Neil Mackay voted Labour until the Iraq War. Now, with little faith in Westminster, our Writer At Large is ready to re-evaluate his political stance — lest he remain politically homeless.

Let me make clear: this isn’t a statement of voting intention. Rather, it’s an account of my changing opinion of the SNP; a journey which, I believe, is mirrored to some extent among a relatively significant proportion of Scotland’s population.

To me, it’s important to be honest with readers. The Herald allows me the privilege of voicing my views, so I should be as open as possible in return.

Most readers know my political history: I’m left-wing. I voted Labour until the Iraq War, and was then politically homeless. Like many, I gave the SNP a chance as it seemed the only party offering even a hint of social democracy.

I support independence from a progressive rather than nationalist position. Basically, I’ve no faith in Westminster ever creating the kind of fair and equal society I want, so independence remains my only route to change. If Westminster did start improving society, I may possibly cool on independence.

I backed Nicola Sturgeon in the early years of her premiership. I liked her style and progressive values. But I quickly wearied of her endless claims that ‘Indy Is Coming’. It was manipulative and shallow.

As I’m not an independence fundamentalist, but really an old-fashioned leftie, I wasn’t prepared to ignore Sturgeon’s failures and ‘wheest for Indy’.

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