, former Scottish Cabinet secretary Michael Russell said that the party “needs” a leadership contest, as the last one was held almost 20 years ago in 2004.
Russell stood in that contest, coming third behind Alex Salmond who returned over 75% of the vote, but said a new era is upon the party following Sturgeon’s surprise exit.
He suggested that after the leadership race has concluded, following hustings and debate between numerous candidates, then internal work should focus on the benefits of independence.
Russell told Holyrood Weekly: “If the party is very clear about what it decides to do next, then we need to get on and move from process to substance.
“One of the real problems we’ve got is we have been forced into being reactive on process by the Westminster government and it's a deliberate tactic to get them to talk about processy things and people get fed up with it.
“We need to talk about the benefits of independence, the fact that independence is what we need, and it is going to improve people's lives in Scotland immeasurably in my view.
“So that's where we need to go - leadership contest, positive visions for Scotland and for the party, and then we move into the independence campaign.”
Russell also gave his verdict on the issue currently being mulled over by party members - whether to back a de facto referendum at the next Westminster General Election or build on support for independence over the longer term, as suggested by SNP MP Stewart McDonald.
But the SNP president said he doesn’t think the two issues are “separate” and that McDonald’s plan had a flaw.
He told the podcast: “We have this nice campaign, we have this campaign about the benefits of independence, and once everybody's fine about that we say and here's the date.
“Actually, politics doesn't work like that, people work towards something, and the SNP in particular has always been a party that's worked towards a date.
“People need to know the duration, the shape of the campaign.
“Now it can be brought forward - I supported the Westminster election, not because I don't think the Scottish Parliament one would be good, but because I think it's far harder to achieve, and more dangerous to achieve.
“And, you know, if there was a sudden snap Westminster election, you could still cope with it, but I think you need to set the date.
“That gets process out the way, and then you need to say to people now this is what it [an independent Scotland] looks like.”
National columnist Russell joins our political reporters Abbi Garton-Crosbie and Steph Brawn to discuss Sturgeon’s exit from frontline Scottish politics, her impact on the party and country at large, and what comes next, in our latest episode.
You can listen to Holyrood Weekly on Spotify, Omny streaming platform and The National’s website each Friday.
