The UK Government's refusal to allow a second referendum is an "obstruction of democracy", a former independence campaign chief has said. Blair Jenkins, chief executive of Yes Scotland at the 2014 vote, warned the country would be left in a state of "suspended animation" until an answer was reached on the big constitutional question.
It comes as Nicola Sturgeon last week signalled she would be willing to negotiate the terms of an IndyRef2 with whoever replaces Boris Johnson in Downing Street. The First Minister wants to hold a referendum on October 19 next year and has asked the Supreme Court to rule on whether Holyrood has the powers to stage it without Westminster approval.
Johnson has repeatedly insisted "now is not the time" and claimed the result of the 2014 vote must be respected. Jenkins, a former BBC news chief, spoke to the Record just hours after Sturgeon had published her government's latest paper on independence.
He insisted the SNP's mandate to hold a referendum was "unquestionable" and doubted whether Westminster opposition could last.
He said: "As a position I don't think it is sustainable - morally, politically, or intellectually. It's essentially an obstruction of democracy. By any yardstick, by any precedent, the SNP secured a mandate for a new referendum in the Scottish elections last year.
"Whatever your views of independence, and people have genuine differences there, anyone who is a genuine democrat would accept there must be a referendum."
Asked if the election of a new Conservative leader would change Westminster's position, he said: "It's a debate that's yet to happen. I don't think political opinion across the whole of the UK is fully aware of just how unquestionable the Scottish Government's mandate is from the election last year.
"Once that debate is held more fully, I think most fair-minded and reasonable people, even if they don't want Scotland to leave the UK, would accept there ought to be a referendum."
Jenkins was appointed chief executive of the Yes Scotland campaign in June 2012. A journalist for more than 30 years, he had never been a member of a political party. At the time he described it as "a once-in-a lifetime campaign for me and for the people of Scotland".
But Jenkins now said the 2016 Brexit vote had changed the political landscape and made Scots more aware of the benefits of independence. And he backed the First Minister's plan to request a Supreme Court judgement on the legality of an IndyRef2 before a bill is presented at Holyrood.
"The Supreme Court is an interesting institution and it has delivered some unexpected judgements," he said. "I welcome the referral in as much as we do need clarity on this.
"If it does turn out to be the position that people in Scotland are unable to have an independence referendum, and it can be obstructed in perpetuity, then I think we get into very difficult territory.
"Is the principle that any election in Scotland where there is a mandate for an independence referendum can be ignored? What we're seeing is a Prime Minister in London saying 'now is not the time' as they don't want to be the Prime Minister who loses a referendum.
"I think we're reaching a moment of truth. There is a real defining moment coming for UK democracy and Scottish democracy".
Sturgeon has declared her party will use the next general election as a proxy referendum if the Supreme Court ultimately rejects her plans.
Asked if the SNP was capable of winning 50 per cent of the vote in Scotland at such a poll, Jenkins said: "It's very difficult for any party to get 50 per cent in any election.
"But if that election is fought on the independence issue, and a fully fledged Yes campaign mounted, then I think there is a very good chance of securing 50 per cent of the vote."
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