Labour Shouldn’t Write Off the SNP Just Yet
Despite numerous internal crises and a recent revival of Scottish Labour, Scotland’s pro-independence party still has a strong voice.
Still going.
Photographer: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images EuropeLast week brought more sirens sounding the apparent changing of the Scottish guard. Two polling firms announced small leads for Labour over the Scottish National Party (SNP) in polls for the next UK-wide general election, expected later this year.
The results add to the sense of crisis around the pro-independence SNP, which has run the Scottish government since 2007 and utterly dominated Scottish politics since the 2014 independence referendum despite proving unable to force a second referendum. The party now faces losing its stranglehold on power. Political obituaries of SNP leader and Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf have doubtless already been drafted. His internal rivals are likely lining up their ducks. Labour can barely believe their luck.