First Minister warns attempt to block a vote by Scots on their future would be “undemocratic”
SCOTS BACK the Scottish Parliament’s right to call for a second independence referendum, a new poll has found, in a blow to the UK Government.
The Survation survey also found that a majority of Scots oppose any attempts by Westminster to oppose a vote on the country’s future.
Sturgeon will send a letter today to Tory Prime Minister Theresa May requesting a second referendum. May has said she will block any request to hold a vote on independence in the wake of hard Brexit, despite a majority vote in the Scottish parliament.
“Any prolonged bid to block people having their say would be undemocratic, unsustainable and run the risk of public opinion turning even more sharply against the Prime Minister.” Scottish Government spokesperson
Quoted in the Herald, a spokesperson for First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “This poll shows that, in trying to block a referendum, the UK Tory Government is acting against the wishes of the people of Scotland.
“Any prolonged bid to block people having their say would be undemocratic, unsustainable and run the risk of public opinion turning even more sharply against the Prime Minister.”
The poll asked participants who “should have the right to decide if there should be a referendum in Scotland that would allow the people of Scotland to choose between Brexit and Independence”.
Sixty one per cent of respondents to the poll supported Holyrood’s right to hold a vote on independence, with just 35 per cent backing Westminster’s ability to accept or deny a vote.
Fifty six per cent also said they thought Holyrood should decide the timing of any future vote on Scottish independence.
4 ways triggering Brexit has launched the UK into constitutional chaos
The poll comes after a historic week for the UK, which saw the country plunge deeper into constitutional crisis with a vote in the Scottish Parliament by 69 votes to 59 for a second independence referendum and May beginning the UK’s hard exit from the EU by triggering Article 50.
Sturgeon has said she wants a referendum between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, by which point the terms of Brexit will be known but the UK will not have completed its exit from the EU.
EU negotiators have said they will only negotiate a new relationship with the UK after Brexit negotiations have finished, leaving the UK in a period of uncertainty.
Picture courtesy of Chris Malcolm
Check out what people are saying about how important CommonSpace is: Pledge your support today.
