I READ the article on Scotland’s only MP to be standing for Holyrood, Neil Gray, who will be standing in this constituency, Airdrie & Shotts, and my heart sank. Perhaps the last few years have made me a tad cynical, but this article highlighted the effect the “Cherry Clause” will have on Mr Gray and his staff – that he will have to resign his seat and make his staff redundant.

Excuse me, but weren’t they elected to “settle up, not settle down”? Weren’t they elected to effectively end the jobs they were elected to fill? Being an SNP MP should not be seen as a long-term career prospect – for the MP or their staff. As an independence campaigner, the idea that those elected on behalf of our movement get comfy in their position and dish out jobs to friends, family or cronies is utterly abhorrent. Didn’t we boot the Labour party out for that?

READ MORE: SNP MP Neil Gray must quit Westminster after winning Holyrood selection contest

Mr Gray’s move is presented as a gamble and that he is taking nothing for granted, but I would imagine that he will be afforded a high enough place on the party list to ensure that he and his staff will be working in Edinburgh and not London next year. By then Airdrie may or may not still have an SNP MP, and if it doesn’t will it really matter? Is there any point sending pro-independence representatives to London to scrutinise the schemes of the Tories, to rail against them as the government walks out in front of their faces or jeers them down, and to a broadcast media who cuts back to the studio when they open their mouths? Pardon me for not getting excited at the thought of this situation continuing.

I want to see no SNP MPs at Westminster or anywhere else. I want the term MP to be consigned to the history books. For that to happen the SNP must be brought to their senses and made to understand that for me, and others like me, one more mandate to add to the collection is not good enough. Their continuing in government in Holyrood is not an acceptable substitute for independence. So, get your eyes off your bank balances and back on the prize. Let independence be your reward – the same as it will be for the rest of us.

James Cassidy
Airdrie