John Mason: Yes support should be at 60/40 before indyref2

John Mason, who represents Glasgow Shettleston, told The National that he is ready to serve another term in the Scottish Parliament.

On a second independence referendum, he said he was “in the patient camp” and that a new vote should not be called until support for independence was at 60% or 70%.

“I think we need to build support for independence. I’d like to see the polls well ahead before we call a referendum, maybe 60/40 or 70/30, that would have a lot of effect,” he said.

“It would tell Westminster that’s what we want, it would show the international community and it would put pressure on Westminster. As long as we sit at 50/50 anyone in Westminster and the wide world can say ‘it’s not very clear and we’re not going to allow it’.”

Gail Ross is the only SNP MSP not in her sixties to be standing down, citing family reasons

READ MORE: SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson to step down before Holyrood election

Mason, 62, said it was important that Holyrood had “independent minded” MSPs who were ready to challenge government from the backbenches.

“I have put my name in and I have a branch meeting tomorrow night and will be speaking to them. I have submitted my vetted papers to be vetted again,” he said.

“I believe I have a role to play in parliament. I am comfortable on the backbenches, questioning the government at times which I think is important not just for opposition MSPs but also for SNP MSPs.”

He added: “There is always a balance to be struck [as a member of the government party], but there is a need for some people and I think there are some people – Christine Grahame and Kenny Gibson – who do question the government and that has got to be healthy. It’s not healthy for any government to have people who just blindly follow but unity in any party is also important so there is a balance.”

Mason said he believed Holyrood needed some people in their sixties and beyond so there was a broad profile in terms of the age of MSPs.

The Glasgow MSP has at times been a controversial figure, hitting the headlines earlier this year when he said he would not represent constituents opposed to independence.

READ MORE: SNP MSP Gail Ross to step down at 2021 election

He sparked fury with a tweet in January in which he said he would “not be speaking up for constituents” who did not share his views on the constitution and tax. But later clarified his comment and said he was “happy to represent” others.

He was also embroiled in a row over Orange marches in Glasgow and his support for restricting them. In a debate with social media users, Mason said it was his job to “speak up for those who are suffering from multiple Orange marches”.

Yesterday he said if re-elected he would not shy away from controversial and sensitive issues.

His colleague James Dornan (above), who represents Glasgow Cathcart, had campaigned to combat sectarianism and he said he hoped it was a cause he could further.

“I’m not intentionally going to look for controversy but I won’t shy away from it if I feel there is an issue that should be raised,” he said.

READ MORE: SNP's Bruce Crawford to step down at 2021 Holyrood election

“I would like to see sectarianism addressed, that is very much a priority for me. It’s a problem that’s been there for 300 years. It’s not going to be dealt with overnight but it must be kept on the table as one of the issues we have to deal with.”

He also said he would continue to oppose any moves to legalise assisted dying should the issue be raised again in Holyrood after 2021.

Six SNP MSPs have announced they are standing down ahead of the Holyrood election in May next year. Stewart Stevenson, Michael Russell, Bruce Crawford, James Dornan, Richard Lyle and Gail Ross have all said they will not be standing, as well as former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, Labour’s Neil Findlay and the Greens’ John Finnie.