Ruth Davidson says it would not be wise for the next prime minister to block a request by Nicola Sturgeon for a second independence referendum
RUTH DAVIDSON has said a second Scottish independence referendum should not be blocked by Westminster amid the continuing fallout from the Brexit vote.
However, the leader of the Scottish Conservative Party stressed that questions over trading markets, currency and borders were now "utterly different” following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.
Davidson pointed out that there is now a dilemma between leaving the second biggest export market in the form of the EU or in the form of the UK, which is more than four times larger. She also added that economic impacts could be enormous.
Davidson pointed out that there is now a dilemma between leaving the second biggest export market in the form of the EU or in the form of the UK, which is more than four times larger
After stating in The Telegraph that it was “incredibly premature” and “destabilising” for the first minister to call a second independence referendum just two years after the 2014 majority vote to remain part of the United Kingdom, Davidson maintained that a second referendum should not be denied. She highlighted that blocking a new referendum on independence would be undemocratic considering Scotland’s majority vote to remain in the EU.
According to The Telegraph, sources close to the Scottish Tory leader argued that denying a second independence referendum would provoke a massive public backlash in Scotland that could further drive up support for separation.
The Conservative leader said "constitutionally" there would be no reason to block a vote, but it was too early to begin talks of a second referendum. Davidson was quoted in The Telegraph as saying: "I would argue as strong as I could that we should stay part of our biggest market and closest friend.
"Constitutionally the UK government shouldn't block it, no."
The Scottish Government has confirmed that a second independence referendum is possible as a consequence of the UK vote to leave the EU, not backed in Scotland. The first minister has been lobbying for Scotland's place in Europe ever since the Brexit result last week.
“I would argue as strong as I could that we should stay part of our biggest market and closest friend.” Ruth Davidson
The first minister said her intervention represented a “major and significant concession” as the Scottish Tories fought the recent Holyrood election campaign pledging to oppose a second referendum and claiming there was no mandate for one.
Nicola Sturgeon has said it is “highly likely” there will be another referendum after 62 per cent of Scots voted to Remain in the EU and she has ordered her civil servants to draw up the necessary legislation.
A formal request to 10 Downing Street would require a vote in the Scottish Parliament but there is a pro-independence majority when SNP and Green MSPs are combined. Prime Minister David Cameron agreed to transfer the powers to stage the last referendum after the SNP won a majority in the 2011 Holyrood election.
Photo courtesy of Youtube/BBC
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