SCOTTISH Government minister Christina McKelvie predicted that “independence is coming soon” today as she stakes her claim in the 2021 election.
The Older People and Equalities Minister wants to run again next year – and says an SNP majority will make indyref2 “unavoidable”.
While 14 of the Scottish Parliament’s current SNP cohort have said they’ll stand down at the poll, McKelvie, who was first elected in 2007, has confirmed she’ll seek re-selection as the candidate for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.
Paying tribute to the “countless activists” in the independence cause, the former trade unionist says the Yes movement has “never been closer” to achieving its goal.
She stated: “The Covid-19 pandemic has shown how important it is that decisions about Scotland’s future are made in Scotland. The last seven polls have shown that Scottish independence is fast becoming the established position of the people of Scotland.”
READ MORE: Holyrood elections: Sandra White becomes 13th SNP politician to stand down
McKelvie, whose partner is SNP depute leader Keith Brown, also hit out at Boris Johnson’s Internal Market Bill, described by the Labour-run Welsh government as “an attack on democracy” that risk “the future of the union by stealing powers from devolved administrations”.
Referencing the SNP’s historic 1967 Hamilton by-election win by Winnie Ewing, she stated: “We must work together and focus all our efforts on the election in 2021 to achieve this future.
“By putting Scotland’s right to choose at the heart of that campaign we can turn the popular support for independence into an unavoidable demand for a second referendum. A referendum we will win.
“Let us honour the foundation that Winnie Ewing countless other activists have laid for us. We can achieve the dream that they have worked so hard for. Independence is coming and it is coming soon.”
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