Leadership battles hurt party unity.
When 70,000 people vote, disagreement is inevitable.
Despite the SNP’s legendary discipline, the current election was certain to be tumultuous.
Even though detractors say the SNP stifles discussion, the debates showed democracy is alive.
Party discipline is “mythical” because the public sees it as scarce.
The SNP has more leaks than a cowboy plumber’s en suite bathroom, which is great for newspapers but a gift for the party’s political enemies.
An SNP MSP ripped up a Scottish Government paper in the parliament last week.
It’s rude. If a party colleague had done this when Ewing was minister, he would have gone crazy.
Backbenchers who oppose their own party in government for constituents’ sake can improve politics.
It can be a warning against flawed policies if properly stated. However, there are ways to implement these adjustments.
Ewing was not the only SNP backbencher to oppose the coastal communities-impacting no catch zone ideas. He alone chose to play the theatrical villain.
His public protests are the latest. A cynic may say he is still in a 24-month huff after leaving the ministry.
As a member of the esteemed Ewing dynasty, he may think he may do as he pleases. If so, convince him otherwise.
Since they haven’t had to punish for years, they don’t.
Influential former MSPs like Bruce Crawford, Roseanna Cunningham, Mike Russell, Linda Fabiani, Jeane Freeman, and Stewart Stevenson remembered an era when the party was not the dominant force it is now and observed a self-imposed discipline that may have been lost since they stood down in 2021.
The leadership will enforce discipline if a few elected members at Holyrood and Westminster refuse to police themselves.
Why maintain a whip if it never cracks?
Given recent occurrences, an amnesty may be appropriate to wipe clean the slate of recent misdemeanors and start over with the clear warning that any significant violations would be faced with equally harsh repercussions.
In politics, perception is reality, and Fergus Ewing’s behavior is sending division signals.
SCOTTISH POLITICS If Ewing is repeatedly acquitted, others will think they can do the same, benefiting the opposition.
Discipline, which involves punishing noncompliance, provides a challenge for the two SNP parliamentary groupings.
