The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Greens will back call for Indyref2
Holyrood and Downing Street are on a collision course as Theresa May claims ‘now is not the time’ for a referendum
The Scottish Parliament is on a collision course with Downing Street over an independence vote.
The Greens have said they will give the SNP the pro-independence majority they need to secure Holyrood’s backing for Nicola Sturgeon’s referendum demand.
But UK ministers yesterday ruled out another poll before Brexit.
MSPs will decide next week whether to support the SNP leader’s call for a Section 30 order that will give Holyrood the temporary power to hold a referendum, if approved by Westminster.
Ross Greer, for the Scottish Greens, reacted angrily to Theresa May’s declaration that “now is not the time” for another independence vote.
“Scotland deserves to choose between the isolated, angry Brexit Britain planned by the Tories and putting our future in our own hands with independence,” the MSP said.
“If a Tory Westminster Government that Scotland did not elect seriously think they can block our right to choose – and that they can veto a decision of our elected parliament – they will only increase support for independence.”
Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat MSPs are all set to vote against the Section 30 bid.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: “Scottish Labour will vote against Nicola Sturgeon’s demands for a second referendum on Scotland leaving the UK.
“Our country is divided enough – we don’t need another divisive referendum.”
Willie Rennie, who leads the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: “It is not the right time, there is not public demand for one and there is not a proper mandate for one.”
The Holyrood vote on pursuing a Section 30 order takes place on Wednesday following a two-day debate, called Scotland’s Choice.
A Scottish Government spokesman said the wording of motion is still being discussed, with a key area under consideration being what reference it makes to a timescale for a vote.
A Section 30 order would temporarily transfer the power to hold a referendum from Westminster to Holyrood.
It would need to be signed off by Theresa May and the UK Parliament.
Pete Wishart, the SNP MP who represents Perth and North Perthshire, issued a warning to UK ministers about blocking an independence vote: “If this Government are thinking for one minute of standing in the way of Scottish democracy, it will be the biggest recruiting sergeant possible for the cause of Scottish independence.”
Professor John Curtice, the polling expert, told Business Insider that standing in the way of a referendum would boost independence support and would be “politically catastrophic.
Meanwhile, an economic report published by Bank of America Merrill Lynch found that trade between the UK and Scotland could be “sorely damaged” by independence.
It added that Scotland staying in the single market “could offset some of the potential Brexit hit”.
Scotland deserves to choose between the isolated, angry Brexit Britain planned by the Tories and putting our future in our own hands. ROSS GREER SCOTTISH GREENS