Tories accused of ‘blocking democracy’ after Johnson says no to second Scottish independence referendum
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has accused the Westminster Government of “blocking democracy” after Prime Minister Boris Johnson refused a second independence referendum.
Sturgeon said that the Conservatives were “terrified of Scotland’s right to choose – because they know that when given the choice we’ll choose independence”.
“Tories have no positive case for the union – so all they can do is attempt to deny democracy,” she said. “It will not stand.”
Nicola Sturgeon made a formal request last month for the UK government to transfer powers to the devolved Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh that would ensure any referendum is legal.
‘Self-defeating’
In a letter to the Scottish Government, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a referendum would “continue the political stagnation Scotland has seen for the past decade”.
And he said First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had previously pledged that the 2014 referendum would be a “once in a generation” vote.
“The people of Scotland voted decisively on that promise to keep our United Kingdom together, a result which both the Scottish and UK governments committed to respect in the Edinburgh Agreement,” he said.
“The problem for the Tories is the longer they try to block democracy, the more they show the Westminster union is not one of equals and fuel support for independence,” Nicola Sturgeon said.
“This response predictable – but also unsustainable and self-defeating. Scotland will have the right to choose.
“The Scottish Government will set out our response and next steps before the end of this month – when we will also again ask the Scottish Parliament to back Scotland’s right to choose our own future.”
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When will the imperialistic English London centric establishment ever realize that they do not have a God-given right to rule everyone else even though they might think so. Even with most of them receiving expensive education which teaches them of their supposed superiority they continue to ignore the lessons of history where they have a less than glorious record, from India, Malaya, Burma, Kenya, Cypress and not forgetting Ireland where legitimate and peaceful requests for self-rule were denied and all ended up INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES after a bloody struggle with thousands killed in the process. The hallmark of the 2014 Scottish… Read more »
Remembering visits to Edinburgh as a child. Morning rolls from the corner shop, Montgomery St.
This is a clearly a European capital city. You will not be denied by these, yesterdays people!
Not everyone who votes for SNP would vote for Scottish Independence. “Expensive education” is not as you would like people to believe, a preserve of only the Tory party!
Of course not; there are public school types in all unionist political parties.
Impossible to say at present what percentage of SNP voters will vote ‘Yes’, so best not to speculate. The best you can say, until we see the results, is that a majority probably would, and that it may be enough to carry independence over the line. Boris has just helped that cause considerably, I reckon.
Not everyone who supports Indy votes SNP!
I don’t think that I did, I even know of Tories who support Indy!!!!
You are quite correct but I always remember the old saying about how to spoil a decent Scottish bairn – send them to an English Private (Public) School, e.g. Eton!!!!
Sturgeon has got balls and I’ll be very surprised if she’ll back off because of what was an inevitable refusal from Westminster. She is on the front foot and she can choose her moment. My guess is that Johnson has just added a number of new ‘Yes’ votes if the referendum goes ahead.
Scottish Constitutional Convention now getting up steam.
I think that’s certain to be the case.
The Conservative party has just won a solid Westminster majority – except of course in Scotland! – immediately after it either ejected the remnants of the sensible Tories of yesteryear or they left in defeat and despair. So now the party’s neo-Powellite right is unconditionally ascendant, they believe, and not without some justification, that there’s a patriotic British consensus behind them, and the wind’s in their sails. So I think Bunter will simply reject each and every Scottish government demand for a further referendum on independence, and each time tell Ms Sturgeon courteously that the decision’s final as long as… Read more »
This day was written in the book of Gwydion, sacred father of knowledges, blessed be his name.
Daroganaf broffwyd / I make a prophecy
The Mab Darogan comes.
Hallowed be thy name. The Mab Darogan comes after we ourselves have stood in light and been conquered a 2nd time. It is a test by God. There is only 1 revolution, and that is the Cymraeg Restoration. Our ancestors watch to see if we are strong enough to honour their memories. That is not written in the book of Gwydion.
Colors of red white green, or black and gold?
The best way to get a Scotsman to want independence is for a posh Englishman to tell him he can’t have it
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/01/westminster-cannot-block-scottish-independence/#tc-comment-title
She’s playing the long game!! 😉
And behind the lovable Bojo the clown act there an ambitious and shrewd politician who wants to outshine Thatcher and Blair. Devolution for Scotland was meant to put an end to nationalism and the SNP. Mr Johnson will want to succeed where Blair’s devolution failed. We have already seen within a few short months Mr Johnson out-manoeuvre the remainers in the Tory Party and Westminster, Nigel Farrage and the DUP. Formidable as Ms Sturgeon is, her growing weakness is the length of time she and the SNP are in power. Mr Johnson can also play the long game.
But that doesn’t remove people’s feelings towards independence, they’ll still be here.
Since the question directly effects the entire Union and not just Scotland then surely thinking logically every eligible UK citizen should get a say/vote in the matter. This ensures collective democracy for the British Isles..
That would be ridiculous. It’s a matter for Scotland only.