Blackford says Scottish voters could face independence referendum in late 2021
The SNP’S Westminster leader has said a Scottish independence referendum could take place “as early as late 2021”.
Ian Blackford said, however, that the number one priority of the Scottish Government right now is tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.
And he explained the “key” would be putting in place circumstances which would allow for an independence vote to be held.
Mr Blackford said: “I want to see that referendum happen as quickly as is practically possible, I think it’s in everybody’s interest that that is the case.
“But of course we’ve got to get the election out the way, we need to make sure that the SNP are elected back into government again, that we reinforce that mandate for a referendum.
“There’s a Bill that will be published over the coming weeks and that can be enacted once we’re on the other side of the election.
“Of course what I would say is that the first priority of the Government is dealing with the Covid crisis, it’s about keeping people safe, it’s about the acceleration that we’ve seen with the vaccine programme, it’s about taking off the measures of lockdown as and when we can.“when we’ve got to that position of safety, that would be the right time to have the referendum.”
He continued: “(Scottish Constitution Secretary Mike Russell) has talked about a sixmonthperiodoncethelegislation is triggered which could be in June, so it could be the case we could face a referendum as early as late 2021.
“But the key thing is that we put in place the circumstances that allow that to happen, whenever it happens, and that
we have an inclusive debate with everybody in Scotland about the kind of country that they want to live in.”
Mr Blackford also warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson that he “cannot stand in the face of democracy” in the event that the SNP wins a majority in the Scottish Parliament elections in May.
He said: “Democracy has got to prevail and there’s been a long-held, cherished position that in Scotland sovereignty rests with the people.”
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross hit out at Mr Blackford, saying that pushing for another referendum as early as this year is “wholly irresponsible”.
He said: “The First Minister’s team claimed this week that it was irresponsible to try to remove her in the middle of a pandemic, despite all she’s done wrong.
“There is nothing more reckless and wholly irresponsible than pushing for another referendum as early as this year, when all our efforts should be
on tackling Covid-19 and protecting jobs.
“We need to focus on the current crisis, not create a whole new one with another divisive referendum.
“The health crisis may soon be over thanks to the resounding success of Scotland and the UK’S vaccine scheme but the next great challenge, the economic crisis, is come.
“We need a Scottish Parliament 100 per cent focused on dealing with that looming jobs and economic crisis. We must focus on rebuilding Scotland, not another divisive referendum.”
still to
The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader will use his party’s spring conference to claim they can deprive the SNP of a majority at the May Holyrood elections.
In what is being billed as a speech to prepare members for the election campaign ahead, Willie Rennie is expected to tell them gains can be made on every regional list and the party can also win new seats.
The latest polling for The Scotsman by Savanta Comres saw the Scottish Liberal Democrats gain just one constituency seat while the regional list vote saw them poll just 6 per cent of votes which, as in the 2016 election, could see them return just one additional MSP.
The Scotsman understands the party is targeting the Caithness, Sutherland & Ross constituency seat, which is being contested by children’s minister Maree Todd, after incumbent SNP MSP Gail Ross decided not to stand again.
It is also confident in retaining the four constituencies it currently holds, and the campaign will frame Mr Rennie as the more popular face of prounion politics in comparison to the Scottish Conservative’s new leader Douglas Ross.
Mr Rennie is expected to say: "The Liberal Democrats can make the difference at the next election. We can make gains in every region. We can win new seats.
"The Conservatives can’t. They have replaced Ruth Davidson, who was popular, with Boris Johnson’s choice of leader who is not. Their tide is running away. They are set to lose seats. Every poll says so.
"Anas Sarwar will take time to find his feet. So Labour are unlikely to make the necessary progress on their own. And the Greens will always back the SNP when they need them.”
He will add: "The Liberal Democrats, with our plan to put recovery first, are ready to win more seats.
"Our gains will make the difference between a government that can do whatever it wants, however damaging, and a government that has to listen. I am ready.
“With a decade of experience leading the Liberal Democrats in Scotland. Rebuilding our party with wins in Holyrood, Westminster, Europe and byelections. Working with others to win in Parliament on education on mental health and on the budget.
"I am ready to lead the Liberal Democrats to the gains that will put recovery first."
However, his message was dismissed by the SNP, with a spokesperson saying voters could not “trust a word the Liberal Democrats say, they sold their soul to the Tories before andthey'lldoitagainwhenthey need to deny the people of Scotland their right to choose their own future”.
The spokesperson added:“theyhaveditchedtheirpolicy of re-joining the EU, against the expressed will of the people of Scotland.
"Willie Rennie joins the likes of Boris Johnson in denying the people of Scotland their democratic will to hold a post-pandemic referendum – there's nothing liberal nor democratic about that position.
"The election in May will be aboutscotland'srighttochoose and it will be the people of Scotland who will decide their future – not Willie Rennie.”