An SNP politician has floated the idea of the party following Sinn Fein’s lead and pulling its MPs out of Westminster altogether, if the UK government keeps refusing to budge on Scottish independence.
Steven Bonnar, the SNP MSP, said the party should seriously consider an abstentionist approach, similar to the one long used by the Irish republican party, which refuses to take up its seats in the House of Commons on principle.
Bonnar made clear this would not be his first choice, but argued it needs to be on the table if the current deadlock over a second independence referendum cannot be broken. The suggestion is likely to spark debate within the SNP, which has traditionally engaged with Westminster despite ongoing frustrations over how Scotland is treated within the union.
Sinn Fein has maintained its abstentionist policy for decades, arguing that taking seats in Westminster would mean accepting the legitimacy of British rule over Northern Ireland. Some within the SNP have long admired that stance, though the party has generally resisted going down that road.
For the SNP, Westminster representation has been central to its political strategy, particularly after the 2015 general election when the party sent 56 MPs to London in a political earthquake that reshaped Scottish politics. The party has used its presence at Westminster to argue Scotland’s case, scrutinise UK legislation, and keep independence on the national agenda.
But with the UK government showing no sign of granting a Section 30 order, which would give Holyrood the legal power to hold a binding referendum, some in the party are growing restless. The Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that the Scottish Parliament cannot hold an independence vote without Westminster’s consent, leaving the SNP without a clear legal route forward.
Bonnar’s comments reflect a frustration that has been building for some time among independence supporters who feel the constitutional path is being deliberately blocked. The argument goes that if Westminster will not engage meaningfully with Scotland’s democratic wishes, then perhaps Scotland’s elected representatives should stop engaging with Westminster.
Critics of the idea, however, point out that walking away from Westminster could leave Scottish constituents without a voice on decisions that still directly affect them, from welfare policy to defence spending. Pulling out of the Commons would not stop UK-wide legislation applying in Scotland, and could leave the party looking like it has given up rather than fighting harder.
There is also the question of what abstentionism would actually achieve in practical terms. Sinn Fein’s approach has its roots in a very specific historical and political context in Northern Ireland. Whether the same logic translates to Scotland’s situation is something the SNP would need to think through carefully before making any such move.
The SNP is already navigating a difficult period, having lost its majority at Westminster in the 2024 general election and facing renewed questions about its strategy for achieving independence. Leadership has so far focused on making the economic and social case for independence, while waiting for what they describe as the right political conditions.
Bonnar’s suggestion adds another voice to an internal conversation about whether the current approach is working, and what alternatives might look like. Whether it gains traction within the party remains to be seen, but it signals that patience among some SNP figures is wearing thin.
Honestly think they should just do it tbh. Call the bluff. Sitting in Westminster clearly isn’t getting them anywhere and everyone’s just going round in circles. At least it would force some kind of conversation rather than the same old back and forth we’ve seen for years now.