Westminster would be ‘foolish’ to block indyref 2, say Scottish Greens

Patrick Harvie - Image credit: Parliament TV

The UK Government would be "foolish" to block a second independence referendum, said Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie.

The party welcomed yesterday’s draft bill on independence, published by the Scottish Government.

The option of a second independence vote is needed because 62 per cent in Scotland voted to remain in the EU and the UK Government refusing to allow Scotland to form its own relationship with Europe.

Harvie said: “Several months after the EU referendum, we’re still none the wiser as to what Brexit will look like or fully mean for the UK.

“The Westminster government’s inability to acknowledge the overwhelming mandate for Remain in Scotland, or demonstrate any kind of flexibility the union could take in the individual UK nations’ forging relations with Europe, shows that independence is quickly becoming the most realistic option for Scotland to shape its own partnership with the European Union.

“Evidently the referendum results in 2014 and 2016 can no longer sit side by side because the UK that Scotland narrowly voted to remain a part of two years ago no longer exists.

“Every opportunity must be explored to keeping Scotland in the European Union and that now includes the option of an independence referendum.

“It would be foolish for the UK government to stand in Scotland’s way having already disregarded the 62 percent who voted to remain earlier this year.”

Other opposition parties have criticised the Scottish Governments white paper for a second independence referendum.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said yesterday: “No matter what else the SNP claims to be passionate about, be it education, health or justice, today’s publication exposes its sole objective is separation ahead of anything and everything else.”

Meanwhile, Shadow Scottish Secretary Dave Anderson confimed: “There will be absolutely no support for a second independence referendum from Labour.”