Vow No 10 will reject bid for second referendum
THE UK Government will refuse any request for a second independence referendum.
Scottish Secretary, David Mundell said any request from Nicola Sturgeon will be rejected by Downing Street.
Speaking after the Prime Minister, Theresa May, said “now is not the time”, Mr Mundell went further and confirmed categorically that any official bid will be knocked back.
Mrs May said: “I think we should be working to get the right deal for Scotland and the UK with our future partnership with the European Union.
“It would be unfair to the people of Scotland that they would be being asked to make a crucial decision without the information they need to make that decision.”
Speaking in Edinburgh with Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, Mr Mundell said: “We will not be entering into discussions or negotiations about section 30 powers. Any request will be declined.”
He made the statement a day before the SNP is due to meet in Aberdeen for its spring conference and days after Ms Sturgeon said she would be seeking the approval of the Scottish Parliament to seek the section 30 powers Westminster must grant to allow a referendum to be held.
Ms Davidson said the Scottish people didn’t want it and dismissed the likely outcome of a majority vote in Holyrood for a referendum.
She said Nicola Sturgeon picks and chooses when to accept the decision of a vote in Holyrood.
Referring to votes the Scottish Government has lost in Holyrood, Ms Davidson said: “When she (Nicola Sturgeon) likes it, it is the most important thing in the world, when she doesn’t, it doesn’t matter.”
The Scottish Tory leader said any referendum would not be fair as people would not have the details of the deal for the UK to exist outside the European Union.
Ms Davidson said she did not believe information would be available under the timetable set out by the First Minister that says a referendum should take place between the autumn of 2018 and the following spring.
Ms Davidson said: “It is only right people have the opportunity to examine the UK’s new relationship with the European Union once it is up and running.”
She also said there is no clear political or public consent for this, adding the country is divided and the parliament is divided over both independence and the question of a second referendum.
Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Labour leader said there should be no referendum until after Brexit happens.
She said: “There absolutely should not be another independence referendum until after Brexit.
“We have no idea what Brexit looks like, or how it will impact our economy and families in Scotland.
“People cannot be asked to make a decision about the future of our 300-year old Union in the dark.
“If there is to be another vote the people of Scotland deserve clarity on what they are being asked to vote on.”