WE WANT INDYREF2 IF BRITS LEAVE EU
SNP to demand power for new vote
THE SNP will today put forward an amendment asking for the power to hold an independence referendum if the UK leaves the EU.
Ian Blackford MP said that the people of Scotland should be able to “determine their own destiny” after the country voted to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday that the Prime Minister would refuse the Scottish Government permission to hold another independence referendum.
However, Blackford said that the Scottish Parliament has a mandate to hold an independence referendum, adding Theresa May should respect the sovereignty of the Scottish people.
Blackford told BBC Sunday Politics Scotland that the SNP will put down an amendment at Westminster this week.
He said: “We will do what we can to work with other parties to stop Brexit. We have no desire to see Scotland dragged out against its will but we need to recognise that if that does happen, the people of Scotland have got to determine their own future.”
He added: “There is no such thing as a good Brexit. We know that it’s going to cost jobs, we know it’s going to impact living standards.”
A UK Government spokesman said: “Scotland had an independence referendum in 2014 and voted to remain in the UK.
“Rather than constantly seeking division and constitutional upheaval, the Scottish Government needs to work with the UK Government to avoid a damaging no deal. That is what businesses and people in Scotland expect.”