Party leaders clash on referendum debate
MANDATES and manifesto pledges were thrown around Holyrood like confetti as MSPs started a two day debate on a second independence referendum.
The party leaders took centre stage as First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon outlined her reasons for seeking permission to ask the UK Government to agree to a vote.
The SNP leader said the people must be allowed to make a decision as the Conservatives, Labour and the LibDems made their outright opposition clear.
Only Patrick Harvie of the Greens backed the SNP and his party’s six votes will be enough to ensure the government wins when it is put to the vote on Wednesday at 5pm.
Ms Sturgeon said the SNP manifesto commitment was to a second vote if there was a change in circumstances such as being taken out of the EU.
That, together with the SNP victory and a majority of pro independence MSPs elected in 2016 she said gave her an “unquestionable mandate” to have a second referendum.
Ms Sturgeon said: “We won the election on that proposition.”
She said she didn’t propose a referendum immediately after the Brexit result last June because she was prepared to offer various compromises to the UK Government.
She added the people must have the option of choosing a different path.
She added:” It will not be acceptable for the UK government to be able to block the democratic will of this parliament.”
The Conservative, Labour and LibDem leaders all challenged Ms Sturgeon over her govern- ment ignoring the will of the Scottish Parliament on several occasions in this term.
While The Greens were criticised for not sticking to their manifesto commitment of a ‘citizens initiative’ of one million signatures before a second vote should be held.
Ruth Davidson, conservative leader, said Ms Sturgeon had said repeatedly since during the 2014 referendum to the Brexit vote there would only be another referendum when the people decid- ed. She said: “Most people in Scotland are sick to death of the SNP’s games.”
They don’t want another referendum any time soon, just three years after the last one.
Kezia Dugdale, Labour leader said the parliament had been ignored on the football act, health cuts, education funding and fracking.
She said: “The will of the Scottish people was clearly expressed in 2014 it was a clear majority to stay in the UK.”