A MAJORITY of Conservative voters believe the UK Government should have the power to block any legislation passed by devolved parliaments, a new poll has found.
The survey, by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, found that 60% of 2019 Tory voters think Westminster should be able to bypass Holyrood, Stormont and the Senedd on whichever bill they pass.
Overall, 40% Brits polled said London should be able to bypass home nations' bills while a third disagreed.
Asked "Should the UK government have the power to block any legislation passed by the devolved parliaments?" 42% of 2019 Labour voters said yes while 31% said no.
Should the UK Gov't have the power to block any legislation passed by the devolved parliaments? (18 January)
All respondents Yes 40% No 33% 2019 Conservative voters Yes 60% No 20% 2019 Labour voters No 42% Yes 31% pic.twitter.com/8M3wNg8zLj
— Redfield & Wilton Strategies (@RedfieldWilton) January 25, 2023
The poll follows a heated stand-off between the UK and Scottish governments after Scottish Secretary Alister Jack blocked Scotland's gender reform legislation.
In an unprecedented move, the Tories issued a Section 35 order last week in a bid to stop the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill from receiving royal assent.
Nicola Sturgeon said the move was a "full-frontal attack on the Scottish Parliament".
The Tories have raised concerns that the bill interfered with UK-wide equality laws, adding that the decision to block the bill is not an attack on devolution.
An SNP spokesperson said: “The Tories are still furious that Scotland voted to have a Scottish Parliament in the first place and they have tried every dirty trick in the book to undermine it ever since.
“This poll is as predictable as it is disappointing. Fortunately, the people of Scotland respect democracy even if the Tories don’t.
"That’s why Scotland has rejected them at every election in the last 70 years.”
Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer told The National:
"The Tories have shown a consistent and shameful contempt for our democracy. Since Brexit they have launched an unprecedented power grab and tried to undermine Scotland's Parliament at every step.
"Their attempt to veto Gender Recognition Reform is a disgrace, and so is the undemocratic Internal Markets Act, which gives Westminster the power to obstruct or veto a huge range of Scottish legislation.
"There is no doubt that Westminster is a clear and present threat to Scottish democracy. With every passing day it becomes clearer that the only way to safeguard our Parliament is with the powers of a normal independent country."
