Scottish society ‘should unite for Indyref2 if the UK Government says no’
SCOTTISH society should unite to press for an independence referendum if Downing Street rejects calls for a second vote after the next Holyrood election, a report has said.
Anthony Salamone, managing director of the Scottish political analysis firm European Merchants, said a referendum agreed with the UK Government is the only viable path to independence.
He said any unilateral process, without the UK Government’s cooperation, would result in no international recognition, no UN membership and no EU membership.
He said: “Such a scenario would manifestly not lead to effective independence and any such proposal would be a false prospectus to the people of Scotland.”
In a report, Right To Decide: Strategic Perspective On Scotland’s Independence Referendum Debate, Mr Salamone insisted the UK Government “will have a democratic obligation” to accept the outcome if next year’s Holyrood election produces a majority in favour of an independence referendum.
He wrote: “Should the UK Government instead refuse to cooperate on holding a referendum, the Scottish Government and wider Scotland should respond in a constructive, measured and purposeful way.
“Scottish society should unite in the view that a referendum must take place, regardless of opinions on independence.
“The sole objective should be to secure a referendum through dialogue and persuasion, based on its strong democratic, political and moral case.
“While an electoral mandate from the people for a referendum should be implemented without the need for such persuasion, if a campaign becomes necessary it should be entirely focused on securing an operative referendum providing the people with the option of effective independence, not symbolic independence.”
He added: “A united Scotland campaign for an independence referendum should focus its efforts on politicians, media and civil society in London.”
Mr Salamone continued: “In response to a united Scotland campaign, the UK Government must surely accept the democratic decision of the people of Scotland to hold an independence referendum.”
Mr Salamone said that for
Scotland to become independent, Scotland and the UK would have to work together on all three main stages of the process: a referendum, negotiations and transition, and international recognition.
He argued the UK Union is in a deteriorating condition, while Brexit has showcased a dysfunctional UK state.
Speaking as his report was published, he said: “With the real prospect that the Scottish electorate could choose statehood, it is time for a more informed and less hyperbolic conversation on what independence for Scotland could mean.”