Unionism ‘faces crisis if indyref2 is blocked’

The UK Government’s veto on a second independence referendum will be “unsustainable for unionism”, the SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson has claimed.

The Conservative Party manifesto says a second vote on independence should not be held unless there is “publicconsent”andonlyafter Brexit has “played out”. This is despite MSPS voting for a second referendum in the aftermath of last year’s Brexit vote.

Thesnpwantsareferendum to be held between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, insisting its mandate to demand the ballot was won at last year’s Holyrood election.

Mr Robertson said: “If the people of Scotland determine that they want SNP representatives at Westminster representing our collective interests, we will all have been sent there to stand up for the rights of the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government and the 0 Angus Robertson says veto is unsustainable mandate that the Scottish people gave in the last Scottish Parliament election.

“Are we really in a position where the Tories are saying that the people of Scotland will not be able to determine their own future because of what, an opinion poll?

“I just think it is unimaginable, if there is a UK Tory party victory across the rest of the UK but in Scotland the SNP is returned, that they can just continuously turn their backs on the democratically expressed views of the people of this country.”