SCOTS who supported staying in the Union in the independence referendum are right to feel “cheated and betrayed”, said Angus Robertson as he launched his bid to become depute SNP leader.
Addressing supporters in Edinburgh last night, Robertson insisted the argument for independence had been strengthened following the uncertainty caused by the Brexit vote and the overwhelming support in Scotland to remain in the European Union. However, he said over the coming months a positive message should be sent to those who previously voted No.
“Now our activists, our members – you – are more important than ever. Our next job is to communicate with the many people who believe their 2014 referendum vote was to stay in Europe by voting “no” to Scottish Independence.
“They are right to feel cheated. They are right to feel betrayed,” he said.
To loud applause he underlined that the corporate giant Diageo, opposed to Yes in 2014, were no longer so.
“Look at Diageo; a Scottish employer that previously urged their staff to vote to remain in the United Kingdom. With a positive vision for Scotland, they have now said that they won’t argue for Scotland to remain in the UK in the event of a second referendum,” he added.
“We need to take a truly positive message to those who have previously not supported independence. We must go out and tell them that they are welcome in our movement. It is the only way that we will win independence. My message in the election campaign is that we need to be outward-facing, not just speaking to the 45 per cent but to the 100 per cent – to everyone in Scotland.”
Robertson, MP for Moray, is the SNP’s Westminster leader and was the first candidate to put himself forward for the contest, which follows Stewart Hosie’s decision to stand down from the position following reports about his personal life.
Other contenders are Edinburgh East MP Tommy Sheppard, MEP Alyn Smith and Inverclyde councillor Christopher McEleny.
During his speech Robertson cited his substantial experience in the party including as campaign director for the 2007 and 2011 Holyrood elections which the SNP won, forming a minority and then a majority Government, and also as Westminster leader.
He said his priorities, and the themes of his campaign, were leadership, grassroots and independence.
Amid the shock over Brexit, he warned that Theresa May’s days “as Prime Minister of the whole United Kingdom will be numbered” if she fails to protect Scotland’s place in Europe. The Scottish Government is currently looking at options for protecting Scotland’s place in Europe, including a second independence referendum if it emerges as the best or only choice, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.
She travelled to Brussels after the June 23 vote for Brexit to highlight Scotland’s majority vote for remain, meeting with several EU leaders and reporting a “sympathetic response”.
Developing his pitch for depute, Robertson positioned himself to the centre of the party, arguing for the need to support business as well as promote social justice, and outlined his bid to persuade sceptics to support independence in a likely future vote.
“We need to speak to those many people who thought they were voting for certainty over risk. Since 2014 the UK has become the risky option, and since the Brexit vote this is about to get much worse. We need to take our new prospectus to the streets to make sure we can deliver the best for Scotland,” he said.
“I believe that we all joined the party not to debate internal structures, but to look at what we could actually do to make all our lives better. People joined our party because they have a radical vision for Scotland where there is no contradiction between the priorities of economic prosperity, successful business and our vision for social justice. You will no doubt have your own radical ideas to make Scotland better, I have some of my own too.”
Nominations for the SNP depute leader post close on 5 August with the winner announced at the SNP’s autumn conference.
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