Indyref2 ‘must take place before end of Brexit transition period’ – Greens

The Scottish Greens have said it would be a “mistake” for a Scottish independence referendum to be delayed until after a Brexit transition period.

At the party’s manifesto launch in Glasgow yesterday, co-leader Patrick Harvie said it would be reasonable to give voters the choice on whether Scotland should become independent as the UK negotiates its departure from the EU.

Boris Johnson has insisted he will take the UK out of the EU by January 31 if he wins the upcoming general election, with an expected transition period of one year.

Mr Harvie said while Brexit can still be stopped, people in Scotland should be given a say on the country’s future while the UK’S future relationship with the EU is being debated.

First Minister Nicola

Sturgeon has also said she wants to hold another vote on Scottish independence in the latter part of 2020 but Mr Harvie said the timescale suggested by the Greens had not been agreed in co-ordination with the SNP.

“It’s certainly not co-ordinated but I think it is entirely rational,” he said of the proposed timescale for another Scottish independence referendum.

He added: “If Brexit isn’t stopped, it’s perfectly reasonable to say that on that timescale, that transition timescale when every other country in Europe has a say on our future, when the UK has a say on our future, Scotland should also have a say in its own future.”

Mr Harvie also said it was a regret his party are not standing in every constituency across Scotland, with 20 candidates registered.