SCOTTISH comedian Susie McCabe has claimed “we are not living in a functioning British democracy anymore” as she cast doubt over whether a de facto referendum would be recognised by the current Tory government.
The SNP have said they plan to contest the next General Election on the sole issue of independence after the UK Supreme Court ruled that Holyrood cannot legislate for a referendum without the green light from Westminster.
And although McCabe said a de facto referendum was the right call, she insisted there needed to be a “fundamental shift” in British politics before it would have any chance of being recognised – suggesting it would be easier for the SNP to negotiate with a Labour government or a more centrist Tory group.
“The problem you’ve got is if they’re [the Tories] not willing to sit around a table with a railway worker or a nurse, they’re not going to sit around the table with a Scottish politician,” said McCabe.
“I think ultimately the next General Election will be a de facto referendum, but they [the UK Government] will not recognise it. The Conservatives will not entertain us because they are filibustering our democracy.
"We are not living in a functioning British democracy anymore. It’s autocratic.
“So until you get rid of that and get a more centrist Conservative in like a David Cameron [they will not recognise a de facto referendum].
“I am by no means defending him [Cameron] but he was a centre Tory as opposed to what we have just now. It’s reasonably palatable, to a degree, as opposed to what we’ve got just now.
“I think what really has to happen is a fundamental shift in British politics and we need Labour in. What we need to see is a change in British politics to bring that about [recognition of a de facto referendum] which again proves we are not a union of equals.”
Yesser McCabe (above) – who has received plaudits for her political comments on Question Time and Debate Night – said she was “not surprised” by the decision of the Supreme Court but believed it proved the UK is not a Union of equals as Scotland had been left with no way to leave if it wants to.
There has been some debate over whether a de facto referendum should be run through the Holyrood or Westminster election, but McCabe insisted it had to be the latter.
She said: “It’s got to be Westminster to send a message to Westminster. The Holyrood election won’t do that.”
The UK Government has come in for severe criticism just a few days into 2023 with a crisis emerging in the NHS and railway workers and nurses taking industrial action over pay and conditions following ministers’ refusal to negotiate a fair deal that aligns with the cost of living.
SNP MP Dr Phillipa Whitford has insisted the situation in the health service is worse than it was during the pandemic and requires a COBRA-level response from Rishi Sunak.
COBRA refers to the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms where UK ministers meet to discuss responses to national or international crises.
She also claimed a weakened NHS suited the Tories who are hoping to push the NHS towards greater privatisation.
Stand-up star McCabe said she agreed with Whitford that the Tories are running the NHS down so “they can sell to the highest bidder”.
“There has been fundamental acts of vandalism since 2010 against our NHS and to be frank, they are running it down to where they can sell it and then they can turn round and say to an incoming provider ‘you’ve got a very sick nation and you’re going to make a lot of money’,” said McCabe.
“I know this is going to sound a bit tinfoil hat, but there’s a bit of me that thinks they are running it down so much that they can sell it to the highest bidder. It’s disgusting.
“I think it was Nigel Lawson, the Conservative chancellor, who said the NHS is untouchable because it’s the closest thing to a national religion. And he’s right.
“It's our NHS, not theirs. The government is mainly a custodian of the NHS. It’s our NHS, they are our nurses and doctors and it’s not up to any government to decide when that is going to be sold, because it’s not up for sale.”
Meanwhile, McCabe said she was “100%” on the side of striking workers as she slammed the UK Government’s unwillingness to reach an agreement with them.
She said anyone who did not support action being taken by unions should think twice about taking their May Day bank holiday – otherwise known as International Workers’ Day.
McCabe added: “What they’re [the UK Government] offering is ridiculous. Whether it be the railway workers or the NHS, it doesn’t matter. These people are striking for a fair day’s wage and the fact is the government have turned around and said ‘well, we see you’re striking, but we’re not going to negotiate and then if you keep striking we’ll make it illegal for you to strike’.
“See if you support that, don’t ever take your May Day bank holiday ever again. It’s outrageous.
“If you do not back those strikers, no matter how much of an inconvenience it is to you, don’t ever take your May Day bank holiday again because that’s for the strikers and workers. Don’t be out there enjoying your Sunday afternoon cocktail because you’re off on the Monday and then say you don’t support the strikers.”
