The latest independence paper released by the SNP Government has seen a low number of downloads, with only 316 downloads recorded since its publication in April, garnering just 2,087 page views. This document, focusing on justice, is part of the ‘Building a New Scotland’ series that aims to bolster the case for independence. Despite the government’s efforts to revamp the argument for independence through this series, the viewership numbers have been disappointing.
Ministers have released a total of thirteen papers in the series so far, with varying degrees of success in terms of audience engagement. The first paper on “independence in the modern world” saw 78,571 unique visitors by March 25th, while the second paper on “renewing democracy” attracted 25,945 views. The paper discussing a “stronger economy” performed the best with 81,925 views. However, following Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation, the viewership for subsequent papers has markedly declined.
For instance, the fourth paper on a constitution in an independent Scotland garnered 11,793 views, while the paper on citizenship had 36,474 views. The eighth paper focusing on marine life had the lowest download numbers at 1,295. The latest paper on justice ranks second lowest in terms of downloads, recording just 316 downloads between April 25th and October 2nd, equating to an average of thirteen downloads per week.
The government, led by John Swinney, has yet to decide the fate of the ‘Building a New Scotland’ paper series. The dwindling interest in these papers may prompt a reassessment of the strategy to promote the case for Scottish independence. As the government weighs its options, the future of the series remains uncertain.
Overall, the lacklustre reception of the latest independence paper underscores the challenge the SNP Government faces in garnering support for its independence agenda. With only a small fraction of the Scottish population engaging with these papers, there is a need for a renewed approach to effectively communicate the benefits of independence to the wider public.