SNP's internal feud spills out in public over Sturgeon's political approach
- High-profile SNP MP criticizes Nicola Sturgeon's handling of gender reform push.
- Party insiders accuse Sturgeon of trying to distance herself from SNP's recent electoral losses.
- Internal strife within SNP becomes more visible to the public.
In a recent development within the Scottish National Party (SNP), former MP Joanna Cherry has criticized the party's former leader, Nicola Sturgeon, for focusing too much on 'identity politics', which she believes contributed to the party's recent electoral losses. Cherry highlighted that voters expressed concerns about the SNP losing sight of important issues and facing controversies related to funding, finances, and performance at Holyrood. She emphasized the need for the party to prioritize public interests over identity politics, pointing out that the focus on issues like equality for trans people in Scotland may have alienated voters. During media appearances on BBC and ITV, Cherry held Sturgeon accountable for the party's reputation decline, attributing it to a failure to advance the cause of independence and a loss of focus on public priorities under Sturgeon's leadership. Sturgeon, on the other hand, defended her efforts to progress independence but cited Westminster's 'undemocratic veto' as a hindrance. The strained relationship between Cherry and Sturgeon dates back to internal conflicts within the SNP, with Cherry being removed from the party's Westminster front bench in 2021, leading to speculations about the reasons behind her dismissal. Criticism has also been directed at Sturgeon for her response to the SNP's election disaster, with party insiders accusing her of 'pontificating' on TV and attempting to distance herself from the party's failures. The SNP is facing backlash for a series of mistakes that have accumulated over time, with some members calling for key figures like John Swinney to step down. Sturgeon's handling of the situation has drawn comparisons to her predecessor, Alex Salmond, who also faced criticism for post-resignation interventions. Despite acknowledging her share of responsibility for the electoral outcome, Sturgeon defended her track record as a successful election winner and denied sole blame for the party's setbacks.