WITH the departure of a leader of Nicola Sturgeon's stature, the Scottish National Party has no option but a fresh start. All parties need to look at themselves from time to time and say "where now?"

And that must – absolutely must – be driven by the members of the party. This is their party. It is not owned by a little group of insiders or by elected politicians. It is the members' party. And the members must have a chance to make a good decision about the future of that party.

No-one needs to be told how important this decision is. The fate of the cause of independence is inextricably tied to the fate of the SNP. Right across the independence movement there is a strong feeling that now is the time to take a breath, to take stock and to think very carefully about where we go next.

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It has been a long time since members were asked to make a decision this important. It is a heavy burden on them. A few days ago they had no idea this decision was one they would have to make. And now they're expected to start to make that decision in a couple of weeks, with barely four weeks until the whole process is over?

We need to ask all the members of the party this; is that treating you with respect? Does that sound like it is providing you with enough time to hear from candidates, to examine the prospectus on which they are standing, to hear potential leaders in action at hustings? Do you think that what is effectively two weeks is enough time for you to think carefully about this momentous decision?

I want to ask every member of the party this; do you want to hear from candidates based on a serious, mature debate about the future of independence? If so do you think that giving them barely a week to think through their own visions for the future of the party is reasonable?

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Do you think you have time to think this through in a couple of weeks? Do you think, in this timescale, candidates have time to present you with a pitch for leader which has the substance and seriousness which you deserve, which is required by this moment?

The constitution of our party always allowed time for a proper debate. Has the constitution been changed? What exactly is the rush? We have a leader in place who is recognised globally. She is staying on until a new leader is elected. There is no sudden emergency, no tragedy which has left us without a leader.

If people give the example of the recent long Tory Party leadership process as a reason for abandoning proper democracy, what does that say about us? Less democratic than the Tories. Democracy is always messy. It is never neat. That is not a reason to dispense with it.

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Because those who are in positions of power always have reasons to water down democracy – exactly because it is messy. And that is exactly why we have constitutions to prevent that from happening, to prevent people in power from setting their own rules.

Today I am calling for this decision to be overturned, for the party to follow its own democratic tradition, to start treating members with respect and to enable a serious democratic process to elect a leader. One fit for a party of our stature.

The cause of independence is too important to keep behaving in a high-handed way towards the rank and file of this party who are the people who will be on the front line fighting for independence until we win it.

Back our members. Back the spirit of our constitution. Respect democracy. Rescind this decision.