People’s Vote event saw independence row develop

A CAMPAIGN rally for promoting a “People’s Vote” on Brexit flared up in Edinburgh yesterday after MPs on the platform clashed on independence. Christine Jardine and Ian Murray, who are Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs, warned that the debate on another EU referendum should not stray into the question of whether Scotland should leave the UK.

However, senior Nationalist MP Joanna Cherry, sitting next to the pair, hit back: “I’m not going to shut up about my ultimate aim.”

MPs are expected to vote this week on a series of amendments which could give an indication on how, if at all, the UK leaves the European Union.

Prime Minister Theresa May’s draft deal was rejected by MPs, but it is unclear whether her new plan, or any alternative, can command the support of the House of Commons.

The SNP is to call for the clock to be stopped on Brexit when it lodges an amendment to the Prime Minister’s blueprint.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford is to table an amendment on Monday calling on May to note the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Commons all voted “overwhelmingly” to reject her deal.

It will also seek an extension to Article 50 – the mechanism which triggered the process of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU – call for a no-deal Brexit to be ruled out, and demand that Scotland should not be taken out of the EU “against its will”. The SNP was initially lukewarm about a so-called “People’s Vote”, but has now enthusiastically endorsed giving voters another say. However, the SNP’s main objective is independence and many in the party would like to move quickly towards a second referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future if Brexit happens. Cherry, who is her party’s justice and home affairs spokeswoman at Westminster, said she had been a “strong” voice in the SNP backing a second EU vote because “I thought it was the right thing to do”. However, she also claimed that Brexit had shown up the “limitations” of devolution and added: “I adhere firmly to the view, as a democrat and a European, that Scotland should be an independent nation in the EU at the top table.”

Jardine, who represents Edinburgh West for the LibDems, said: “Can we keep this argument about the People’s Vote and Europe? Because the thing we have at the moment is that we are all united on that argument. If we start talking about how ‘and then we have to have independence’, we would lose the Unionists’ vote. Unionists will say ‘hang on a minute, I don’t want this to be an argument about independence’.” She continued: “If we start antagonising the Conservatives, we will lose the Conservatives who do actually support a People’s Vote”.

In agreement was Ian Murray, the Labour MP for Edinburgh South, who said: “I do agree with Christine on this. If we conflate a People’s Vote with another referendum on Scotland we risk undermining the chances of winning a People’s Vote.” In response, Cherry said the SNP had not attached any conditions to supporting another EU vote, but said: “No-one is asking Christine or Ian to come on board for independence. We are simply asking them to reflect on whether the arguments that they are using to support a second EU referendum … whether those might extend by analogy to justify a second independence referendum.”