The SNP’s ‘independence convention’ this weekend isn’t just an exercise in futility, it’s a case study in self-harm. It's an event which will please nobody.

Evidently, unionists will be thoroughly sickened. So from the get-go, the SNP continues the alienation of roughly 50% of the population opposed to its core policy.

Worse yet, the summit won’t satisfy Yes voters, principally because it kicks the final decision on any ‘roadmap for independence’ into autumn. It won’t be until the SNP’s annual conference in October that the party “will officially decide” its independence strategy.

So it’s a navel-gazing talking shop, at best. And remember, this event was first announced last December, in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling Holyrood didn’t have powers to legislate for another referendum. The former first minister Nicola Sturgeon announced there would be an independence conference in March. But then she resigned, and all hell broke loose within the SNP.

Neil Mackay: So why can't Nicola Sturgeon stay out of the limelight?

Thus, finally, the summit staggers into the light of Dundee. With no final decision being made, the various factions in the SNP now have months to bad-mouth each other, further undermining the party’s declining fortunes.

Gradualists won’t be happy; populists won’t be happy; the base won’t be happy; the rank and file won’t be happy; elected members won’t be happy. Rebels will accuse the leadership of centralisation and top-down string-pulling. Everyone will go home dissatisfied at yet more agonising delay, furthering the endless Groundhog Day absurdity which exists around the constitution.

This all cements the sense that the SNP is lost. There is also the clear folly of being seen to focus on the constitution at a time when the country is sinking further into economic crisis. A summit on the cost of living would do more for the SNP’s standing among undecideds.

Evidently, Yes voters will say ‘but independence is the only way to save Scotland from economic crisis’. The problem is: that hasn’t been proven to the wider population, if it had then support for independence would be much higher. So the cart isn’t just before the horse, there is no horse.

The Herald:

Prove the case for independence then get a referendum. That’s the only formula. Proving the case for independence doesn’t just mean answering the myriad questions the SNP has never adequately dealt with – pensions, borders, armed forces, currency – it also means showing that the party is capable of governing Scotland well.

Nobody can say the SNP has adequately governed Scotland for some considerable time. Ministers fail repeatedly. This isn’t just down to spending too much time thinking about independence and not enough thinking about policy. It’s also because the party followed the dangerous logic of believing it could show how flawed devolution was in order to gain support for independence. That tactic merely showed the SNP was bad at government. As a result, it failed to increase support for independence.

Govern well. By doing so get independence support to preferably 60% for a prolonged period. Then hopefully...

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