Nicola Sturgeon risks making the same mistakes that contributed to Labour’s decline in Scotland, a senior SNP figure has warned.
Kenny MacAskill, who was in Alex Salmond’s cabinet for seven years, has delivered a blunt assessment of the SNP leader’s political agenda, saying it has been “marked more by timidity than radicalism”.
He said her approach to domestic issues has echoes of the complacency that triggered the downfall of Labour north of the border.
The former justice secretary also highlighted the risks to the SNP’s support in its traditional heartlands, which includes Tayside, from Ms Sturgeon moving the party to the left.
Writing for The Times, he said: “The SNP has become a formidable electoral force, replacing the old Labour machine. Able to win elections, but seemingly unsure what to do thereafter.
“The First Minister’s political agenda has been marked more by timidity than radicalism, other than on gender.
“The danger is that her government end up simply managing, not leading, the political agenda; much indeed, as Labour did in years before devolution. Mitigating austerity but managing decline.
“Action to make Scotland a more prosperous and better place is needed as well as mitigating the worst excesses of the Tory Government and trying to avoid the harm Brexit will cause.”
His comments come ahead of this week’s SNP conference in Glasgow, where the issues of Brexit and independence are likely to dominate.
Mr MacAskill is one of a number of SNP figures who have called for restraint in the decision over whether to call an early independence referendum.
At the weekend, Tommy Sheppard MP, who is one of the contenders to be Ms Sturgeon’s party deputy, said most SNP activists do not want to rush into indyref2.
On maintaining support in areas where it has historic backing, Mr MacAskill said: “She’s moved the party to the left, which has risks in former SNP heartland areas.”
He added the First Minister has the challenge of keeping “old SNP and all Scotland on board” as it focuses on ousting Labour from its heartlands in the central belt.
A spokesman for the First Minister defended her record.
“Our electoral success has been built on a record of competent government and standing up for Scotland against Tory austerity,” he said.
“During our time in office we have made necessary, and radical, long-term reforms such as those to police, colleges, health and social care services – precisely so we are equipped to face the challenges of the future.”
He added plans over local taxation and the new social security powers devolved to Holyrood have “made clear there will be no let-up in our reform agenda”.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: “Here’s yet another reminder to Nicola Sturgeon that her priority has to be the day job, and this time it comes from one of her previously most senior MSPs and cabinet colleague.”
Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said: “The First Minister’s own members are now calling on her to get on with the day job of improving Scotland and she would do well to listen to those calls.”
Writing in her newspaper column, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said rather than talking up independence in her conference speech, Ms Sturgeon should “take ownership of a decade of SNP government which is littered with broken promises”.
