A PRO-INDEPENDENCE MP has said that SNP’s strategy for gaining independence set to be proposed at the party’s conference is “ill-thought through”.
The SNP’s annual conference is set to kick off on Sunday, with a motion on independence strategy proposed jointly by First Minister Humza Yousaf and SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn set to be debated by members.
It suggests that if the party wins the most seats at a General Election then the Scottish Government is “empowered to begin immediate negotiations with the UK Government to give democratic effect to Scotland becoming an independent country”.
However, Angus MacNeil – who sits as the independent MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar after being expelled from the SNP in August – said the strategy was “ill-thought through”.
Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: “They have got a motion which is ill-thought through.
“There is no shortcut to independence without a majority of the people. That has to be understood.
"There will not be a referendum. That route is blocked. You've got to use an election to get a majority of the people.”
MacNeil was suspended from the party for a week following a row with the party’s chief whip at Westminster Brendan O’Hara MP back in July.
However, following the end of the suspension, MacNeil refused to rejoin the SNP’s Westminster group saying he would only do so when the party showed urgency on the issue of independence.
He called on the SNP to work with other pro-independence parties to try and secure a majority of votes at the next election.
He added: “The SNP could end up with fewer seats than it has at the moment - how are you winning with fewer seats?
"I don't think it's a given they will end up with fewer seats, but if they carry on with the policies they have, they will.
"What's unpopular at the moment isn't Scottish independence, it's the SNP.
"They can use the next election to secure a majority of votes by working with other people.
"But unless they motivate people with sensible and realistic plans, they won't go anywhere."
Last month, the Alba Party said they would not stand a candidate in MacNeil’s constituency at the next General Election and would instead support him as an independent candidate.
Amendments calling on the party to shift the strategy to a majority of votes for the SNP or a majority of votes for pro-independence parties are also being brought forward at the party conference.
