The Scottish National Party (SNP) has faced criticism for utilizing the limited time remaining before the Scottish Parliament goes on a two-month summer holiday to discuss its plan for Scottish

independence and the abolition of the monarchy. As the parliament prepares to break up on Thursday, MSPs are not scheduled to reconvene until the first Monday of September, resulting in a lengthy absence from legislative duties.

During the final week, one of the three sitting days will feature a government-led debate on "Building a New Scotland - The Constitution of an Independent Country." The report, funded by taxpayers, was unveiled by First Minister Humza Yousaf and proposes the creation of a written constitution in the event of Scottish independence. The document, presented by Yousaf, who identifies as a republican, suggests that a constitutional convention should explore alternative models for the head of state in an independent Scotland, subject to a vote.

Critics, such as Scottish Conservative shadow rural affairs secretary Rachael Hamilton, argue that focusing on the independence debate during the closing week of parliamentary term reflects misplaced priorities. They highlight other pressing issues, including the lack of clarity on the Agriculture Bill, ongoing infrastructure challenges, and the impact of fishing restrictions. The criticism further emphasizes a perceived disconnection between the nationalist coalition and the needs of remote and rural Scotland.

Under the proposed plan, if independence is achieved, the Scottish Parliament would develop an interim constitution, which would take effect upon Scotland's departure from the UK. Subsequently, a constitutional convention would be established to formulate a permanent constitution, subject to approval by Holyrood and a referendum.

Yousaf contends that such a constitution could safeguard workers' right to industrial action and outline provisions on housing, community land ownership, and access to healthcare. Additionally, he asserts that the document should unequivocally state Scotland's opposition to hosting nuclear weapons.

Yousaf's previous suggestion that Scotland would reassess its stance on the monarchy within five years was met with a rebuke from No10, which emphasized the need to address pressing issues such as inflation instead of focusing on the UK's potential separation. The SNP's evolving criteria for an independence mandate, including a potential threshold of winning "the most" MPs, has also generated debate and uncertainty surrounding the party's strategy.

As the Scottish Parliament prepares to adjourn, the SNP's insistence on prioritizing the independence debate has raised concerns about the allocation of parliamentary time and the attention given to pressing domestic matters. Photo by © User:Colin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0