WHETHER the intended outcome or not, the media ban has turned into quite a PR success for the SNP, ensuring wide media coverage for the party that could only have been dreamed of in the “swamp” of right-wing media censorship.

READ MORE: SNP leadership candidates put focus on independence at first party hustings

I know from the location of my local small-town SNP branch meetings that squeezing all interested parties plus the media would make it impossible to facilitate the membership, journalists and their required equipment so I can understand why this restriction was in place, as local meetings are not big production studios and larger televised debates will be available for the public as well as members see how candidates perform on a larger stage.

As the saying goes, “make hay while the sun shines” – and make the most of the independence media moment in the sun to broadcast the independence message. I imagine it won’t last!

Christine Smith
Troon