High profile MP considering contesting for deputy leadership role as UK votes to leave EU
SNP MP TOMMY SHEPPARD is holding a second meeting on the Scottish political situation and the future of the movement for independence, in the wake of an announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that a second vote on Scottish independence is “very likely”.
The meeting will take place in the Yes bar in Glasgow city centre 3 July at 3pm, and was originally meant to discuss a range of political issues in Scotland, including the SNP’s forthcoming summer ‘listening campaign’ and the party’s internal deputy leadership election, in which Sheppard may participate.
“I’m keen to discuss the political context surrounding the deputy leadership election that’s about to take place within the party, and to consider post-election, post-EU referendum how we devise a strategy to achieve our central goal of becoming a self-governing nation.” Tommy Sheppard
However the meeting will now take place in the midst of an unprecedented political storm, following the UK’s shock vote to leave the EU, the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron, and the announcement by Sturgeon that another independence referendum was “on the table”.
Speaking to CommonSpace ahead of the event, Sheppard said: “I’m keen to discuss the political context surrounding the deputy leadership election that’s about to take place within the party, and to consider post-election, post-EU referendum how we devise a strategy to achieve our central goal of becoming a self-governing nation.”
The meeting is a spillover from a forum scheduled for 30th June. The meeting sold out in just a few hours.
The deputy leadership positon, which Sheppard is considering standing for, is an influential role within the SNP.
Former deputy leader Stewart Hosie was also the figure in charge of the summer launch of the listening campaign announced before the 2016 Scottish elections, before he chose to resign in May 2016.
The summer campaign was announced at the SNP’s March conference and was billed as an attempt to change the minds of votes unpersuaded by the case for independence during the 2014 Scottish referendum.
However it is likely that campaigning plans have now changed substantially given the constitutional chaos into which the UK has been plunged by the Out vote.
Tickets for the meeting with Sheppard can be bought here.
Picture courtesy of the SNP
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