Humza Yusuf changes independence strategy for third time in a year

Humza Yousaf during the SNP's annual conference Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

The SNP has changed its independence strategy for the third time in less than a year after Humza Yousaf abandoned his latest policy to prevent another uprising.

The First Minister tabled a motion for approval at the SNP conference in Aberdeen, arguing that next year's general election should be used to try to force another referendum.

It said he would have a mandate to open negotiations with the UK government for a new vote on secession if the Scottish National Party won more seats in Scotland than any other party.

Although changes made to the latter minute, averted a new split in the party, with one senior member of the Scottish National Party likening the debate to «being in a trance because we are being offered things that no one knows what they are talking about.»

In a further concession in an attempt to bolster his authority, Mr Yousaf agreed to require the words «Scottish independence» to appear next to the name and logo of the Scottish National Party on the general election ballot.

The changed independence strategy was supported by members and is the third adopted by the SNP since November last year, when Nicola Sturgeon proposed using the general election as a «de facto referendum».

The First Minister would have seen this. demanding immediate independence talks with the UK government, rather than just a referendum, if the SNP wins more than 50 per cent of the popular vote.

Launching his proposal on the first day of the three-day conference, Mr Yousaf said he was against the plan. Ms Sturgeon, telling delegates: “Let us not fall into the trap of setting ourselves a bar that no other party has set for itself.”

But he then created further confusion by bowing to another demand from some of his MPs to consider using the 2026 Scottish Parliament election as a de facto referendum.

Graham McCormick, who is running for the SNP presidency, told delegates: “ What we have here is what I would call flatulence in a trance, because we are being offered things that no one knows what they are talking about — this

The debate took place just hours after a poll was released showing only 20 per cent of Scots backed the idea. The Scottish National Party agreed at the last Holyrood election that the party that wins a majority of Westminster seats would provide an independence mandate.

Opinion polls following the SNP's humiliating defeat in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-elections , indicate that the Nationalists will also fall behind the Labor Party in the general election.

Mr Yousaf called for unity among the warring party, with bickering members stopping to «talk about process» and start pushing for independence once strategy has been decided. They l

Humza Yousaf says talk of the process has turned voters away from the SNP. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

The overwhelming majority voted in favor of the changed strategy.

Opening the debate, the First Minister said he wanted the «first page of the first line» of the SNP's general election manifesto to call on people to «vote SNP for Scotland to become an independent country.»

But he added: » Frankly, we've hit a roadblock at Westminster, so if they're going to deny us a referendum, let's use the next general election to put independence front and center.»

He continued: «Although we Our goal in Westminster is to win a majority of seats… if we win that majority, it will be our mandate to begin negotiations with the UK Government on how to exert democratic influence on the decisions of the Scottish people.»

Tommy Sheppard MP for Edinburgh East, said only a referendum could lead to independence and the SNP needed to win a general election in Scotland to «keep that possibility alive.»

«If we lose this election then this journey stops . The debate will be closed and removed from discussion. Therefore, we cannot afford to lose these elections,” he added.