A former SNP MP has publicly accused the party of lacking strategic direction under John Swinney and said it would need a “sea change” to restore momentum towards Scottish independence.
Senior former figure calls for major reset
The intervention came from Joanna Cherry, who spoke at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and warned that the party, as currently led, does not appear to have a clear long-term plan. Ms Cherry, who left the SNP after losing her Westminster seat in the 2024 general election, argued successive leaders had left the party without coherent direction.
She singled out the leadership since Nicola Sturgeon’s tenure, stating that the party had been mismanaged across several successive administrations. Ms Cherry identified a lack of “vision” under Mr Swinney, who became SNP leader in 2024.
“I don’t think there really is any vision,” Ms Cherry told broadcaster Iain Dale.
Her comments referenced what she described as a pattern of poor strategic thinking across the party’s recent leadership. Ms Cherry suggested that unless the SNP altered its approach substantially, its ability to deliver independence would be limited.
Background and internal dynamics
Ms Cherry recalled earlier intra-party contests and the hostile environment she faced when seeking office. She said the experience of standing to lead the SNP’s Westminster group in 2017, when she lost to Ian Blackford, would have been highly damaging to her personally had she succeeded.
She also linked the critique to public perceptions of how the party handles the powers it already exercises. Ms Cherry said the SNP did not appear to know how to use its current responsibilities effectively, drawing an unfavourable comparison with other parties’ internal discipline and focus.
- John Swinney succeeded as SNP leader in 2024.
- Joanna Cherry is no longer a party member and lost her Commons seat at the 2024 general election.
- She said she would consider a return to elected politics only under certain leadership changes.
Potential paths and names floated
Ms Cherry did not rule out resuming political life. She said a return might be conceivable if Stephen Flynn, who moved from Westminster to Holyrood and is now Economy, Tourism and Transport Secretary in the Scottish Cabinet, became the next party leader.
When asked about the pool of current Holyrood figures, she assessed Mr Flynn as the most appealing option among those available to her. She did not set out a timescale for any personal return to frontline politics.
| Leader | Context |
|---|---|
| Nicola Sturgeon | Preceded Humza Yousaf and John Swinney |
| Humza Yousaf | Served between Sturgeon and Swinney |
| John Swinney | Assumed party leadership in 2024 |
The critique arrives after internal and external commentary about the SNP’s performance at elections and its strategic priorities. Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon herself has described a lack of “big picture thinking” in recent campaigns, underscoring the debate within nationalist politics about direction and tactics.
Implications for independence strategy
Ms Cherry’s remarks bear on two linked questions: whether the SNP can translate its current political standing into renewed popular support for independence, and whether the party’s leadership can unite different factions around a shared strategy. Her call for a “sea change” implies both structural and rhetorical shifts would be required.
How the party’s membership and senior figures respond could shape the next phase of SNP politics. If calls for fresh leadership or new strategy gain traction, they may alter debate in Holyrood and Westminster about the timing and tactics for pursuing a further referendum or other constitutional initiatives.
For now, the comments add to a chorus of voices urging reflection inside the SNP. Whether they prompt concrete change will depend on internal deliberations and forthcoming political tests for the party.
