The SNP should look again at whether to pull MPs from Westminster in the wake of the parliamentary chaos caused by its motion over Gaza, the party’s deputy leader has said.
Fiery scenes in the Commons last week were sparked after Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s permitted a debate on a Labour motion prior to the SNP’s amendment calling for a ceasefire.
The Speaker later apologised to the Commons chamber before offering another debate to the SNP.
The Scottish Nationalists had not been able to vote on their own motion, however on Monday the party turned down the request for a new debate.
Keith Brown, SNP deputy leader, said in the Sunday National that the “tradition whereby Westminster sidelines, marginalises or suppresses Scotland is not new”.
He claimed that the reaction of some in the Labour Party to the ordeal calls into question how the SNP would be treated in the event of a Labour government.
He wrote: “Given the ‘diet democracy’ of the UK and the denial of democracy to Scotland, it seems we now need to examine whether it is right to confer any legitimacy on an institution determined to deny democracy in Scotland.
“Some have believed for many years that Scotland should withdraw from Westminster while others believe it is necessary to be there, to make arguments on Scotland’s behalf, to promote and protect Scotland’s interests. I have tended to agree with this.
“But when the institution can so easily be manipulated to thwart Scotland’s representatives, the issue needs, in my view, to be re-examined.”
He said that seeing some Labour representatives, with “quite a few” honourable exceptions outwith their party in parliament “cock-a-hoop with having ‘dished’ the SNP (regardless of the substantive issue on Gaza) must be a warning for how Scotland will be treated under any Starmer-led UK government”.
Shona Robison, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, said there’s a debate to be had about the role of the SNP parliamentary group in Westminster, but that the Scottish Nationalists are focused on leading on the issues that people are concerned about.
She told BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show: “I think our SNP parliamentary group at Westminster has an important role to play in leading on issues like, for example, Gaza when they brought forward a debate that recognised, for example, the need for an immediate ceasefire and talked about the collective punishment of millions of people, and I think that is where the SNP is at its best, leading on these issues.
Asked if she would be worried if they were talking about withdrawing, she said “I’m not aware that they are talking about that.”
She added that the group at Westminster is focused on “making sure the SNP continue to lead on the issues that people are concerned about like Gaza and that’s what they will continue to do”.
Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray MP said: “The SNP have been disengaged with Westminster for years, delivering nothing for communities across Scotland.
“At the general election Scotland has a chance not just to send a message but to send a government who will work to deliver the change that Scotland needs.”
