Mr Yousaf at Bute House in Edinburgh ahead of the SNP national conference. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA
Humza Yousaf admitted the SNP row over independence had caused his party to lose support.
The First Minister called on his campaigners to “draw a line” on the debate over how to achieve independence, on Sunday, when the party will discuss and adopt a new strategy at its meeting. party conference.
The annual meeting comes a week after his party was defeated by Labor in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-elections, and three days after MP Lisa Cameron defected to the Conservatives.
The debate on The public conference on the independence strategy, which Nicola Sturgeon refused to allow when she was leader, is intended to address the question of how the Scottish National Party can achieve its core purpose.
However, both Labor and the Tories have confirmed they will not allow another referendum in the coming years, and the Supreme Court confirmed last year that Holyrood could not organize its own referendum.
Mr Yousaf said internal disagreements over “the process” helped explain why support for the SNP fell sharply, although support for secession remained at around 50 per cent in the polls.
“One of the things that is very clear. In my view, the connection between pro-independence and the SNP is weakening because we talk too much about the process,” Mr Yousaf said.
“People don't understand why independence is important to their daily lives; cost of living crisis, the NHS, public services and the economy.
“We have to draw a line under this on Sunday, the party had a debate, it had its regional assemblies, it made a decision — let's all unite and carry on talk about politics, not about the process.»
Mr Yousaf said there were internal divisions over «the process»; helped explain why support for the Scottish National Party fell. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA
Mr Yousaf tabled a motion stating that if the Scottish National Party won more seats than any other party in Scotland at the next election, this would amount to a mandate to enter into negotiations with the UK Government about , how to “give a democratic effect” to independence.< /p>
Others should insist that the threshold be changed to a «majority» of Scottish seats, meaning a minimum of 29 seats would be required.
There will also be an attempt to revive Ms Sturgeon's plan for a «de facto referendum» which would see a majority will be needed in the general election.
However, the party's decision may not matter because Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer will not accept the general election result on the terms of the SNP's mandate for independence.
Critics have also said Mr Yousaf's plan is not credible as he stands to lose significant numbers of seats and hundreds of thousands of votes, and still claim they have a mandate to start independence talks.
However, he will insist that his activists support the position agreed at the conference, and promised to accept any policy that the delegates decide.
He said, “Let me be very frank about this one day at a conference. we have had this debate — and I am sure that in the best traditions of the Scottish National Party it will be frank, strong — that's all. We are done.
“You will draw the line: I will fully accept any decision of the conference, even if it is not my proposal. I am sure that this will happen, but I will accept whatever the conference decides.
“Everyone else must accept what the conference decides. Once this is done, the conversation about the process is over.”
There are also deep divisions within the Scottish National Party over the coalition pact with the Scottish Greens, net zero policy and taxation.
Veteran Fergus Ewing was suspended from the party's Holyrood group for a week after a series of uprisings, a decision he is appealing.
This was stated by Pamela Nash, chief executive of the pro-British election group Scotland in the Union. It's time for the Scottish National Party to «stop talking about breaking up Britain altogether.»
She added: «The people of Scotland have made it clear on many occasions that we want to stay in the UK and we don't want to leave.» through yet another divisive and toxic referendum campaign in the Scottish National Party's irresponsible time frame.
“And we certainly don't want the next general election to be misused by the Scottish National Party as a discredited de facto vote for department. It's time for the people's priorities, not the SNP's.
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