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The National
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
The SNP need a new people-first strategy to win in 2026
Then it all fell apart, culminating in the humiliating defeat in 2024's Westminster election, where 517,622 voters didn't vote for the SNP again! The post-2022 SNP autopsy has been dissected at length in these pages ever since. In 2014, the young people voted overwhelmingly for a new sovereign Scotland – 11 years on, why are we not seeing this independence-minded generation breaking through into the ranks of the SNP at all levels? Do the SNP believe Swinney can lead and win an election, despite how he has proven ineffective in every election he has led so far? I am not convinced that the Holyrood polling picture will play out as Professor John Curtice thinks. There is still at lot more SNP voter churn to come, as many independence voters just don't see the SNP as a vibrant independence party anymore, but an establishment party. There is very little that differentiates them from Tories or Labour when in power over a long period, other than being politically slightly left of centre. The SNP governance message is not resonating with the voters, coupled with the Unionist media beating down or underplaying SNP welfare policies around child poverty or no strikes in the NHS. Even when the SNP compare their performance against that of England or the Labour-run Welsh assembly, it gets very little traction. The Unionist parties and the English-owned media keep beating the SNP up over the ferry fiasco, drug deaths, SNP finances scandal, women rights debacle and NHS performance, even though better than elsewhere in the UK, to undermine the governance message now that independence is off the menu, even though more than 50% of Scots want independence. We have seen even at council level in Scotland that the Unionist parties will work together to prevent the SNP having power, Reform – who are mostly disillusioned Tories – will be no friends to the SNP either. Independence is a progressive movement that needs to be moving forward, the SNP leadership need to wake up to this fact and embrace a Scottish sovereignty convention as a matter of urgency. Why? If Keir Starmer called the SNP's bluff tomorrow (he is known for a U-turn or two!) allowing a second referendum in eight to 10 weeks' time, no chance of another year of divisive politics, the SNP and the country just wouldn't be prepared. For many undecided voters, balancing the risk of leaving the status quo and the unknown of a new place in the world is made more difficult without a clear plan and a lack of engagement – even the SNP's 13 'independence' papers/PDFs on the website didn't gain any traction with Scots because they were transactional and poorly publicised. The main way to build momentum for a new sovereign Scotland is to engage with and publicise by talking to the people face to face in public community meetings across all of Scotland, presenting a positive future not only to the converted but to the undecided. This is where a convention wins over a single political party which the country has lost confidence in, especially among independence voters. The plan confirms that we have nailed down what matters most to Scots, the NHS, welfare system, cost of living, energy poverty, pensions, jobs, currency, trade, borders/free movement as many have family ties across the UK, etc. Scots will want to know before removing the Unionist handcuffs and chains that we have a declaration of sovereignty to hand, there is consensus on or an agreed constitution ready and waiting, we have a hand-over plan for the transfer of the reserved UK Government departments – note the Scottish Government has not been particularly agile in setting up welfare systems handed over from the UK to date, never mind something as important as a treasury or defence. Oh, by the way, after 300+ years since elected parliamentarians (not the Scottish voters in a referendum) last signed away our sovereignty, I think we should think again before giving it away again, this time to the EU. In the first instance, Scotland should adopt the Norwegian model of participating in the European Economic Area (EEA) and retaining our sovereignty. A Wilson Stirlingshire YOUR article last week on the SNP's so-called 'strategy' heading into 2026 was an obituary. One that accidentally told the truth: the party has no concrete plan for achieving independence, no clear direction on key issues, no courage to challenge the status quo and no shame in its lack of progress. More than a year into Swinney's leadership and we're still waiting for a vision. Not because he's strategising but because he's afraid. Afraid to lead, to challenge Westminster, to risk anything that might spark a constitutional crisis. The clock is ticking, and we can no longer afford to wait. The situation is dire and immediate action is necessary. What are the rest of us doing? Nothing. Typing. Moaning. Waiting. The comment threads under every article are full of tired excuses and nervous loyalty. 'Be patient.' 'Trust the process.' 