Salmond stalling independence, says MSP

A prominent MSP has claimed that Alex Salmond is holding back Scotland’s path towards independence, arguing that the government “has not campaigned enough” on the issue and criticising Alex Salmond’s uncompromising style of leadership.

In an interview with The Journal, independent MSP for the Lothians region, Margo MacDonald said: “If the SNP hadn’t won the election, or if someone other than Alex Salmond had been the leader, you would see this parliament moving forward much more as a parliament, rather than the government staking out its position and the others fragmenting.”

She continued: “Before the last election, this parliament—and that included all of the parties in it—was moving towards a more natural state of taking responsibility for much more than this place does take responsibility for. And it was moving naturally towards a position of effective power – to do what we could do, and to do what people outside the gates expected us to do.

“And then along came the election and everyone went back into their boltholes again. If Alex were a more... collegiate style of leader then that might not be happening to the same extent. Some people are being driven into unionist parties who simply are not unionists.”

In response, the Scottish government strongly rejected these claims. A spokesperson for the first minister said: "Under Alex Salmond’s hugely successful leadership, the case for independence has gone from strength to strength. Since the election of the SNP government 20 months ago, the gap between support for the Union and independence has halved to just 8 points."

“The case for independence has been brought to the very centre of political and public debate in Scotland by this Government and by this First Minister."

Referring to the timetable set for a debate on the issue, he added: “The first minister and the Scottish government are committed to bringing forward an independence referendum bill in 2010 so that every voter has the opportunity to vote on Scotland’s future. That is the timetable we have set, that is the timetable we will adhere to – and we hope Margo will support the Referendum Bill when it comes forward in Parliament."

Formerly a member of the Scottish National Party, holding the deputy leader post between 1974 and 1979, Mrs MacDonald left the party in 2003 when, after being dropped to fifth on the SNP’s regional list, she opted to stand as an Independent candidate.

Holyrood’s mixed member proportional representation system divides the nations into 73 individual constituencies, plus a further eight regions each represented by seven MSPs. After being re-elected in the 2007 parliamentary election, Mrs MacDonald currently shares her regional seat with three SNP MSPs, one Labour MSP, one Conservative and one Green Party member. Mrs MacDonald remains the only independent MSP in either the constituency or regional ballots.

This is not the first time Alex Salmond has been called out over his apparent coyness on the issue of Scottish independence. Following Labour’s much reported u-turn in May 2008 when, under Wendy Alexander, the party dropped their opposition to a referendum, there ensued an exchange of words from which little, in reality, materialised.

In an interview with the BBC, Ms Alexander claimed the SNP were “frightened” to bring the matter forward for public approval, following this up with calls for the first minister to “get on with it” and to “bring it on,” referring to the referendum promised in the SNP manifesto but which, as yet, has not made its way into a concrete bill.

At the time, the government restated their commitment to holding a plebiscite, but no sooner than 2010.

Shortly thereafter, however, Ms Alexander resigned after accepting illegal donations from a businessman and Jersey resident, Paul Green, though she was not found guilty of criminal wrongdoing. Under successor Iain Gray’s leadership further calls for a referendum have been muted.

When approached this week, Scottish Labour restated their commitment to the Union. A spokesman said: "It's unsurprising that the SNP are split on the independence issue. The SNP leadership know that the vast majority of Scots see the benefits of being in the Union and don't want separation.

"The problem for the SNP is many of their hardline supporters and representatives will continue to try and split the UK. The ball is in Alex Salmond's court but it looks like he'll have to deal with his own party before coming to the Scottish people."