Scots poll plan ‘will be illegal’

AN independence referendum held without the permission ofWestminster would be illegal, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has said.

The SNP last week stated it would hold another vote if a pro-independence majority of MSPs was returned in May’s Holyrood elections.

However, Mr Jack said: “I’m afraid the constitution is a reserved matter, it would be an illegal referendum, let’s be clear about that.”

He said that senior figures in the Yes campaign in 2014 had said the last vote was “once in a generation”.

“We can’t go into a process of ‘neverendums’ until eventually they get one that they win.” Mr Jack added: “Now it’s about recovering our economy as one United Kingdom.”

But Keith Brown, SNP deputy leader, said: “It’s not for Alister Jack to deny the people of Scotland the chance to determine their own future.”