Written constitution must include method to leave union, says SNP

Nation.Cymru Staff and Craig Paton, Press Association Scotland Deputy Political Editor

Any written constitution for the UK must include a route for nations to leave the union, the SNP has said, arguing that the issue is particularly relevant with pro-independence governments now in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The question of Scottish independence has been stymied in recent years by an argument over the process for holding a referendum, with powers to grant another vote held by Westminster and successive prime ministers refusing to engage with the topic.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said a written constitution should be created in his push to ensure everyone in the UK lives a “comparable life”.

The Prime Minister first mooted the idea of a written constitution in a 2024 book he wrote with Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotherham during his time as the mayor of Greater Manchester.

SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan has urged the Prime Minister to enshrine in any constitution how countries of the UK can leave the union, saying any document would be “fundamentally flawed” without such a clause.

The Prime Minister, in his brief time in office, has already shut down talk of Scottish independence.

“Andy Burnham spent the weekend talking about a written UK constitution after telling Scotland discussion about our constitutional future is ‘off limits’,” Mr Doogan said.

“There are pro-independence first ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – that’s the context of this discussion, so clearly a written UK constitution is fundamentally flawed if it doesn’t spell out a path to leaving it.

“The Scottish Parliament has voted for the Scottish people’s right to decide, there are a record number of pro-independence MSPs in Holyrood and opinion polling consistently shows independence is the preferred position of the Scottish people.

“Westminster cannot continue to ignore that reality.

“Andy Burnham is right to say Westminster has hoarded too much power and he is right to raise the question of where power lies in these islands, but he will never address the answer to that question by denying democracy to the Scottish people.”

Burnham has already held his first face-to-face meeting with First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, with both leaders saying they want to work together on shared priorities despite their differing views on Wales’ constitutional future.

The UK Government has been contacted for comment.

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