SNP to seek influence on English only matters

Westminster leader wants more engagement

The SNP is shaping up to make an audacious bid to influence English public life, the party’s Westminster leader has revealed.

Hot on the heels of reversing a longstanding principle not to take part in matters that don’t impact on Scotland by pledging to vote on fox hunting in England and Wales, Angus Robertson unveiled his vision for a new relationship with the rest of the UK’s countries.

Policy teams will now formulate plans to engage with movers and shakers across Britain, mimicking how the party has built relationships in Scotland.

Moray MP Mr Robertson said: “We have been successful in talking with civic society in Scotland, of having good links with the business society, the creatives, all of that. We are now going to be in a position to do that in the rest of the UK.

“So if it’s colleagues in the economy team speaking with the chamber of commerce in Leeds about what needs to happen with transport links and HS2, or whether it is speaking with the business community in Newcastle, or talking to the trade council in Cardiff.”

He added: “You know that we believe in a social union, you know that we believe that the home nations matter, you know that we have ideas about how we would wish to work with our friends and neighbours on these islands in a different way.

“We are in a position to do that now. We were never able to do that before.”

The plans proved controversial, with the Conservatives and Labour criticising the strategy.

Tory chief whip at Holyrood, John Lamont, said: “I’m sure their constituents would much rather they focused on the state of our local health service, the attainment gap in our schools and the serious concerns over the performance of Police Scotland.”

Labour’s sole Scottish MP, Ian Murray, said: “In recent days we have seen the looming GP crisis in Scotland exposed, reports of cuts to the number of maternity beds in Glasgow, and the shambles in the police service. Instead of playing political games people in Scotland would rather the SNP spent more of their time fixing the mess they have made of our public services.”

Mr Robertson’s plan could be met with scepticism by some within his party.

A “wide range of views” were put forward during the group meeting about whether or not to vote on fox hunting, according to SNP sources.

Although the eventual decision was unanimous, a number of MPs were uncomfortable with the prospect of making a crucial impact on something with no direct relevance to Scotland.