Ex-SNP leader: Scots independence vote ‘in 5 years’

A SECOND independence referendum could be staged in just five years as a fresh wave of UK austerity hits home and SNP support continues to swell, a former party leader has said.
Yes supporters in Glasgow's George Square the day after the independence referendum. Picture: Greg MacveanYes supporters in Glasgow's George Square the day after the independence referendum. Picture: Greg Macvean
Yes supporters in Glasgow's George Square the day after the independence referendum. Picture: Greg Macvean

But Gordon Wilson says the SNP lost the “economic arguments” in the last campaign and must now set up a “independence unit” to lay the groundwork for a Yes vote next time round.

He is also calling for an independence convention on the anniversary of the referendum in September to be attended by all the Yes Alliance parties to maintain the “dynamism and momentum” generated by the campaign.

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Mr Wilson, who heads the Options for Scotland think tank, even warned Scotland could declare independence if the UK votes to leave the EU in a referendum – but expects English voters to opt to stay in Europe.

Former SNP party leader Gordon Wilson says Scots could vote in another independence referendum in just five years' time. Picture: Phil WilkinsonFormer SNP party leader Gordon Wilson says Scots could vote in another independence referendum in just five years' time. Picture: Phil Wilkinson
Former SNP party leader Gordon Wilson says Scots could vote in another independence referendum in just five years' time. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

But a report today entitled The Referendum Six Months On says: “The fact the 2014 battle was lost does not mean the issue has ‘gone for a generation’.”

Polling support for a yes vote should be at 55 per cent before the SNP goes for another referendum – and this could be in five to 20 years, according to the man who led the party throughout the 1980s.

“There will come a time in Scotland where people will say, given Britain’s decline, that it is the only way,” he said.

“The people themselves must want it. If you propose another referendum now, even with majority support, I don’t think it would be widely welcomed.

“You have to go through the travails, I’m afraid, of the austerity programmes before the motivating force becomes apparent.”

He pointed to the 27 per cent cut in Newcastle’s council budget in the past year.

Libraries, swimming pools and the like are being cut – we’ve been shielded but its coming,” he said.

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This means that “in four or five years” a majority of Scots are likely to be ready to vote Yes, he added.

Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont said “repeat referendums” are only wanted by fervent Yes campaigners.

“The vast majority of Scots are satisfied that a clear decision was made, and now we have to move on,” he said. “We were promised by the SNP that this would be a once in a generation occurrence, so let’s keep it that way.”

Liberal Democrat MP Mike Crockart said: “Gordon Wilson is right that the SNP lost the ‘economic arguments’ in the referendum campaign. They need to accept that and move on. While the SNP still has its eye off the ball on day to day issues, thousands of people are waiting hours to be seen at A&E units or struggling to find a place at a college hit by cuts. During the referendum campaign, Nicola Sturgeon said that the ‘once in a generation’ vote meant the issue was decided for 15 years, she needs to come clean on whether she now agrees with her former party leader.”

A Labour spokesman added: “Scots will be concerned that a senior SNP figure is welcoming further austerity as a means to achieving a political end.

“Scotland cannot afford another five years of the Tories, whose plan would take us back 1930s levels of public spending.. In May we can send Scottish Labour MPs to form a UK Labour government that will end Tory austerity.”