The SNP are nothing to worry about, really. They're centre-left and moderate. They might campaign for another referendum but it would be silly to class them as xenophobic.
However, from a technology perspective the new Tory majority really worries me. They have no understanding of tech. They want to reintroduce sweeping surveillance legislation that was blocked by the Lib Dems in the previous government.
They also want to ban encryption (!) and will continue to attempt to censor the internet.
They will also likely fail to reform the current system that sees people being arrested for making jokes on Twitter (or, more widely, our terrible libel laws). They also have no real interest in ensuring widespread rollout of high-speed fibre broadband. They'll pay lip service to it, but that's easy to do.
They are also unconcerned about data protection and will likely continue to allow more care.data-style schemes with little effective oversight.
The only upsides: GDS and open data initiatives will probably survive.
I have Scottish family, but I have always lived in England. Most of the Scots I'm related to or know are fairly anti-SNP/anti-independence. I don't really care (a sentiment shared by many outside Scotland) - although I suspect Scotland might struggle as an independent economy.
I don't think the SNP are necessarily bad for tech savvy people - I just don't think they care much about any of those issues at all. By contrast, the Conservatives are looking to enact actively anti-tech legislation.
To counter your claim I'll point out that the Inland Revenue (non-uk people, that's the IRS/tax central) for the whole of the UK is based in Scotland. Under international law (EU law?, IANAL) it is illegal to keep or administer tax records for a foreign nation(1). Thus, the Inland Revenue for England and Wales would be forced to move from Scotland once Scotland gained independence. The economy could first see high unemployment with the knock on effect of falling property values and a few other negative side effects. Maybe in the long term, for many voters, it's worth it, or maybe not?
1.Source: a civil servant with 40+ years experience in the Inland Revenue (not me).
I think you may have misread the comment -- it's the Conservatives (who now have a parliamentary majority on the national level) that will prove problematic on technology, surveillance, and encryption issues, not the SNP.
The SNP is centre-left (and probably to the left of Labour at the moment, which is one reason for their victory in Scotland) and oppose the Conservative position on those issues.
I think you've misunderstood GP's comment, the second paragraph onwards is about the tories (conservatives), not the SNP. AFAIK the SNP has regularly condemned surveillance plans and monitoring expansions.
However, from a technology perspective the new Tory majority really worries me. They have no understanding of tech. They want to reintroduce sweeping surveillance legislation that was blocked by the Lib Dems in the previous government.
They also want to ban encryption (!) and will continue to attempt to censor the internet.
They will also likely fail to reform the current system that sees people being arrested for making jokes on Twitter (or, more widely, our terrible libel laws). They also have no real interest in ensuring widespread rollout of high-speed fibre broadband. They'll pay lip service to it, but that's easy to do.
They are also unconcerned about data protection and will likely continue to allow more care.data-style schemes with little effective oversight.
The only upsides: GDS and open data initiatives will probably survive.