Home Brexit Ian Blackford MP wants to hold independence referendum if UK leaves EU

Ian Blackford MP wants to hold independence referendum if UK leaves EU

by LLB Reporter
10th Mar 19 2:55 pm

An SNP Westminster spokesman has said, they are to put forward an amendment asking for the power to have an independence referendum, should the UK leave the EU.

Ian Blackford MP of the Scottish National Party and Member of Parliament for Ross, Skye and Lochaber said, the people of Scotland should be allowed to “determine their own destiny” as Scotland voted during the EU 2016 referendum, to remain in the EU.

The Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday, the British prime minister will “of course” refuse the Scottish government to hold a second independence referendum.

Blackford said the Scottish parliament has a mandate to hold one, and the prime minister should respect Scottish sovereignty.

Blackford told BBC Sunday Politics Scotland, the SNP will put down an amendment at Westminster later this week.

Blackford said, “What we’re going to do is put down an amendment asking for the Government to recognise that Scotland voted to remain.

“We’re also putting down as part of that amendment a recognition that if the UK does leave the European Union that the people of Scotland should be able to determine their own destiny and in particular should have that power to have an independence referendum if we so choose and we’re making reference in that to the claim of right and the debate we had in Parliament in July 2018 that Parliament accepted the motion that sovereignty rests with the Scottish people.

“So, we will do what we can to work with other parties to stop Brexit, we have no desire to see Scotland dragged out against its will, but we need to recognise that if that does happen then the people of Scotland have got to determine their own future.”

He added: “There is no such thing as a good Brexit, we know that it’s going to cost jobs, we know that it’s going to impact living standards, we know of course that no deal is absolutely disastrous for the people of Scotland.”

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First minister has said she will not hold a referendum unless Westminster gives permission.

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