John Major urges two independence votes for Scotland

Scots should be offered not one but two further referenda on independence, former prime minister Sir John Major has said.

Under his radical plan, there would be one vote on the principle of independence and a second on the final withdrawal deal from the union agreed with Westminster.

The ex-Tory PM, who describes himself as a “convinced u n i o n i s t ”, argues a secondary vote would “focus minds away from a short-term reflex opposition to a perceived English government, and back to the mutual and long-term virtues of the union”.

Sir John, in a lecture broadcast this evening, warns Boris Johnson of the dangers of refusing the SNP another referendum in the event they wi n a majority at next year’s Holyrood elections.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said last week that Westminster would not be transferring referendum powers to Holyrood for at least 25-40 years.

Sir Jo h n cautioned: “Refusing (a section 30 order) might help the separatist case, by adding to the list of grievances the Scottish National Party exploit with such skill.

“To keep the union together will require consensus, consideration and consultation.

“The government must engage, coax, encourage and examine every possible route to find an arrangement that will obtain a majority for union.

“The We s t m i n s t e r government could agree for an independence referendum to take place, on the basis of tw o referenda – the first to vote upon the principle of negotiations, and the second upon the outcome of them.

“T he purpose of the second referendum would be that Scottish electors would know what they were voting for, and be able to compare it to what they now have. This did not happen with Brexit: had it done so, there may have been no Brexit.

“Many Scottish voices – and especially business – may support the logic of this: it may focus minds away from a short-term, reflex opposition to a perceived English government, and back to the mutual and long-term virtues of the union.”

His comments come after more than a dozen polls showing there is now majority support among Scots for breaking away from the UK.

The S N P ’s deputy We s t m i n s t e r l e a d e r, Kirsten Oswald, said Sir John’s remarks should “serve as a wake-up” to Mr Johnson.

She said: “Poll after poll has shown that independence is now becoming the settled will of the majority of people in Scotland, and it is for the people of Scotland to decide their future.”

Sir John also used his speech to condemn the Brexit projec t and its impact on the U K ’s standing.

REFERENDA: Ex-Conservative prime minister Sir John Major has a radical plan to settle the independence debate.