Thread by @StewartMcDonald

Time for a short explainer on my comments aimed at those that seek to abuse, intimidate and harass people who question, disagree or are unconvinced by independence. To be clear at the outset, it is those people and those people alone who this is about.

This was brought about after an appalling case of intimidation against a young female journalist - a case in which the First Minister herself commented and defended the journalist who was the recipient of an absurd campaign of vitriol from some on our side. Wholly unacceptable.

Many have taken this as me criticising all activists or Saturday’s extraordinary march. It was neither. If, like every party member and activist I know, you don’t abuse and harass people then this is not aimed at you. Nor is it aimed at those who marched.

I accept fully that the headline was awful. It pissed me off as I never once used the term cybernat - a churlish phrase originated (I think) by George Foulkes. It made it appear as a blanket criticism and it was never to be as such. The headline was not my work.

SNP members and broader independence activists are some of the most dedicated, warm and friendly people you could meet. I made a great many friends from the 2014 campaign and those that have come since, and I know we won’t rest until independence is achieved.

But we do need to shun those who seek to spread hatred and use our positive campaign as a weapon to do so. We should never shy from calling this out. There’s no right or wrong time to do it. Though as we start a new Yes campaign we should aim to define its character early.

It’s true that I hold us to a higher standard and I believe we all should. We must always seek to be better than our political opponents when it comes to this sort of stuff - just look at the well of poison that they are often found to be wading in. We must guard against that

The chorus of voices that make up the independence campaign are positive, courteous and wants nothing but the best for our country. Let us endeavour to keep it that way by not ceding an inch to those who want to spread abuse.

This does not mean that we have to be shrinking violets or cannot robustly make our case - far from it. In fact the public would expect no less. But there are occasions where, for some, that’s not enough and it goes too far. Let’s not pretend that it doesn’t happen.

This also presents a challenge to our political opponents. We need them to robustly make it clear that some of their hardline supporters, too often exercised by their elected members, aren’t welcome in their movement. This isn’t confined to one party or one campaign.

I’ve been on the receiving end of hardcore unionist hate before. I see many of my own party colleagues constantly on the receiving end. This does indeed need called out and exposed, otherwise the political environment becomes ever more toxic. Some self awareness is sorely needed.

So to the small number of people who seek to turn our campaign into a weapon for hate, yes this was about you. To those who spread the word, chap doors, deliver leaflets, organise or do street stalls week in week out in a positive effort to win: thank you and let’s keep doing it.