Second indyref will not be SNP’s fault
This week, MPs have been debating the government’s EU Withdrawal Bill – legislation to give the prime minister the power to trigger Article 50 and begin negotiating our way out of Europe.
Parliamentarians have been debating a range of amendments, which if passed would significantly beef up the UK Government’s original bill, which was fewer than 140 words on one sheet of paper.
This is the most significant constitutional change to occur in the UK for generations, and it isn’t right for the prime minister to try and railroad it through parliament.
On Monday, I sat in the House of Commons chamber for around nine hours in total.
Like many other MPs, I had indicated that I wanted to speak during the debate.
Unfortunately, like many others, I didn’t get the chance.
We had to watch on, as MP after MP spoke at length, taking up all of the available time.
During the debate on a group of amendments which affected the devolved legislatures, one Tory speaker - Mark Harper MP – spoke for 47 minutes in what appeared to be a deliberate attempt by the UK Government to filibuster the amendments that had been put forward to protect the interests of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
In fact, he managed to speak for longer than all of the MPs from those nations who had spoken before him combined.
To add insult to injury, Joanna Cherry, only the second SNP MP to speak on the group of amendments after several hours, was cut off by the deputy speaker after only a few minutes.
My entire contribution after many hours of sitting in the chamber was an intervention on a minister to raise specific constituent concerns over EU residency rights.
Two speeches I had prepared – both at a very modest three minutes in length – went unheard.
This very important debate is being stifled, and Scotland’s voice is most definitely being silenced.
I can assure you that we will not stand for it.
I was elected, as were my party colleagues, on a promise to be a stronger voice for Scotland at Westminster.
We have proven that to be the case, and do not intend to allow our voices to be quietened.
If other MPs truly want to show the people of Scotland that they are regarded as equal partners in the Union, then they must show a willingness to listen to us.
People all across Scotland are watching the Brexit process with a forensic intensity, and the UK Government should be warned; if Scotland is railroaded, a new debate on Scotland’s future outside of the UK is inevitable.
It will not be the SNP who will have brought about the conditions for a second independence referendum, but those who have been unable or unwilling to back up the rhetoric of the previous one with action.
I completely respect the outcome of the 2014 independence referendum; a victory for the no side predicated on our continued membership of the EU.
Accordingly, we must now be at the front of the debate on the UK’s place in Europe.
This important debate is being stifled and Scotland’s voice is being silenced