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From small party to big power: How did the Scottish National Party turn around in politics?
The Scottish National Party (SNP) is Scotland's nationalist social democratic party, founded in 1934. It supports Scottish independence from the United Kingdom and is committed to promoting progressive social policies and civic nationalism. With the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, the SNP gradually gained an important position in politics. After many electoral twists and turns, it has now become one of the largest political parties in Scotland and holds a significant number of seats in the British House of Commons.
Since its founding, the SNP has steadily made its mark on Scottish politics, growing from difficult early days into a major political party.
The establishment and early progress of the Party (1934-1970)
The SNP was founded as a result of the merger of the National Party and the Scottish Party. In the early days, different policies during the war caused divisions within the party. Although it won its first congressional seat in 1945, subsequent election results were not ideal. It was not until the 1960s that the SNP's electoral performance improved slightly, especially in 1967 when Winnie Ewing was unexpectedly elected at a by-election in Hamilton, a victory that launched the party to national recognition.
Through these successful elections, the SNP gradually became a more significant political force in Scotland and became the main political party in promoting Scottish independence in the future.
Gradually growing (1970s)
The 1970 general election was a disappointment for the SNP, but 1974 was the party's miracle year. The party won six seats in the general election and rose back to 11 seats in October's re-election. At the same time, the party began to gain control in local elections. But with the defeat in 1978, internal conflicts began to arise within the party, and eventually in the 1979 general election, the number of seats dropped significantly to just two MPs.
Internal conflicts and factional struggles (1980s)
In the 1980s, the SNP's low ebb continued, and the opposition between the traditionalists and the left within the party intensified, leading to the establishment of the 79 Group. Despite various internal challenges, the party still made new progress in the 1990s, especially in 1997, when the SNP participated in the establishment of the Scottish Parliament.
Cooperation with other political parties allowed the SNP to regain political status and laid the foundation for future independence movements.
Government under Salmond (2007-2014)
In 2007, the SNP became the largest party in the Scottish Parliament with 47 seats and formed a minority government. In 2011, it achieved an astonishing result of 69 seats, which enabled the SNP to hold a referendum on Scottish independence. Although the 2014 referendum ultimately ended in opposition to independence, the SNP's support reached unprecedented heights as a result of the campaign.
The Sturkin period (2014-2023)
Under Sturkin's leadership, the SNP experienced explosive growth in the 2015 general election, winning 56 seats with great fanfare. The party encountered some challenges in the subsequent elections of 2016 and 2017, but despite this, they maintained their position as the largest party in Scotland.
The SNP's continued success highlights the Scottish electorate's support for the right to self-determination and continues to have an impact within the Leafs and in relations with the UK government.
Yousaf’s Challenge (2023 onwards)
With Yusaf taking over as party leader in 2023, the SNP faces internal and external challenges. Declining voter support, divisions within the party, and expectations for a future independence movement have caused the party to suffer heavy losses in the 2024 general election, reducing the number of seats to the second largest party. With Yousaf's short term in office and the party's reorganization, it is still unclear whether the SNP can regain its momentum.
Will viral suspicion and internal turmoil become stumbling blocks to the SNP's future re-emergence?
