I am grateful to my pal Robbie Dinwoodie for alerting me to this interview in iScot magazine with SNP Westminster Kenny MacAskill.
These interviews are now a regular feature in the pro-independence publication, and Robbie shows a deft touch in them.
It is a wide-ranging interview, but this section, in particular, jumped out at me:
“Things changed at the election. We now have a Tory majority so there is absolutely nothing that can be achieved there. You can make points, you can use the information, use the networking, but we are not going to win a vote. That just ain’t going to happen. So, we have to change tactics. I didn’t necessarily agree with the tactics from 2015 but I can understand that every vote mattered, certainly in the latter stages. But come December 2019, all bets were off.
“I have never supported abstentionism as practised by Sinn Féin. I think the people of Scotland just wouldn’t vote for that. They would take the view, why would I vote for you if you’re not going to go? Equally, I am conscious — I think to some extent it was practised by Jim Sillars when he was first returned in the Govan by-election — of some kind of semi-abstentionism. I go down and sit on the Justice Committee. For what purpose? Ninety per cent of the Justice Committee relates to England and Wales. What is the point?
“So, I think what you want to do is poke them in the eye as best you can. To some extent you can irritate them and wind them up by going and treating it with some contempt than by not going at all. If you don’t go at all, then other than when the wanted Sinn Féin’s vote at the Brexit referendum, they’re quite happy that you’re not there. I think continuing to demand our right to speak at Prime Minister’s Questions, and to challenge Ministers, are worth doing. Other than that, it should be on our terms that we contribute. We shouldn’t be a dutiful Opposition. We are an insurgency and we have to act like an insurgency, going down there to do what we can to advance our cause and score points. Equally we are not there to administer the British State. That’s not our job.”
Here we have the internal contradictions of the mindset at the heart of the SNP.
They don’t believe in abstentionism.
However, MacAskill states that the SNP are “… an insurgency and we have to act like an insurgency…”
Really?
I think that the Honourable Member for East Lothian should acquaint himself with the work of Jürgen Habermas.
What the Scottish politician purports to be about is a “legitimation crisis”.
Well, you don’t achieve that be first agreeing to a very public degradation ceremony whereby fealty is pledged to the Saxe Coburg crime family.
If they publicly accept the legitimacy of the Westminster Parliament, then they must ipso facto abide by the rulings that emanate from there.
Hence the Section 30 conundrum.
MacAskill’s insurgency could become a reality of elected politicians were willing to sacrifice their paycheque and perks.
The chaps in Whitehall would then know that they were dealing with serious people in Scotland and that would be a game-changer.
An SNP candidate distributed a locally produced leaflet in Glasgow during the 1987 British General election.
It stated that if he were elected, then he would not take his seat in Westminster.
As I recall it caused consternation at the SNP HQ in Edinburgh.
I know this because I drafted the leaflet.
Dear reader, I was merely being a helpful Fenian.
Incidentally, I took an immediate shine to the journalist that the Scotsman sent to the east end of Glasgow, and we’re still mates.
My view of the SNP then was that, at best, they were Redmondites.
I haven’t seen anything since then to change my mind about those who claim to want Scotland to be an independent sovereign state.
In the interview MacAskill makes reference to Parnell and Redmond, stating that he had recently read a biography of the latter Home Rule politician.
What he doesn’t mention is that both those men failed in their parliamentary quest at Westminster.
For the avoidance of doubt, unpicking the Hanoverian Anschluss of 1707 will not be cost-free for the Scots.
Here Yanis Varoufakis uses the “C” word.
Now, in fairness, Mr MacAskill might be spot on in his assessment, and the Scottish people will not vote for abstentionist MPs.
If that is the case, then the population of Fair Caledonia simply aren’t serious about independence.
Of course, that can’t be verified until they’re asked at election time what they feel about giving the Mother of Parliaments a body swerve.
Until then the SNP MPs are just playing at national liberation.
Sadly, many of them are probably happy with the well-paid pretence.
I hope that their low opinion of the people of Alba is unfounded.
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Kenny Macaskill isn’t an SNP MP
He was an SNP MP when the piece was written in September 2020.
Try and keep up.
SNP definitely socialists. Just look at the ill-fated Named Person Act, and the Fitba Act. Big Jo Stalin would have been proud of them!
I disagree anything that relieves Scotland from the union of 1707 and the union flag has got to be good, unless you’re a double agent Phil?
PS love your stuff about football HH
Brian, a bad deal at the time ie Act of Union, giant mean that it is currently a bad deal.
If abstentionism had proven to be anything other than a total failure, then maybe it would be worth advocating.
