The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
‘No Indyref2 vote until 2055’ says Johnson as Brexit fractures widen
The prime minister has claimed referendums are “not particularly jolly events” and suggested 41 years is the “right sort of gap” between them.
Boris Johnson was asked on BBC’S Andrew Marr programme what “democratic tools” were in the hands of Scottish voters who may want to leave the union against the backdrop of Bre xit and the UK Government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Conservative leader said: “Referendums in my direct experience in this country are not particularly jolly events.
“They don’ t have a notably unifying force in the national mood, they should be only once in a generation.”
Asked what the difference was between a referendum on EU membership being granted and another on Scottish independence being requested, he said: “The difference is we had a referendum in 1975 and we then had another in 2016.
“That seems to be about the right sort of gap.”
The 2014 referendum resulted in a 55.3% vote against Scotland going alone.
A recent poll from The Scotsman/savanta Comres showed support for a second independence referendum growing, with 58% of voters saying they would now vote yes for independence, with 42% voting no.
The survey, released last month, is the 17th in a row to show majority support for leaving the UK, with backing for independence first turning the tide in June.
However, former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars told The Sunday Times that First Minister Ni cola Sturgeon should “de prioritise” Scottish independence and focus instead on tackling threats to the economy.
The veteran nationalist supports independence but said that with more people facing poverty as a result of the pandemic, an unemployment “time bomb” and spiralling public debt, Scotland needs a “reordering of priorities”.
On Hogmanay, Nicola Sturgeon said Europe should “keep a light on” as Scotland will “be back soon”.
The first minister tweeted just after the Brexit transition period formally ended at 11pm on December 31.
Scotland’s trading and travel relationships with EU countries will now be governed by the agreement announced by the UK Government on Christmas eve.
Ms Sturgeon reiterated the S NP’ sc all for an independent Scotland to join the EU.
SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: “It may be a new year but it’s the same old incoherent bluster from Boris Johnson.
“T he prime minister pretends otherwise but he knows he can’t keep on denying democracy.
“Even his American pal Donald Trump has learned that if you try to stand in the way of the democratic choice of a nation you get swept away.
“The people who will decide our future are the people of Scotland, not Boris Johnson and the Westminster
Tories.”
Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater said: “Only the people of Scotland have the right to determine Scotland’s future.
“Seventeen consecutive polls have demonstrated majorities in favour of independence, with the most recent indicating a record 58% support.
“Whether it’s the botched handling of the coronavirus crisis, the Brexit catastrophe or just the heartlessness of Tory governments we haven’t voted for, it’s clear that the UK isn’ t working for Scotland.
“Scottish Greens will go into May’s election with a clear commitment to put Scotland’ s future in Scotland’s hands, and the people of Scotland will have their say.”