Hunt reveals China’s indyref query
The Chinese government questioned why the UK gave Scotland a vote on its future in 2014, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt revealed as he said the SNP had to accept the result of referendums on independence and Brexit.
Speaking to journalists, Mr Hunt said the Chinese ambassador asked him in the run up to the independence referendum five years ago: “Why would you allow them to have a referendum?”
The Foreign Secretary, who told reporters to“wait and see” if he stands to be the next Tory leader, insisted he was a “very staunch Unionist” and ruled out another independence vote. But he stood by his call for the UK to leave without a deal rather than abandon B rex it, despite Scotland’ s wish to stay in the EU.
“Scotland voted to remain in the UK; that means the majority of people in Scotland recognise that we take decisions as a United Kingdom and not as constituent parts of the United Kingdom,” Mr Hunt said. “What the people of Scotland want is to see this paralysis resolved because it doesn’ t reflect at all [well] on the Westminster system.”
Asked how he would defend the Union if he became Prime Minister, Mr Hunt added: “Once a decision has been made then that decision has to stand. The SNP have to accept that Scottish independence referendum and the whole country has to accept that about the Brexit referendum.
“If we start doing any differently, then we will fundamentally break the trust between people and the people who they elect.”