AN independence referendum is “not off the table”, Mairi McAllan has insisted after the Prime Minister was forced to rule out a second vote last week.
The Education Secretary told the BBC’s Sunday Show that Andy Burnham should accept the SNP’s request to enshrine Scotland’s right to a referendum in law on the same basis as an Irish border poll after he said the situation in Scotland was “exactly” the same as in Northern Ireland.
Speaking ahead of a meeting between the leaders of the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in Cardiff on Monday, McAllan said: “An independence referendum is not off the table and we devote time to it because it is the transformational change that allows Scotland to stand on its own two feet in the world and to fulsomely pursue the better future that we want.”
Asked what the role for Plaid Cymru’s leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill was in securing Scottish independence, McAllan said: “I think it’s quite obvious that the status quo in the UK is unsustainable. The people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland know that because they have elected governments who believe in self-determination and home rule for their countries.
“So the only person or the only people who, until last week anyway, didn’t appear to understand that were the UK Government but the Prime Minister stood up at the despatch box in the House of Commons last week and was clear that Scotland must have a route to choose our own future. So we just want that agreed now in legal format so that we can take forward our mandate in Scotland.”
Swinney and the other nationalist leaders will meet in their capacity as party leaders rather than in a government capacity to discuss how they hope to steer their countries out of the Union.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Swinney said: “Every nation across these islands is standing at a moment of incredible constitutional opportunity.
“There is a growing consensus that the Westminster system simply is not fit for purpose and does not work for ordinary people.
“Prime Minister Andy Burnham has accepted that himself – and the people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have made it clear at the ballot box.
“For the first time ever, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are led by pro-independence first ministers.
“There could be no clearer sign that the status quo is not sustainable – and that Westminster must prepare for a post-UK future.”
The comments come after the Prime Minister this week suggested there could be another vote on independence should the Scottish people want one.
Downing Street quickly claimed the comments did not represent a shift in position and independence for Scotland remained “off limits”.
But the comment has been seized on as a shift in UK Government policy.
The First Minister added: “Crucially, for the first time since 2014, there is a British Prime Minister who has publicly accepted the democratic principle of self-determination.
“The momentum behind serious constitutional change is undeniable.
“Andy Burnham must now be facing up to the idea that he will go down in history as the final Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
“Tomorrow in Cardiff, I am looking forward to discussing a better future with partners from across these islands – and that only comes with the fresh start of independence.”
In a letter to the First Minister on Thursday, the Prime Minister said he had been “highlighting that there is no consensus for an independence referendum in Scotland”.
He told Swinney: “As I made clear to you personally when we met recently in Glasgow, independence and a referendum are off limits as it would take our focus away from growing the economy and helping families with the cost of living.”
