Changes

=== Failure of independence campaign and Sturgeon regime (2014 - 2023) ===

=== Failure of independence campaign and Sturgeon regime (2014 - 2023) ===

[[Nicola Sturgeon]] became party leader and First Minister in 2014 following the resignation of Alex Salmond in 2014 in the wake of the pro-"independence" ''Yes Scotland'' campaign being unsuccessful the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. Her premiership has been blatantly authoritarian, with commentators describing a merging of state and party similar to previous totalitarian regimes such as [[Hitler]]'s Germany or [[Stalin]]'s [[USSR]].<ref name="ts21" />

[[Nicola Sturgeon]] became party leader and First Minister in 2014 following the resignation of Alex Salmond in 2014 in the wake of the pro-"independence" ''Yes Scotland'' campaign being unsuccessful the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. Her premiership was blatantly authoritarian, with commentators describing a merging of state and party similar to previous totalitarian regimes such as [[Hitler]]'s Germany or [[Stalin]]'s [[USSR]].<ref name="ts21" />

In March 2015, the party was accused of threatening the independence of universities as it stated plans to "bring politicians very close to the governance of institutions". St Andrews University in Fife stated that the SNP's policy was "a serious threat to responsible autonomy and academic freedom".<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2015/03/03/scottish-universities-accuse-the-snp-of-threatening-their-independence/</ref>

In March 2015, the party was accused of threatening the independence of universities as it stated plans to "bring politicians very close to the governance of institutions". St Andrews University in Fife stated that the SNP's policy was "a serious threat to responsible autonomy and academic freedom".<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2015/03/03/scottish-universities-accuse-the-snp-of-threatening-their-independence/</ref>

Another example of SNP racism occurred in March 2022, when SNP policy advisor Tim Rideout posted a Tweet saying that English Conservative politician [[Priti Patel]] should be "sent back to [[Uganda]]".<ref>[https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/snp-policy-advisor-suspended-party-26486752 SNP policy advisor suspended by party over 'racist' Priti Patel tweet] </ref> That month, an SNP council candidate and executive committee member came under fire for calling [[Pope Benedict XVI]] a "c**t" and her outlandish conspiracy theory that [[9/11]] was an inside job by the FBI and CIA.<ref name="herald911insidejob">[https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20010909.snp-candidate-fire-claims-9-11-inside-job/ SNP candidate under fire over claims 9/11 was an 'inside job']</ref>

Another example of SNP racism occurred in March 2022, when SNP policy advisor Tim Rideout posted a Tweet saying that English Conservative politician [[Priti Patel]] should be "sent back to [[Uganda]]".<ref>[https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/snp-policy-advisor-suspended-party-26486752 SNP policy advisor suspended by party over 'racist' Priti Patel tweet] </ref> That month, an SNP council candidate and executive committee member came under fire for calling [[Pope Benedict XVI]] a "c**t" and her outlandish conspiracy theory that [[9/11]] was an inside job by the FBI and CIA.<ref name="herald911insidejob">[https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20010909.snp-candidate-fire-claims-9-11-inside-job/ SNP candidate under fire over claims 9/11 was an 'inside job']</ref>

== Ideology and policies ==

== Ideology and policies ==