Blackford vows SNP will vote down Queens speech

Speaking at the party's conference in Aberdeen, the Westminster leader attacked the UK Government’s move to launch a new parliamentary session, and called on the oposition leaders to back a no-confidence motion in the Prime Minister

The SNP will vote down the Queen’s speech if it gets the chance when it comes to the House of Commons next week, the party's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, has said. 

In his opening speech to the SNP conference, Blackford attacked the UK Government’s move to launch a new parliamentary session, calling it “simple electioneering” and a “charade” to distract from the Brexit process.

He told delegates in Aberdeen: “If this Queen’s speech ever comes to a vote, then the SNP will vote it down.”

Blackford argued for an immediate confidence vote in Prime Minister Boris Johnson, with view to securing a Brexit extension and then holding a general election.

He said that opposition party leaders should support such a plan if they “wish to have any credibility left”. 

“It’s time for Jeremy Cobryn and Jo Swinson to step out of the sand pit and step up to the job,” Blackford said.

He continued: “So instead of sitting back and letting Boris Johnson hold all the cards. We, the opposition, must remove the deck from his hands.”

The UK Government will introduce its new legislative programme on Monday which MPs are expected to debate through the week before holding a vote.

Directing his comments to Liberal Democrat and Labour party leaders, Blackford said “the clock is ticking” to make a decision.

The Skye, Ross and Lochaber MP also addressed the issue of how the party could secure Scottish independence if Westminster refused to grant the necessary legal approval to hold a referendum. 

Citing opinion polls that show support for Scottish independence has grown to as much as 50 per cent of the public, Blackford said the “momentum” was with them. 

Taking aim at discussion of a potential 'plan B' for acquiring independence, he told delegates: “The way to deliver independence is in a legal referendum that will be accepted and recognised by our European and international partners.

“So, when you hear talk of a so-called plan B, I ask you to consider this.

“The time to talk of a plan B is not when plan A has momentum.”

Dismissed the idea as “by definition second best” to a “gold standard” of a legal referendum, Blackford said it was instead time for the party to “reassert” its mandate. 

He said: "Our mandate to stand stronger for Scotland and our mandate to give Scotland a choice, to become an independent country.

“Conference, it’s time.”