The politics and sectarian mess of North of Ireland isn’t something to aspire to. It’s something to be avoided. The SNP are doing the long term democratic right thing. We don’t want crappy irish poliotics here, we don’t want a Sinn fein playbook, we don’t want politics based on religion. We are doing ok thanks. We will get there in the end democratically
Oh dear.
Racist much?
Your Britsplaining of our politics on this island isn’t a good look.
Abstentionism is a principled position.
However, it is only available to political representatives who are not on a gravy train.
Here in Ireland, it established out first democratically elected legislature.
Dáil Éireann in 1919.
Not intended as a smear Phil. Just an opinion about your style and flow which I find largely informative and edifying. The other 5% can sometimes detract. Now is that an opinion or a slur? Again, thanks for the iScot link. I’ll subscribe. HH
Interesting article Phil. Never any easy answers for the Scots, as there never was for the Irish.
The only irritation that transcends the Irish Sea is the naivety of the local population who think that by voting for SF/SNP they will achieve freedom. Well I’ve never seen anywhere else in the world where Socialism served neat, had provided liberty. Just fetters, home-grown ones, woven from imported ideologiy.
Anyone who believes that the SNP are Socialist should be automatically excluded from voting,
Tartan Tories masquerading as the Party for the People.
Wake up and smell the Lavazza ffs.
The leadership of the SNP are certainly Blairite in outlook munis the Atlatcist warhawk genuflections towards Washington.
New Labour was simply Neoliberalism/Thatcherism dressed up in a red tie.
Scottish Nationalism is the same bedecked in a wee Tartan Tammy.
Smoke and Mirrors.
The biscuit tin Scotland promoted by the SNP is a pipe dream which in reality will turn out to be nothing more than a Thatcherite nightmare if it ever comes to pass.
You think times are hard for the minority Irish Catholic Diaspora now?
Wait until the fun Police in Westminster depart the scene.
The Brotherhood of Bam will once again have free reign in Scotland and with the full backing of the Neoliberals in Europe who’s only real agenda is to see its control of the money to be made in Europe strengthened further in future.
There has been a conscious and organised effort to destroy Socialism in Europe.
Workers rights are being eroded and the Unions who are there to safeguard these hard won rights have been slowly neutered by those who wish to see them destroyed.
Zero Hour Contracts
Cheap Labour
Tax Breaks for Multi Nationals
Freedom of movement allowing cheap Labour to migrate to the work thus keeping wages low
Privatisation
Austerity Measures
These are all fully supported and endorsed by the EU
The SNP are using Nationalism to promote their own Tartan Brand of Neoliberalism
Can’t agree. I see naionalism as the route to the kind of government Scotland repeatedly votes for but seldom gets – because all we ever get is what the Home Counties vote for ( I recognise that the Midlands and the north of England are also victims of this stitch-up but at least Scotland has a way out of this if it grasps it).
If we achieve independence the SNP has achieved its aim, its raison d’etre no longer exists, and it must split into factions. Then we’d have the kind of government we’ve always voted for.
If for a minute you think that Independence within the EU would mean it would lead to the policies that you’ve laid out is bad where have you been for the past 30 years. These Neo-Liberal policies, tax breaks for the super rich, privatisations and austerity measures have already happened under Westminster rule. The EU
took on board some of these policies and in an Independence Scotland we will make our own decision whether to rejoin the EU join EFTA or go our own way. In an Independent Scotland the SNP would be part of a coalition government under Proportional Representation system unlike the Westminster system where a party receiving less than 50% of the vote can rule as dictators for 5 years. As far as the Question of Abstentionism
of the SNP from Westminster goes I agree that if the Independence parties win a majority next May and Johnston’s Tories refuse a referendum then the SNP will have to respond.
That piece of writing fairly sparkled, provoked and tantalised – kinda first minute of the match studs down the shin. I’d like to know/ read more but there’s times when your animosity towards certain individuals detracts from your undoubtedly well-informed understanding and analysis.
Well at least you gave us the iScot Magazine link so big thanks for that Phil. HH
No one forces you to read anything here.
The “animosity” smear is just that.
You should stay away if you find it upsetting.
Interesting – why not stand for election and then ask to sit in the European Parliament (as non-voting members obviously)? This would also allow Scottish politicians to keep up with developments in the EU thus aiding in the hopeful transition of Scotland to full membership. That would be an incendiary insurgency and I could nothing that would anger Johnson and the other clowns more.
I don’t nornally read your political stuff but you have made a very good point very well.
Brilliant piece,would be nice to see the westminister gravy train haulted by an abstentionist policy…..here’s hoping.