'Don't criticise – start your party.' That's not activism. That's servitude with hashtags. This isn't a movement anymore. It's a funeral procession, dragging the corpse of 2014 behind it as if it still holds significance. And the saddest part? Nobody wants to admit what's needed. Because here's the truth: you don't get independence by being well-behaved. You don't win freedom through stage-managed conferences, safe speeches and avoiding controversy. You win it by pushing the line. By risking consequences. By standing up when you're told to sit down – and refusing. Where's the fire? The resistance? Who among our so-called leaders is willing to go to jail? Who's willing to break ranks? Who's willing to shut down the system that denies us? No one. Could you compare that to the figures we remember? Ian Paisley didn't care if you hated him. Michael Collins didn't ask for permission. Gerry Adams – like it or not – gave speeches that made empires nervous. They stood on a hill, willing to die there. Now look at John Swinney. Will anyone remember him? Of course not. Because he's not willing to die on a hill – he's not even willing to climb one. His legacy is 'managed decline with a smile'. And here's the worst part: there's no one waiting in the wings to replace him. The absence of a strong, courageous leader is glaring, and it's high time someone steps up because nobody in modern Scottish politics is willing to do the unspeakable. To resist. To provoke. To act. To fight. That's why we're stuck. Not because we lack a mandate. Not because of Westminster. But because nobody in power – or even most of the movement – is willing to pay the price for the future they claim to believe in. It's time for a new approach, a new mindset, a new wave of activism. We need a fresh perspective and a new generation of leaders who are ready to take the necessary steps for change. When considering leaders like Adams or Paisley, we see individuals who embody a fierce commitment to their ideals and community. They don't merely manage situations; they actively fight for change. Their drive stems from a deep passion for their beliefs, demonstrating an unwavering determination to challenge the status quo. In contrast, some leaders miss the mark, like Swinney, who tends to focus on maintaining peace rather than advocating for necessary action. While managing conflict is essential, authentic leadership requires a willingness to confront challenges boldly. Leaders like Adams and Paisley rally their followers with powerful narratives and a clear vision, igniting passion within their communities. We need leaders who are not afraid to take a stand and inspire others to follow. Effective leadership is about instigating transformation, not just maintaining order. By fostering a sense of urgency and purpose, dynamic leaders ensure that their voices resonate. Swinney's approach often lacks the decisiveness needed to mobilise support for meaningful change. In contrast, passionate leaders create loyalty and motivation among their followers, inspiring them to pursue justice and social progress. It's this clarity of purpose and action that ultimately paves the way for a lasting and impactful legacy. James Murphy Bute CRACKS in the graphite core of the Torness nuclear reactor in East Lothian, Scotland's last remaining nuclear power station, have risen to 585, the highest number ever, igniting fears of a nuclear meltdown and calls to shut it down. During a March inspection, the 585 cracks were found in the bricks in Reactor 1's central core area, which are key components for cooling and keeping the reactor from melting down. Torness is run by EDF, France's national energy company. It was scheduled to shut down in 2023 but in 2016, EDF extended its life to 2030. The Ferret obtained documents released under FOI from the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), that the parlous state of the graphite core posed a 'significant challenge' to keep the plant operating safely over the next five years. EDF insists that Torness is safe (and ONR seems to trust EDF). But EDF has every incentive to keep the plant humming along, generating profits for the French state. Scotland's other nuclear power station at Hunterston B in North Ayrshire was shut down in January 2022, a year earlier than planned, following the discovery of 586 cracks in its two reactors. If Hunterston B was deemed too dangerous to continue operating, why isn't Torness? The nuclear industry, through its lobby group Britain Remade, is trying to reverse Scotland's ban on new nuclear power. It's getting help from English Labour MPs in Scotland. The scandal-hit Douglas Alexander, Lothian East MP, is pimping for the industry. Scotland possesses enormous renewable energy resources, as well as oil and gas. We don't want or need uneconomic and unsafe nuclear and should strongly resist English Labour's attempts to force it on to us. Leah Gunn Barrett Edinburgh JUST a wee reminder that the Tour de France has begun, and more readers than you can imagine are cycling fans. And you can hang a kilt on the story, Borderer Oscar Onley is taking part. This exceptional athlete came third in the Tour de Suisse recently and was second in the Tour of Britain! Jings crivvens, twa kilts!, there's another Jock in Le Tour, Edinburgh's Sean Flynn is a teammate of Oscar Onley. C'mon, The National, we're not all into ball games and gee gees, more cycling coverage, please! Malcolm Bruce Edinburgh
Evening Standard
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Evening Standard
The Prime Minister has a London problem
This last point underlines the threat facing Starmer's party more widely. Its rhetoric and policies reflect the desire to win the support of 'traditional' Labour voters who defected to the Conservatives in the 2017 and 2019 general elections. Yet as Professor John Curtice underlined, drawing on data from the 2025 British Social Attitudes Survey: 'London is now the most pro-Labour part of the country and actually the core Labour voter is a young, often first-generation, middle-class professional living in London'. As such, Ministers neglect the capital at their peril.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Poll: Britons deliver verdict on Starmer's first year in power
