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SNP unveils independence taskforce to 'ramp up' separation campaign

The SNP has announced a new independence taskforce - AFP
The SNP has announced a new independence taskforce - AFP

The SNP has been accused of putting independence ahead of tackling the Covid pandemic after unveiling a new "taskforce" to accelerate its campaign to break up Britain.

Keith Brown, the SNP's depute leader, said the party was "ramping things up" by preparing for a second independence referendum in the "early stages" of the next parliament, following May's Holyrood election.

He said the group would be based in SNP headquarters, led by a "high-profile and experienced Yes campaigner" and would "lay the foundations" for any referendum campaign.

Among its specific tasks are publishing a series of policy papers making the case for separation, creating campaign materials for "door-to-door activism" after the pandemic ends and establishing a "national information service."

Mr Brown said the taskforce was "the final piece in the jigsaw that will help deliver independence", despite Boris Johnson's refusal to give Nicola Sturgeon the power to stage another vote.

But Holyrood's opposition parties expressed disbelief that the SNP had announced the move amid widespread concern about the spread of the new Covid strain and unprecedented demand for Scotland's hospital beds.

Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, said: "The SNP are ramping up their push for indy ref two this year while the rest of Scotland is worried about their jobs and when they'll get the Covid vaccine."

The Conservatives highlighted official figures showing one in four firms have "no or less than three months cash reserves", warning SNP delays to paying out business support risked them going bust.

It emerged last week that SNP ministers have paid out less than a tenth of promised funding to struggling businesses, delivering just £55 million of a promised £715 million.

Mr Brown said: "Our independence taskforce at SNP headquarters will be welcomed by party members and grassroots Yes activists across the country.

"I really believe that when I make the appointment it will also fire-up the wider Yes movement."

The SNP said the new national information service would "assist people in making an informed decision" in a second referendum.

However, the party has yet to spell out how it would raise the tens of billions of pounds required for a separate Scotland's reserves and balance of payments and to maintain public spending at current levels.

Mr Ross said: "They are stuck in the Holyrood bubble with no clue about the priorities of people across Scotland.

"Their shameless push for another referendum this year would wreck our recovery from the pandemic. We need to focus on building up Scotland, not breaking up our country."

He added that the SNP's business support was so "excruciatingly slow to get out of the door that it will be too late for many companies."

Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leadership favourite, said: "The SNP’s priorities are wrong. Right now, political leaders should be focused on the coronavirus crisis, the vaccination programme and creating stability for the people of Scotland."

Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said: "The First Minister promised that the SNP wouldn't start a referendum in the middle of a pandemic, but off they go. They can't help themselves."