SNP reduced to ‘gimmicks’ to sell independence to voters as Cardiff summit branded a ‘blind alley’

The SNP is resorting to “gimmicks” to sell the idea of Scottish independence to voters, a leading expert on the party has said.

Professor James Mitchell rubbished John Swinney’s prediction that Andy Burnham would be the last Prime Minister of the UK – and said the case for independence had not been moved forward by this week’s Cardiff summit.

And the academic, who has studied the history of Scottish nationalism for 40 years, said the meeting in Wales which brought together the leaders of the SNP, Sinn Fein and Plaid Cymru was “yet another blind alley”.

Swinney used a press conference in the Welsh capital to insist he would continue pushing for an IndyRef2 by 2031 and claim the UK’s days were numbered.

He later signed a joint agreement which declared: “The political landscape across these islands is changing.”

Mitchell told the Record: “The claim Burnham will be the last UK Prime Minister will be forgotten long before it is disproved.

“John Swinney knows this, which allows him to say it. It’s easy to say something to get a headline, knowing it will soon be forgotten – just as the numerous other predictions of independence’s imminence have been.

“The SNP approach is now very clear. Lots of gimmicks, declarations and the like, but evade the weaknesses exposed in the 2014 referendum – currency, pensions, Scotland’s very challenging fiscal status, and how to attain EU membership criteria.

“Without credible answers, it is easier to indulge in posturing – but these matters are real and unavoidable.”

Mitchell described the Cardiff summit as “novel” but “lacking in substance”. And the academic at the University of Edinburgh said Swinney would be “relieved” independence was being talked about rather than the recent Pisa report which found standards in Scots schools slipping.

He added: “The fact that the leaders of three minority parties are First Minister is indeed novel but does not materially change the constitutional situation.

“While Plaid saw a significant breakthrough in Wales in May, the SNP and Sinn Fein have lost momentum.

“This is an example of the SNP’s tactic of appearing to take the constitutional debate forward any real progress.

“The agreement is yet another blind alley in the pursuit of the SNP’s aim of independence. John Swinney will at least be relieved to have the constitution talked about, even if to no effect, rather than the latest PISA results.”

The first ministers of the UK’s three devolved nations used Monday’s summit to declare that “Westminster’s time is coming to an end”. During what Swinney described as a “landmark day”, he predicted Burnham would be “the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom”.

Asked by reporters whether the summit was an “appropriate use” of their offices, the First Minister insisted he was “simply advancing the mandate that was given to me by the public”.

The SNP fell seven seats short of a majority at May’s election – the benchmark Swinney had previously suggested was needed for him to begin negotiations with the UK Government over holding another referendum.