Scots knew what we were voting for

THERESA May says MPs denying the result of the EU referendum by not backing her deal would be akin to the Commons blocking the devolution Scots voted for in 1997. But her argument doesn’t stack up.

Devolution and setting up the Scottish Parliament was not just the settled will of a majority of the people – a stonking 74 per cent of voters backed it – people also knew what they were voting for.

The Scottish Constitutional Convention had laid the groundwork for what Holyrood would look like, what powers it would have and how it would work. People made an informed choice.

In the EU referendum, in contrast, the implications of leaving the EU were far from clear.

And the result in 2016 was divisive, not decisive.

But the Prime Minister could have learned from the devolution process.

May should have set up her own convention and consulted opposition parties, business and trade union leaders and – crucially – those devolved Parliaments to draw up a unified plan to enact the result of the vote.

What would have emerged would be the compromise she is now so desperately seeking in the 24 hours before her plan is torpedoed by MPs.

She is making her arguments but too little and too late.