Boris rejects Scots plea for a new referendum

‘Uphold decision of the people’

BORIS Johnson yesterday accused Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP of overseeing a ‘lost decade’ in Scotland as he rejected her demand for another referendum on independence.

The First Minister formally demanded the power to hold another vote. But the Prime Minister warned it would lead to continued ‘political stagnation’ north of the border.

In the ensuing war of words, Miss Sturgeon claimed Mr Johnson was ‘terrified of Scotland having the right to choose’ its own future.

She suggested the longer the UK Government blocks another referendum, ‘the more support for independence will grow’. Miss Sturgeon, who has refused to rule out legal action to force a second vote, insisted Scotland ‘will get the right to decide our own future’.

In his letter to Miss Sturgeon, the PM said he had ‘carefully considered’ the arguments but said that she and her predecessor Alex Salmond had made a ‘personal commitment’ the 2014 referendum would be a ‘once in a generation’ event.

‘The UK Government will continue to uphold the democratic decision of the Scottish people and the promise that you made to them,’ he wrote.

Mr Johnson added: ‘Another independence referendum would continue the political stagnation that Scotland has seen for the last decade. It is time we worked to bring the United Kingdom together and unleash the potential of this great country.’