Voters have answered with a resounding 'NOTHING' when asked what has been the biggest achievement of Keir Starmer 's first year in power, a new poll shows. More in Common asked voters to offer their one or two-word responses to Labour 's best and worst actions of the party's first 12 months in power to create a word cloud. And it was pretty brutal, with most people unable to thing of anything good. More in Common's director Luke Tryl said it was 'one of the most stark word clouds we've seen - the Winter Fuel Allowance drowns everything else out'. The other major problem to stand out for voters was immigration, with more than 20,000 people already having crossed the English Channel in small boats this year, a record. Sir Keir is facing Labour dissent, economic uncertainty and spiralling conflict abroad as he marks a year in Number 10. The Prime Minister led his party back into power with more than 400 MPs on July 4 last year – clinching a majority just short of Sir Tony Blair's landslide in 1997. But with a daunting in-tray of problems including a stuttering economy, creaking public services and global volatility, his political honeymoon period was short-lived. His personal popularity is now the lowest of any British premier after their first 12 months in office, political scientist and polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice said. 'There were pretty clear potential weaknesses before they even started, and most of those weaknesses have basically just been exposed over the course of the last 12 months.' Sir John said part of the problem lay in what he described as a failure of narrative in setting out the Government's vision for change to the public. 'They're portraying themselves as a repair gang rather than the builders of a new Jerusalem. Pessimism doesn't necessarily go down very well,' he said. 'The thing with Starmer is, he's a brilliant prosecution lawyer… But prosecution lawyers present cases that have been (put together) by someone else. The problem is that as a political leader you've got to prosecute your own case. 'Maybe he needs new personnel? Either he's got to learn to do it himself or get someone in to do it for him.' That verdict was echoed by some dissenting voices within Labour ranks, where there is lingering discontent among rebels over the Government's Welfare Bill despite Number 10 offering major concessions on the legislation. The Government saw off the threat of a major Commons defeat over the legislation on Tuesday after shelving plans to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability benefit in England. 'I think he really needs to think about why he wants to be a Labour Prime Minister and what is it he actually cares about,' one long-serving Labour MP said. They said Tuesday had marked 'the lowest point' in Sir Keir's premiership so far and raised questions about his authority, warning that backbenchers may now feel emboldened to demand further U-turns elsewhere. Sir John said that the Government's challenges in passing legislation were unsurprising in light of the broad but fragile coalition of support on which Labour built its election victory, securing 412 seats on just 35% of the vote. That means many MPs defending narrow majorities and raises the prospect of 'a large body of people who are nervous about their political futures,' he said.
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Starmer faces Labour turmoil and global volatility as he marks year in Number 10
Sir Keir Starmer is facing Labour dissent, economic uncertainty and spiralling conflict abroad as he marks a year in Number 10. The Prime Minister led his party back into power with more than 400 MPs on July 4 last year – clinching a majority just short of Sir Tony Blair's landslide in 1997. But with a daunting in-tray of problems including a stuttering economy, creaking public services and global volatility, his political honeymoon period was short-lived. His personal popularity is now the lowest of any British premier after their first 12 months in office, political scientist and polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice said. 'There were pretty clear potential weaknesses before they even started, and most of those weaknesses have basically just been exposed over the course of the last 12 months,' he told the PA news agency. Sir John said part of the problem lay in what he described as a failure of narrative in setting out the Government's vision for change to the public. 'They're portraying themselves as a repair gang rather than the builders of a new Jerusalem. Pessimism doesn't necessarily go down very well,' he told PA. 'The thing with Starmer is, he's a brilliant prosecution lawyer… But prosecution lawyers present cases that have been (put together) by someone else. The problem is that as a political leader you've got to prosecute your own case. 'Maybe he needs new personnel? Either he's got to learn to do it himself or get someone in to do it for him.' That verdict was echoed by some dissenting voices within Labour ranks, where there is lingering discontent among rebels over the Government's Welfare Bill despite Number 10 offering major concessions on the legislation. The Government saw off the threat of a major Commons defeat over the legislation on Tuesday after shelving plans to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability benefit in England. 