NICOLA Sturgeon has ruled out getting SNP MPs to join a boycott of Westminster as part of an independence protest, arguing it is their job to represent constituents rather than do “gesture politics”.
After Scotland’s First Minister unveiled her latest independence paper on democratic renewal, she was asked about her reaction to two Alba MPs’ Commons protests – which saw them removed from the Chamber and temporarily suspended.
Over the years the idea of an SNP boycott of the Commons has been raised as a way to protest against the UK Government’s denial of indyref2, with long-serving MP Pete Wishart among those suggesting the possibility.
However Sturgeon insisted she didn’t have any plan to arrange this kind of demonstration against Westminster, despite believing protest always has a place in politics.
“No, I don’t support a boycott,” she said. “While Scotland is part of the UK it’s really important that we have MPs standing up for Scotland’s interests in the best way and to the best extent possible.
“Westminster and the asymmetrical nature of Westminster, the democratic deficit, means that’s really hard to have Scotland’s interests properly represented at Westminster. But people have elected SNP MPs while we’re part of the UK to do a job, and I think it’s important that our MPs do that and they do that well.”
The focus on how best to protest against the UK Government’s blocking of indyref2 comes after Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill, both formerly SNP representatives, were thrown out of the Chamber for refusing to sit down and be quiet during PMQs.
MacAskill could be heard saying “we need a referendum” before being drowned out by other MPs.
A furious Lindsay Hoyle ordered for them to be escorted out by the serjeant-at-arms, before the pair were suspended for five sitting days.
Following the protest, former justice secretary MacAskill said he’d taken the action because Westminster’s refusal to accept a second independence referendum is a “democratic outrage”.
Supporters of Alex Salmond’s Alba, including Craig Murray, argued that SNP MPs should follow suit.
“Scottish MPs should be sabotaging the Union; not helping to run it,” he said.
Sturgeon was asked for her reaction to the Alba MPs’ showing as she unveiled her paper on the democratic deficit in Scotland.
“I didn’t pay that much attention to it, so I’m not going to focus on that,” she told journalists at Bute House.
“Protest always has a place, SNP MPs and Ian Blackford was ejected from the House of Commons not that long ago.
“ I can understand – I’ve never been a member of the House of Commons as you know – but I can understand for Scottish MPs how deeply frustrating that environment must be. But I’m focused on not protest, I’m focused on giving Scotland a path to choosing independence and that is much more important.
“I’m the First Minister, my job is not to indulge in gesture politics, my job is to find ways forward on this and other issues.”
