independence referendum
Postponing plans until after election
Published: 06/09/2010
NEWS that the Scottish Government may scrap plans to hold a referendum on independence before next year’s elections will come as a blow to fundamentalists but be a blessed relief to the rest of the electorate.
The result of the last Scottish election, and just about every opinion poll since, shows that while the Scottish National Party’s minority administration has been a qualified success, the appetite for moves towards independence has not grown significantly.
No matter how the arithmetic stacks up, there is a stubborn majority for whom independence is not top of their agenda.
It is wise for the SNP to put off a referendum on the issue until after the next election. The bill to approve the poll would never get through the parliament and there is not enough of a groundswell, or any at all in fact, calling for a vote to be held.
Mr Salmond wants to make the issue a central one in next May’s election campaign. This is a bold move considering the temptation to downplay the issue in favour of the government’s overall performance must be tempting.
The SNP, however, exists to campaign for independence and it performs at its most united and best when arguing this most inexhaustible of topics.
There should be a commitment, though, to a fixed timescale for a referendum after the election and clear direction as to what will happen depending on the outcome of the vote.
Mr Salmond knows that he can take his dream forward with confidence and authority only if he has a renewed and strengthened mandate.