Theresa stamps her authority
PM to reject Sturgeon’s letter plea to hold another referendum
THERESA May will write to Nicola Sturgeon to reject her demand for another independence referendum – saying all parts of Britain should be ‘working together, not pulling apart’.
The Prime Minister will tell the SNP leader she will not enter any negotiations about another vote on Scotland’s future.
It comes after Miss Sturgeon yesterday informed the PM by email and letter she wants to go ahead with her plan to break up Britain.
Miss Sturgeon acknowledged that her request for a Section 30 order, giving her the power to hold a legal referendum, is likely to be refused.
She threatened to press ahead with the push for a referendum even if her request is rejected – but failed to outline how she would do so.
Although she published a picture on Twitter of her signing a formal letter to Mrs May, it was only a scanned version that was sent to No 10 yesterday – with a hard copy due to follow.
The Prime Minister’s response is expected to be sent shortly, once the hard copy is received.
A UK Government spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister has been clear that now is not the time for a second independence referendum and we will not be entering into negotiations on the Scottish Government’s proposal.
‘At this point, all our focus should be on our negotiations with the European Union, making sure we get the right deal for the whole of the UK. It would be unfair to the people of Scotland to ask them to make a crucial decision without the necessary information about our future relationship with Europe, or what an independent Scotland would look like.
‘We have been joined together as one country for more than 300 years. We’ve worked together, we’ve prospered together, we’ve fought wars together and we have a bright future. At this crucial time we should be working together, not pulling apart.’
Miss Sturgeon wants a referendum between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019, before Britain formally leaves the EU. She secured a Holyrood majority for her plan this week after SNP and Green MSPs voted together.
In her letter, Miss Sturgeon said the people of Scotland ‘must have the right to choose our own future – in short, to exercise our right of self-determination’.
She added: ‘There appears to be no rational reason for you to stand in the way of the will of the Scottish parliament and I hope you will not do so. However, in anticipation of your refusal to enter into discussions, it is important for me to be clear about my position.
‘It is my firm view that the mandate of the Scottish parliament must be respected and progressed. The question is not if, but how.
‘I hope that will be by constructive discussion between our governments. However, if that is not possible, I will set out to the Scottish parliament the steps I intend to take to ensure that progress is made towards a referendum.’
Miss Sturgeon has refused to speculate on what the possible next steps could be. Some in the SNP support the idea of a ‘consultative’ referendum without the consent of the UK Government, as happened in Catalonia in 2014.
But the result could be ignored by Westminster or challenged in the courts, while the poll could be boycotted by No voters.
Others believe the SNP could fight a General Election at Westminster on a manifesto commitment of declaring independence if it wins more than 50 per cent of the seats, as was once party policy.
It has also been suggested the Scottish Government could hold a referendum without the consent of Westminster by asking: ‘Do you agree the Scottish Government should enter into negotiations with the UK Government with a view to achieving independence.’
Mrs May has insisted she will not allow a referendum during the timescale requested by the First Minister because it would impact on Brexit negotiations.
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and Scottish Secretary David Mundell have said a request for a referendum will be accepted only if there is clear ‘political and public consent’ for one to take place.
Scottish Tory deputy leader Jack- son Carlaw said: ‘At the very moment we should be uniting as a country to get a good deal out of Brexit, Nicola Sturgeon is trying to divide us again. Her plans are unwanted and unworkable.
‘Unwanted, because people made a decision on this just three years ago and don’t want to go back to yet more division. Unworkable, because under the SNP’s plans people would have no idea what they are voting on.
‘She wants a referendum campaign to start now – despite still not having answered basic questions on the currency, EU membership and the cost of independence. We have had enough of SNP stunts and First Ministerial photo-calls.
‘Nicola Sturgeon should dump her referendum plans now, work to get the best possible Brexit deal for Scotland and the UK – and then get back to the day job of improving our schools and hospitals, as she promised.’
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: ‘People across Scotland will be dismayed Nicola Sturgeon is more focused on rerunning the arguments of the past than running our public services.
‘Scotland doesn’t need or want a second independence referendum. There is absolutely no evidence that another divisive referendum is the will of the people of Scotland.
‘We need the SNP Government to get on with the job of governing. That means focusing on jobs, growing the economy and helping family incomes.’
The SNP yesterday published a Survation poll that showed 61 per cent of Scots think Holyrood should decide if there is a referendum, not Westminster. SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson said: ‘The message this sends to the UK Tory Government is clear – if they try to block a referendum, they will be acting against the wishes of the people of Scotland.’
‘It is clear that now is not the time’ ‘Unwanted and unworkable’