'I think he really needs to think about why he wants to be a Labour Prime Minister and what is it he actually cares about,' one long-serving Labour MP said. They said Tuesday had marked 'the lowest point' in Sir Keir's premiership so far and raised questions about his authority, warning that backbenchers may now feel emboldened to demand further U-turns elsewhere. Sir John said that the Government's challenges in passing legislation were unsurprising with the broad but fragile coalition of support on which Labour built its election victory, securing 412 seats on just 35% of the vote. That means many MPs defending narrow majorities and raises the prospect of 'a large body of people who are nervous about their political futures,' he said. The Government's original welfare proposals had been part of a package that ministers expected to save up to £5 billion a year, leaving Chancellor Rachel Reeves needing to look for the money elsewhere. The fallout threatens to cause lasting damage to morale in Labour ranks, with some rebels calling for a reset in relations between the parliamentary party and the leadership before fractures widen. Images of the Chancellor crying in the Commons on Wednesday have also led to questions about her future, although a Treasury spokesman cited a 'personal matter' as the cause of her distress and Number 10 said she would remain in post. Asked whether it was time for a course correction, Downing Street has said the Prime Minister will 'plough on' with the 'very busy agenda' of Government. But the MP quoted above said: 'The idea that they can keep carrying on as they've been carrying on is suicidal. 'They have no real sense of how the party thinks and feels.' Others had a more optimistic view of the year ahead, with a Starmer loyalist who supported the Bill suggesting the upset could be salvaged with a 'measured but solid response' from the Government. 'The worst they can do is nothing,' the backbencher added. The Prime Minister used a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to defend his record in office, telling ministers the welfare Bill was 'to help those who can work into employment and ensure dignity and security for those who can't work.' He said they could all 'rightly look back with a real sense of pride and achievement' on the last 12 months, pointing to a reduction in NHS waiting lists and a series of economic agreements struck with the US, EU and India. Abroad, the Prime Minister faces a tricky diplomatic balancing act as he seeks to strengthen ties with both Europe and Washington amid global instability from the Ukraine war and Middle East crisis. At home, Labour is staring down a threat from Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which turned opinion poll momentum into widespread gains at the ballot box during the local elections in May. Sir John said that parties such as Reform and the Greens offer more choice to voters wanting to express their discontent with Labour while the Tories continue to flounder in the polls. 'The character of the challenge is different from what it has been historically,' he said. Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University, said people had been expecting bold change on areas such as workers' rights and growth, and the Government's achievements so far were 'pretty small beer' by comparison. Critics say the first year has instead been marked by a series of U-turns, including a partial reversal of cuts to the winter fuel payment and the move to launch a national inquiry into grooming gangs after months of resisting opposition pressure to do so. The Government disputes that framing, pointing out for example that ministers had never explicitly ruled out a statutory probe into child sexual exploitation but waited for a review to be carried out before making a decision. Prof Bale said he believed the first year had gone 'worse than most people imagined' and warned 'it's difficult for a leader who starts badly to persuade people that he or she is what they need.' But he said the problems were not necessarily fatal, adding that setbacks early on in a premiership have an upside in allowing for more time to 'turn it round'. 'If you look back to Margaret Thatcher, she was able to do that, so it's not a foregone conclusion that all is lost, even for Keir Starmer himself,' he said. Arguing that the Government could recover in the polls if its plans for the economy and public services pay off, he added: 'I think you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's a very long tunnel.' Sir Keir has pledged to lead a 'decade of national renewal' through a phased approach to Government, the first year of which he said would involve 'cleaning up the mess' his administration had inherited. In a speech last week seeking to set the tone for the future, he said: 'We've wiped the state clean, we've stabilised the economy, and now we can go on to the next phase of government, building on that foundation.' A Government spokesperson said: 'We were elected with a commitment to deliver change and security for working people – and we are getting on with the job. 'We are delivering our Plan for Change – wages are rising faster than prices, interest rates have been cut four times, immigration has come down with 30,000 people with no right to be here removed and over four million NHS appointments have been delivered. 'Progress has been made, but we know people are impatient for change – and we are too – so we will continue to govern in the national interest for British people and deliver a decade of national renewal.'
