A God-given right?

(or a voter-given right?)

Recently I got a letter from Reform UK saying the SNP think they have “a God-given right to govern Scotland”. In fact it’s a voter-given right, as they won the elections in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2021, and look to win again on the 7th of May.

Here’s the letter:

Not only did the SNP come first in the last four Scottish Parliament elections, they also came first in 3 of the last 4 Westminster elections (in 2015, 2017 and 2019).

Why?

I think a lot of the reason is that the Westminster parties, including Reform UK, are anti Scotland: at a subconscious level, they regard it as illegitimate for Scots and the SNP to campaign for independence. “Know your place, Scots vermin” they seem to be saying to themselves.

Reform also promise:

Every reform MSP you send to Holyrood will fight the SNP on every issue

Meaning they will reflexively oppose the SNP om everything, even if its something they agree with! This level of negativity and divisiveness is bad for Scotland. What MSPs, of all parties, should do is decide each issuer on its merits.