Parties pile on pressure to change SNP motion
‘Should be coming together’
NICOLA Sturgeon has branded opposition to a second independence referendum ‘democratically indefensible’ as she tables a motion to seek a divisive vote on breaking up Britain.
Despite being told ‘now is not the time’, the First Minister has revealed the wording of a motion to be put to MSPs at Holyrood today in which she seeks support to begin negotiations with the Prime Minister over a Section 30 order to vote on independence.
The SNP leader wants a re-run of the 2014 vote on separation to take place between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, while Theresa May has rejected the timing.
Miss Sturgeon’s motion shows no sign of her professed willingness to negotiate – and she has already ruled out waiting until 2021.
The motion states: ‘That the parthrough liament acknowledges the sovereign right of the Scottish people to determine the form of government best suited to their needs and therefore mandates the Scottish Government to take forward discussions with the UK Government on the details of an order under Section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998.’
It goes on to say that Holyrood should be given the power over deciding the question and timing of the referendum.
A three-hour debate will take place today, with two further hours on Wednesday, followed by a vote.
It is expected that the motion will be passed – with the Green party set to prop up the SNP. However, Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh has already stated that motions passed by Holyrood are not binding.
Opposition parties have tabled amendments – with the Scottish Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats all ready to vote against the motion.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: ‘At a time when we should be coming together as a country, it is the wrong course of action to take. A clear majority of Scots say they don’t want to go the uncertainty of another referendum at this time.’
The Conservatives have put forward a motion saying they ‘decline’ proposals for a second referendum before April 2019, believing it would be ‘unfair to ask this question’ while Brexit negotiations are ongoing.
Scottish Labour has also tabled a motion rejecting another vote. MSP James Kelly said: ‘The Scottish parliament cannot allow itself to be completely distracted by the SNP’s obsession with a divisive second independence referendum.’
Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Willie Rennie said there was no guarantee that Scotland could rejoin the EU, adding: ‘They risk leaving Scotland outside the UK and outside of the EU.’
But Miss Sturgeon insisted yesterday: ‘If MSPs pass this motion this week, then the Prime Minister’s position of blocking a referendum and forcing through a hard Brexit without giving the people a choice will be democratically indefensible.
‘I agree with the Prime Minister when she says that there needs to be clarity about the implications of Brexit before the people of Scotland can choose – that is precisely why we are proposing to hold the vote at the point where we know … we will have that clarity.’