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starmer faces Labour turmoil and global volatility as he marks year in Number 10
Sir Keir Starmer is facing Labour dissent, economic uncertainty and spiralling conflict abroad as he marks a year in Number 10. The Prime Minister led his party back into power with more than 400 MPs on July 4 last year – clinching a majority just short of Sir Tony Blair's landslide in 1997. But with a daunting in-tray of problems including a stuttering economy, creaking public services and global volatility, his political honeymoon period was short-lived. His personal popularity is now the lowest of any British premier after their first 12 months in office, political scientist and polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice said. 'There were pretty clear potential weaknesses before they even started, and most of those weaknesses have basically just been exposed over the course of the last 12 months,' he told the PA news agency. Sir John said part of the problem lay in what he described as a failure of narrative in setting out the Government's vision for change to the public. 'They're portraying themselves as a repair gang rather than the builders of a new Jerusalem. Pessimism doesn't necessarily go down very well,' he told PA. 'The thing with Starmer is, he's a brilliant prosecution lawyer… But prosecution lawyers present cases that have been (put together) by someone else. The problem is that as a political leader you've got to prosecute your own case. 'Maybe he needs new personnel? Either he's got to learn to do it himself or get someone in to do it for him.' That verdict was echoed by some dissenting voices within Labour ranks, where there is lingering discontent among rebels over the Government's Welfare Bill despite Number 10 offering major concessions on the legislation. The Government saw off the threat of a major Commons defeat over the legislation on Tuesday after shelving plans to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability benefit in England. 'I think he really needs to think about why he wants to be a Labour Prime Minister and what is it he actually cares about,' one long-serving Labour MP said. They said Tuesday had marked 'the lowest point' in Sir Keir's premiership so far and raised questions about his authority, warning that backbenchers may now feel emboldened to demand further U-turns elsewhere. Sir John said that the Government's challenges in passing legislation were unsurprising with the broad but fragile coalition of support on which Labour built its election victory, securing 412 seats on just 35% of the vote. That means many MPs defending narrow majorities and raises the prospect of 'a large body of people who are nervous about their political futures,' he said. The Government's original welfare proposals had been part of a package that ministers expected to save up to £5 billion a year, leaving Chancellor Rachel Reeves needing to look for the money elsewhere. The fallout threatens to cause lasting damage to morale in Labour ranks, with some rebels calling for a reset in relations between the parliamentary party and the leadership before fractures widen. Images of the Chancellor crying in the Commons on Wednesday have also led to questions about her future, although a Treasury spokesman cited a 'personal matter' as the cause of her distress and Number 10 said she would remain in post. Asked whether it was time for a course correction, Downing Street has said the Prime Minister will 'plough on' with the 'very busy agenda' of Government. But the MP quoted above said: 'The idea that they can keep carrying on as they've been carrying on is suicidal. 'They have no real sense of how the party thinks and feels.' Others had a more optimistic view of the year ahead, with a Starmer loyalist who supported the Bill suggesting the upset could be salvaged with a 'measured but solid response' from the Government. 'The worst they can do is nothing,' the backbencher added. The Prime Minister used a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to defend his record in office, telling ministers the welfare Bill was 'to help those who can work into employment and ensure dignity and security for those who can't work.' He said they could all 'rightly look back with a real sense of pride and achievement' on the last 12 months, pointing to a reduction in NHS waiting lists and a series of economic agreements struck with the US, EU and India. Abroad, the Prime Minister faces a tricky diplomatic balancing act as he seeks to strengthen ties with both Europe and Washington amid global instability from the Ukraine war and Middle East crisis. At home, Labour is staring down a threat from Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which turned opinion poll momentum into widespread gains at the ballot box during the local elections in May. Sir John said that parties such as Reform and the Greens offer more choice to voters wanting to express their discontent with Labour while the Tories continue to flounder in the polls. 'The character of the challenge is different from what it has been historically,' he said. Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University, said people had been expecting bold change on areas such as workers' rights and growth, and the Government's achievements so far were 'pretty small beer' by comparison. Critics say the first year has instead been marked by a series of U-turns, including a partial reversal of cuts to the winter fuel payment and the move to launch a national inquiry into grooming gangs after months of resisting opposition pressure to do so. The Government disputes that framing, pointing out for example that ministers had never explicitly ruled out a statutory probe into child sexual exploitation but waited for a review to be carried out before making a decision. Prof Bale said he believed the first year had gone 'worse than most people imagined' and warned 'it's difficult for a leader who starts badly to persuade people that he or she is what they need.' But he said the problems were not necessarily fatal, adding that setbacks early on in a premiership have an upside in allowing for more time to 'turn it round'. 'If you look back to Margaret Thatcher, she was able to do that, so it's not a foregone conclusion that all is lost, even for Keir Starmer himself,' he said. Arguing that the Government could recover in the polls if its plans for the economy and public services pay off, he added: 'I think you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's a very long tunnel.' Sir Keir has pledged to lead a 'decade of national renewal' through a phased approach to Government, the first year of which he said would involve 'cleaning up the mess' his administration had inherited. In a speech last week seeking to set the tone for the future, he said: 'We've wiped the state clean, we've stabilised the economy, and now we can go on to the next phase of government, building on that foundation.' A Government spokesperson said: 'We were elected with a commitment to deliver change and security for working people – and we are getting on with the job. 'We are delivering our Plan for Change – wages are rising faster than prices, interest rates have been cut four times, immigration has come down with 30,000 people with no right to be here removed and over four million NHS appointments have been delivered. 'Progress has been made, but we know people are impatient for change – and we are too – so we will continue to govern in the national interest for British people and deliver a decade of national renewal.'
