Interference By The UK Government
The party was accused of being paranoid when it claimed that it was being spied upon by government agents. The SNP's paranoia was justified when leaked government files proved that the government had in fact spied on the SNP. The Labour Party, which controlled the government in this time, has drawn consistent Scottish support since Labour's founding had seen the SNP become much more than a protest vote in the 1970s. Labour continues to ridicule the SNP for their claims of government interference. "The SNP appears totally paranoid. All the evidence shows they are absolutely no threat whatsoever to the British state," said a Labour spokesperson in response to the SNP's complaints. Despite these words, the Labour government has had several files on the SNP sealed for fifty years, citing reasons of national security.
Read more about this topic: History Of The Scottish National Party
Famous quotes containing the words interference and/or government:
“Now for civil service reform. Legislation must be prepared and executive rules and maxims. We must limit and narrow the area of patronage. We must diminish the evils of office-seeking. We must stop interference of federal officers with elections. We must be relieved of congressional dictation as to appointments.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)