Wondering what's happened to the SNP over the last few years.
Where is Independence in all those years since 2014? Now may not be the time to be lamenting the complete lack of focus from them on Independence, but this rot that has set in goes back years. So here goes.

I first noticed the rot myself in the Scottish Elections in 2017. Despite the voting system, the SNP campaigned on the electorate to vote 1st and 2nd choice. Everyone knew fine well that this only opened the door to unionist MSP's getting list seats. Why did they do this?

Credit where it's due. They put up a good fight against Brexit. Got what they wanted in the polls. 62% voted Remain, and the divergence of the constituent parts of the UK was glaringly obvious. However, they cornered themselves into a Section 30 lock.

The plan being to maximise continual election wins to demonstrate to Westminster that the democratic divergence equalled a mandate for a second Independence Referendum.
Well, the naivete of this is breathtakingly stupid.

Imagine believing that you could convince/shame any Westminster government into giving you the right to self-determination when it knows it holds that Section 30 lock?
Which brings me to the heart of the matter, as I see it anyway.

I've watched Ian Blackford being told to "Go back to Skye" by Nicholas Soames in the HoC, part of a persistent laughing, jeering, and very public disrespect shown to the SNP by Tory MP's especially- and not exclusively. We've all seen it. Yet those SNP MP's still sit in there.

All I saw in response to this was precious outrage. Pitiful and pathetic.
If you can trade your self-respect for that handsome MP salary, then it's no wonder they are being treated with such disdain. Swearing allegiance to the British monarchy in that most British of ceremony.

And that "I do so under duress" grandstanding pish is embarrassing and degrading. Irrespective of their claimed discomfort, they're still doing it anyway. Where is the integrity, courage or principles gone? Did they ever have them?

Then there's Alex Salmond. A group of women conspire via whatsapp to take down arguably the greatest politician in most of our lifetimes. Careerists on the make, one of which had sought his endorsement, which was not forthcoming. Hell hath no fury like a career scorned.

So what about Nicola Sturgeon? Did the surge in SNP membership include a large number of 'woke' folk, pushing her into giving them positions in the party/government that reflected their percentage membership?

If so, that is understandable and democratic tbh. However, she let it get out of hand. Even after that debacle of a trial- and that description is an understatement btw- they're still senior members in big salaried nominated jobs.

And why did the SNP align with Westminster policy on dealing with the coronavirus? Don't make excuses about reserved powers. Independence? There is no fight in them even for this ffs. No backbone whatsoever. Instead, have a look at the big hitters in the party recently.

You've got John Nicholson on a blocking spree of women on twitter, because they have the temerity to question or criticise his musings on policy. Or Angus Robertson currently urging people to go out and buy the very newspapers that lied Independence and incidentally, Salmond too.

Their deafening silence when it comes to anti-Irish racism, yet promoting One Scotland, Many Cultures has not gone unnoticed. I could go on and on.
Anyway, these are just my musings. Free to agree/disagree. I just don't see or hear anything about Independence from SNP anymore.