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SNP MPs Accused of Spreading Unverified Claims, Calls for Accountability

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  Published in Politics and Government on Thursday, November 20th 2025 at 0:09 GMT by Daily Record

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SNP Politicians Must Be Held Accountable, Says Daily Record Columnist

In a sharply worded op‑ed for the Daily Record, the writer argues that the Scottish National Party (SNP) has long allowed its MPs and MSPs to make sweeping, unverified claims without any internal checks or external consequences. The article opens by recalling a recent incident in which an SNP front‑bench member touted a “breakthrough” policy that, according to the writer, was “largely a myth.” The columnist calls on the SNP’s leadership to take concrete steps to ensure that its representatives are answerable to both the party and the public for the veracity of what they say.

The Incident That Sparked the Call

The article recounts a statement made by a prominent SNP MSP during a televised debate on the Scottish Parliament’s budget. In that segment, the MSP claimed that the Scottish Government’s tax reforms would “double” the nation’s fiscal surplus in the next fiscal year—a figure that later analysts said was “inaccurate and misleading.” The Daily Record’s columnist points out that the statement was taken up by several media outlets, and the SNP’s own social‑media channels amplified it, giving it an aura of legitimacy that was never fact‑checked by the party’s own research teams.

The incident is used as a cautionary tale. The columnist argues that it shows a pattern of “spin‑heavy” communication that the SNP has cultivated over the past decade, especially as it seeks to position itself as the credible voice on the future of Scotland. The author notes that while other parties in the UK routinely publish research reports and data before making claims of this nature, the SNP has rarely done so.

Historical Context: The SNP’s Growth and “Spin”

The article then provides a brief history of the SNP’s rise. Since its founding in 1934, the party has gradually built a stronghold in Scottish politics. By the early 2000s, it had become the dominant political force in the Scottish Parliament, culminating in a de facto majority in the 2021 election. As the party has grown, so too has its ambition to influence Westminster policy, especially on issues such as the NHS, education, and public services.

The columnist links this ambition to an “increasing appetite for sensationalism” in party messaging. “When the SNP wants a headline,” the writer writes, “it sometimes does not care about the facts.” The article cites examples from the past, such as the party’s “Pensioners’ Money” campaign in 2015 and its “We’ll Fix the NHS” promises, which were later challenged by independent reviews.

Comparisons to Other Parties

In an effort to illustrate the point, the Daily Record article references similar situations in other UK parties. For instance, it mentions a Conservative MP who was compelled to retract a claim about the NHS workforce shortage after data from NHS Digital contradicted the statement. The author notes that the Conservative Party’s internal “fact‑checking” unit was quick to issue a correction, whereas the SNP’s own mechanisms appear to lag behind.

The columnist also cites the Scottish Labour Party’s approach to accountability. Labour’s spokespersons are quoted as routinely issuing “clarifications” after making policy claims, a practice that the writer sees as a standard of due diligence that the SNP should emulate.

Proposed Measures for Accountability

The article’s core is a set of recommendations the writer believes the SNP must adopt:

1. An Independent Fact‑Checking Panel – A body that reviews all major policy statements made by party leaders before they are released to the media.
2. Clear Consequences for Misstatements – Formal reprimands, suspension, or even expulsion from the party for repeat offenders.
3. Transparency in Internal Research – Making all data and research that inform policy statements publicly available, so that voters can evaluate the claims.
4. Regular Media Training – Equipping MPs and MSPs with the skills to present data accurately and avoid over‑exaggeration.

The writer argues that implementing these measures would help the SNP regain public trust and demonstrate that it is a responsible political actor, not just a party driven by rhetoric.

Broader Implications for Scottish Politics

The columnist expands the discussion to the wider political environment in Scotland. With the SNP poised to contest the next UK general election, any loss of credibility could be costly. The author notes that the party’s own policy on “devolution” – the transfer of powers from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament – has been repeatedly challenged by critics who question the feasibility of the proposed fiscal arrangements.

The article closes with a warning: “If the SNP continues to allow unverified claims to circulate unchecked, it risks alienating voters who value honesty and accountability. In the era of information overload, the truth is the most valuable currency.”

Related Links and Further Reading

Within the Daily Record piece, several hyperlinks direct readers to additional resources:

• A link to the SNP’s official policy statement on “Fiscal Responsibility,” which the writer cites as the source of the disputed claims.
• An article from the BBC that analyzed the statistical methodology behind the SNP’s projected budget surplus.
• A Scottish Parliament briefing document that outlines the party’s internal review processes – a resource the writer argues is lacking in detail.

These links, when followed, provide readers with a deeper understanding of the claims in question, the data that contradicts them, and the institutional gaps that allow such misinformation to spread.

In Summary

The Daily Record’s columnists take a clear stance: the SNP’s success in Scottish politics has not come without a cost. The article underscores a growing need for rigorous accountability mechanisms within the party, especially as it seeks to shape policy at both the national and local levels. By offering concrete recommendations and drawing on comparative examples from other parties, the writer hopes to prompt the SNP leadership to adopt a more fact‑based approach. The piece serves as both a critique and a call to action, reminding the SNP’s supporters—and the broader Scottish electorate—that the weight of a political promise is measured not just by ambition, but by truth.