International News

GLASGOW, Oct 8, 2017 (APP/AFP) -:The crackdown in Catalonia is looming large over the Scottish National Party’s autumn conference, where the
leadership is under pressure from some members to address Scotland’s own
independence ambitions.
Scottish independence is not even on the agenda of the conference starting
in Glasgow on Sunday after the SNP’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon formally
shelved plans until Brexit negotiations advance.
But some party members are disgruntled and an SNP source said he expected
an emergency motion on Catalonia, where some leaders are calling for a
declaration of independence this week.
“There will be an emergency resolution on the events in Catalonia, which
means there will be some opportunity for (Scottish independence) to be
mentioned,” the source told AFP.
Jim Sillars, a former SNP deputy leader, said it was “a very bad mistake
for a party whose raison-d’etre is independence for them to keep it off the
agenda”.
Former SNP lawmaker Kenny MacAskill told the Herald daily that the
crackdown by Spanish police in Catalonia and Britain’s failure to condemn it
would fuel Scotland’s own separatist ambitions.
“For SNP members, the failure of UK parties to properly condemn what
happened in Catalonia further justifies the case for Scottish independence,” he
told the Herald daily.
Sturgeon has voiced concern over the situation in Catalonia but the SNP
leadership are not keen to be seen as supporting an independence bid ruled
unconstitutional by Spain’s government and courts.