Karma asked;

As someone else said earlier apart from separtion what do the SNP stand for???

Scotland first, second, and always.

Westminster and the needs of the south of England are not their priority.

Second, decades of Labour stranglehold on Scottish politics was overturned in a single election. That cannot be dismissed. It means the people of Scotland have asked for a fresh vision. That is there will. And in giving the SNP the popular vote too they have shown they are not afraid of a party with independence in its manifesto. Only the other parties are scared because it may well mean they no longer control all of Britain.

The SNP have said they need time to prove an independent Scotland is a viable proposition in the 21st century - after four years it is their intention to present a referendum on that question. All the other parties deny the population that democratic expression.

In the past SNP members said once independence is secure they will disband. I doubt it. Being a party made up of converts from other parties they could well return to their old habits ... if another party adopts nationhood as a settled question.On the other hand, the SNP may decide to drop the word "national" from their title, but knowing the forces of suppression will always be ready to take back what they consider theirs we need at least one party ready to defend the sovereigny of Scotland and so the SNP may well evolve and prosper.

As for their other policies, consult their manifesto.

There are folk on this thread pointing out how close SNP policies are to Lim-Dem policies - yet they don't think the Lib-Dems irrelevant.

For years the SNP were portrayed an extremist party and ridiculed, yet both the Labour Party and the Liberal Party began life in Scotland with Home Rule as a major component of their own before abandoning it for pastures south, hence the SNP was created by those who knew Scotland would always be treated as a second-class province of England.

I hope that helps.

LA