Rumours have been swirling regarding the future of Nicola Sturgeon. However, yesterday the leader of the SNP Nicola Sturgeon told Andrew Marr: “I do intend to lead my party into the next Scottish Parliament election and hopefully win that and stay as First Minister”. Many will question the origins of these rumours after she has only just recorded a stonking General Election victory north of the border. If the polls are to believed the support for the SNP is at levels that would impress even Kim Jong-un.
However, the SNP leader finds herself in an unusual position. Whilst she is the parties most successful leader at the ballot box – winning three Westminster elections in a row and a third term in office at Holyrood. However, Scottish Nationalists didn’t become Scottish Nationalists in order to win Westminster elections, they want to break free from what they perceive as the clutches of colonial tyranny. The SNP grassroots are desperate for another referendum on independence but, with Boris Johnson still saying no, Sturgeon has no legal way of delivering one. As a result of this Ms Sturgeons, once loyally devoted followers are growing agnostic on Sturgeon’s leadership.
The former SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson put his name forward for selection for Ruth Davidson’s Edinburgh Central seat after her decision to stand down at the next Holyrood elections. Mr Robertson was a shoe-in for selection, this was until last night when Joanna Cherry threw her hat in the ring. She’s the Edinburgh South West MP and QC who was a key player in the Supreme Court prorogation case against Boris Johnson.
Both candidates Both are spoken of privately as potential leaders of the SNP. Robertson hails from the moderate, establishment wing of the party, while Cherry is more aligned with the grassroots and former leader Alex Salmond, who faces a trial for sexual offences this year. Sturgeon and the party establishment believe a second independence referendum requires Westminster’s permission. However, Cherry has said that there may be a constitutional case for Holyrood making the decision itself.
The party wagons are already circling to defend Sturgeon. Ian Blackford praised her “leadership credentials” and said she was “demonstrably the person to lead us” out of the UK and into the EU. This endorsement itself is one of the surest signs that your leadership credentials aren’t what they used to be. The SNP leader will have to reassert her authority over her party, even if it confirms her sceptics’ doubts. Sturgeon’s leadership is now under threat unlike at any other time.
Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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