Salmond can only increase SNP support. If Labour loses the next election, the SP could quickly become Gordon Morgan one which could vote for inde- organise exactly such a referen- policies on a wider range of is- again 40% of voters favour inde- Page 3 Three way choice the largest party in Scotland. Assembly or independence. referendum. Under the pendence. Yet have occurred. thought by many that Sillars would take over. Instead he put up a stalking horse by backing traditionalist. Salmond stood to challenge the perceived continua- Salmond gained the support of the left, those concerned with the policy errors, and a considerable traditionalists. His victory was substantial. More surprisingly, the Mac Askill, a Sillars supporter, was defeated narrowly by a Sal- These personality and tactical however, and Salmond is by far the best spokesperson the SNP tion to payment of the Poll Tax, proposed assembly and remains the Poll Tax, a very few delegates wished to end support for mass anti-Sillars group including many main Poll Tax spokesman, Kenny differences are not too deep meanwhile reaffirmed its opposi- maintained its denunciation of the opposed to nuclear weapons. On non payment- they were roundly On the Assembly, the SNP overwhelmingly voted to par- ticipate in elections and argue within for independence. This, mind you was only if an Assemb- ly was set up - which in tum as- sumed Labour were elected to government in Westminster. Both were thought unlikely. a major tion of the old failed leadership. denounced. Non payment reaffirmed by acclamation. was step forward in policy. Nevertheless this mond supporter. The Poll Tax changed the SP's prospects stitutional Convention. It was equally felt Labour would not however, and quickly wrong back the proposed Scottish Con- support it, particularly as the Claim was in many ways revolu- "sovereignty resides in the people footed the SNP. The SNP withdrew from the Convention claiming amongst other matters that the Convention had rejected independence as an option. In fact, although the consensual proposals of the remaining mem- bers of the Convention is for a powers of the Assembly are greatly increased over proposals sembly would have tax raising powers and possibly powers to nationalise. However even these powers would prove unable to solve the structural crisis of the Scottish economy and would be seen as inadequate. Clearly the Assembly if established would be a major stepping stone towards For withdrawing, the SNP were portrayed in the media as tish interests. Labour had a major ters by silly predictions and un- As the SNP convenor Gordon Wilson was retiring, it had been of even three years ago - the As- sectarian and acting against Scot- boost. Sillars compounded mat- founded claims. SNP support col- Stalking horse lapsed to pre-Govan levels. not parliament.' Westminster, independence. SOCIALIST OUTLOOK no 28, November 1990 New members supported the left, The Poll Tax changed the elected MP for Govan in a huge swing immediately after labour Poll Tax, and instead set up their not on the traditionalists side. and by 1987 a clear majority sup ported Sillars as senior vice con- voted to implement the Poll Tax. The SNP vote surged nationally to around 30%, having been 14% at the election. Everyone an- ticipated a major turnaround with the SNP threatening to overtake But although the SNP gained from clear opposition to the Poll Tax (and their opposition has un- doubtedly boosted the campaign), their policies lacked coherence. They refused to participate in the STUC's campaign against the own purely propagandist cam- Thus at a time when non- registration was the key and the unions had not voted on im- sequently modified their position and now collaborate with the anti- mitted Labour to downplay the ridiculing SNP claims. The SNP When the Claim of Right for it was expected the SNP would Poll Tax Federation, this per- responded with vituperative at- Scotland was published in 1988, SNP's prospects. Sillars Although they campaign a million Time however, was paign for non-payment. the Poll Tax Labour in the polls. tacks on Labour. plementation, non-payment proclaimed payers". venor.
Forum, the NEC and Conference Arrangements Committee before All of this has been sold in the guise of making the party more accessible(!) as well as more like European model finally getting to conference.