Unionist parties should have the "courage of their convictions" and call an IndyRef2, the co-leader of the Scottish Greens has said. Lorna Slater claimed the Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems were scared of losing another referendum on independence.
"I’m continually frustrated by the Unionist parties lacking the courage of their convictions,” she said. "Because I fully believe the reason they won’t let us have a referendum is because they know they’re going to lose it.
"They don’t spend any time at all arguing for why the union is good, they know haven’t got a basis for that – especially with Brexit, especially with unpopular things like the unelected House of Lords, especially the economic disaster we’ve seen coming out of Westminster. They know they have no case to make for the union."
It comes after the UK Supreme Court ruled the Scottish Parliament did not have the power to legislate for a referendum, closing all routes to a further poll that do not require Westminster consent. The ruling means the UK Government would have to provide the necessary powers through a section 30 order.
Scottish Labour constitution spokeswoman Sarah Boyack said: “Most Scots don’t want a referendum next year, but the majority do want change.
“Instead of returning to the divisive arguments of the past, Scottish Labour are focused on delivering the change Scotland needs. We are working day in, day out to kick this economically illiterate and morally bankrupt Tory government out of office.”
Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie also said that a win in a de facto referendum – the use of a national election as a bellwether of public support for independence – should mean the UK Government agrees to begin negotiations on Scotland’s separation from the union.
"I think the notion has to be that if every route to a referendum has been closed off by the UK Government, then you’re contesting an election on the basis that will establish the view of the Scottish people," he said. "If there’s a majority of votes cast for pro-independence candidates, that should begin the negotiations between the two governments."
Slater added: “That highlights why a section 30 is still the right route for this, because that’s the tool for having this discussion, it’s ridiculous to withhold that tool."
Scottish Labour constitution spokeswoman Sarah Boyack said: "Most Scots don’t want a referendum next year, but the majority do want change.
"Instead of returning to the divisive arguments of the past, Scottish Labour are focused on delivering the change Scotland needs. We are working day in, day out to kick this economically illiterate and morally bankrupt Tory government out of office."
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