Petition for fresh ‘ScotRef’ has taken off since EU repeal bill was passed this week
A PETITION asking the Scottish Government to call a second independence referendum in light of the successful first vote on the EU Withdrawal Bill has gained almost 4, 000 signatures since Tuesday (12 September)
Forward As One, a pro-independence campaign group which held a rally for independence in Dunfermline last month, set up the petition in response to the House of Commons vote which took place late on Monday night.
The EU Withdrawal Bill, which passed with 326 votes to 290, will now go to the committee stage where amendments can be put forward by MPs, but there is widespread concern about the powers it confers to UK government ministers and the limitations it places on the devolved administrations.
“[The] Conservative Government very shortly will wield the power to destroy all of the progress that Scotland has made over the past 20 years.” Forward As One
Addressed to the ministers of the Scottish Government, the petition asks that a second referendum be held before the UK formally leaves the EU and the bill comes into effect, the petition states: “We seek the Scottish Government call for a democratic vote on Scotland leaving the United Kingdom before the damage to our economy, our society and our country is irreversible under a Conservative Government who very shortly will wield the power to destroy all of the progress that Scotland has made over the past 20 years.”
The petition also calls for the support of those who might not favour remaining in the EU but who are concerned by the implications of the bill, it says: “While all who sign this may not agree on the position with regards to EU membership, most agree with the fundamental principle that a Conservative Government should not have free reign and that our fundamental rights should be protected at all costs.”
The petition argues that, when the EU Withdrawal Bill becomes law: “It will declare the Conservative cabinet as sole arbiters of our fundamental rights and civil liberties without oversight from the elected representatives of parliament, without oversight of the European Union, without oversight of the European Courts,” the petition says.
“[We] seek to exercise our fundamental right to vote to withdraw our consent to the union.” Forward As One
In light of recent events, the petition says that the “inadequacies” of the UK government to represent Scotland and its interests have been brought to the fore, and that “relentless endeavours” to make the voice of the people of Scotland heard have been denied.
For this reason, the petition says: “We, as lawful citizens of Scotland, protected by the fundamental civil liberties and freedoms defined by the European Convention on Human Rights, do hereby seek to exercise our fundamental right to vote to withdraw our consent to the union of constituent nations more commonly known as the United Kingdom.”
The Scottish Government announced its recommendation on Tuesday (12 September) that the Scottish Parliament deny consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill until necessary amendments are made.
Picture courtesy of Stuart Crawford
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