SNP MP Joanna Cherry has hit out at Scotland In Union for "scoring petty political points" in criticising her for saying the SNP should rethink its independence strategy.
Scotland In Union chief executive Pamela Nash said the Edinburgh South West MP is continuing an “unbelievable” focus on indyref2 in the middle of coronavirus.
She was responding to Cherry's column in The National in which she called for the SNP to have a major rethink about its independence strategy before the 2021 Holyrood elections.
“In the midst of a health emergency, it’s unbelievable that Joanna Cherry’s focus is still on how to break up the UK,” she said.
“Politicians should put aside constitutional divisions to concentrate on working together on behalf of everyone in Scotland at this time of crisis,” she added.
But Cherry hit back on Twitter, saying Nash is the one "scoring petty political points".
She added: "It would be a ludicrous state of affairs if Pamela Nash or @ScotlandinUnion could dictate the terms of @theSNP internal policy discussions. That is what my article was about. It is she not I who is scoring petty political points"
It would be a ludicrous state of affairs if Pamela Nash or @ScotlandinUnion could dictate the terms of @theSNP internal policy discussions. That is what my article was about. It is she not I who is scoring petty political points https://t.co/HQpWdIX74j
— Joanna Cherry QC (@joannaccherry) May 7, 2020
In her column, Cherry said compares Nicola Sturgeon to Winston Churchill, who led the UK through the Second World War, but was turfed out of No 10 in the 1945 general election.
Cherry writes: “Currently, we are at the peak of a crisis led by a leader who is widely respected and trusted. However, when the peak of the crisis is over and we start to return to some degree of normality, that won’t be enough.
“After the Second World War was won, when Britain went to the polls, voters chose not the leader who won the war but Clement Attlee, who had a radical plan for the peace.
“After this crisis is over, people may well be in mood for radical change in Scotland. We need to make sure the SNP is the party of that radical change.”
READ MORE: Joanna Cherry urges SNP to rethink independence strategy
She added: “Currently, we are at the peak of a crisis led by a leader who is widely respected and trusted.
“However, when the peak of the crisis is over and we start to return to some degree of normality, that won’t be enough. After the Second World War was won, when Britain went to the polls, voters chose not the leader who won the war but Clement Attlee, who had a radical plan for the peace.
“After this crisis is over, people may well be in mood for radical change in Scotland. We need to make sure the SNP is the party of that radical change."
READ MORE: Joanna Cherry: SNP need a new strategy so Scotland can thrive
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel