It’s time for a ‘wildcat’ Indyref poll, says Cherry
A NATIONALIST MP has made a ‘direct challenge’ to Nicola Sturgeon by urging her to bring forward legislation for a Catalonia-style ‘wildcat’ referendum.
Joanna Cherry said Holyrood should pass a Bill to hold a ‘consultative’ referendum, in the expectation that the UK Government would challenge the move in the courts.
It comes after the First Minister faced criticism from some in her party for failing to outline a ‘plan B’ to bring about another independence referendum after Boris Johnson last month rejected her demand for the power to hold one.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: ‘It is a direct challenge to Nicola Sturgeon. Nicola Sturgeon has made clear that it is not her preference. This wildcat referendum proposal is the last thing we need after years of Brexit turmoil.’
Writing on social media, Miss Cherry, the SNP’s home affairs spokesman, said the Scottish parliament should seek to pass a Bill to hold a consultative referendum, and then let Boris Johnson mount a legal challenge on whether it has the power to do so.
Miss Cherry claimed that would set up a Supreme Court battle and said: ‘Many legal experts think we would win the argument.
‘Boris Johnson should be put on notice that we have options and we are not afraid to push forward.’
Miss Cherry also claimed that publishing a Bill could help move away from the current ‘impasse’, and added: ‘Now is the time to begin the preparations.
‘To tell Johnson “see you in court” if he continues to block Scotland’s demand for Indyref 2.’
Scottish Conservative chief whip Maurice Golden said: ‘Joanna Cherry is continuing the childish calls from within the SNP to hold a “wildcat” referendum.
‘They still can’t accept that they lost the 2014 referendum and are now looking for every desperate means to get what they want.
‘Nicola Sturgeon needs to rein in these wild elements of her party and remind them of the law.’
Pamela Nash, chief executive of the pro-UK campaign group Scotland in Union, said: ‘This is just yet another diversionary tactic by senior SNP figures in a desperate attempt to avoid focusing on the crises in our schools, hospitals and council services.’
SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon did say the idea of a consultative referendum was something that she would keep under consideration and I think that’s the right thing to do.
‘I don’t think at this time that is what should be done but I think it’s right to say we will consider all the options.’
‘Johnson should be put on notice’