SCOTLAND cannot get a true handle on the NHS crisis without the powers that independence would bring, an SNP activist has claimed.
Make Me Prime Minister star Kelly Given – who works for the NHS - told STV without the appropriate fiscal levers the Scottish Government is not in a position to resolve the situation fully and independence would help it do that.
She added Unionists “know that” and accused them of simply being “dishonest” about the matter.
Her comments came on Scotland Tonight in an interview which also involved Scotland in Union’s Pamela Nash following the Holyrood debate on independence on Tuesday.
Given – who was runner-up on the Channel 4 reality show – also hammered home that “independence is inevitable” as Nash dodged a question on whether the UK Government can continue to keep saying “no” to a referendum.
After Nash criticised MSPs who had backed the independence motion during the NHS crisis, Given replied: “I work for the NHS. Independence is for the NHS.
“Without the appropriate fiscal powers and the powers we need to control the NHS properly, we can’t a grasp on this crisis properly and I think unionists know that.
“They are choosing to be dishonest about it to take the focus off the argument.”
In the first debate of 2023, the Scottish Government chose to focus on the route to independence, much to the fury of Tory and Labour MSPs.
The Tories mostly focused on the NHS while Labour argued that a win for them at the next General Election would bring the constitutional change that Scots want.
Angus Robertson, the Constitution Secretary, moved a motion on behalf of the Scottish Government which acknowledged the Supreme Court decision but “reaffirms its belief that people in Scotland have the sovereign right to determine the form of government best suited to their needs”.
The motion added that the UK should be a “voluntary association of nations” and that Westminster should be open to any devolved nation who wishes to “withdraw from the Union”.
It ends by demanding the UK Government respect the right of Scots to choose their own constitutional future.
It passed overwhelmingly with MSPs voting Yes 70, No 54.
When Nash was asked what the pathway to independence was, she appeared to deny independence was the main reason people voted for the SNP.
She also ignored a question on whether the UK Government can just keep saying no to a referendum by just saying there was no positive case for self-determination.
Nash said: “People vote for parties for a huge range of reasons which is why we shouldn’t have a de facto referendum.
“People don’t just support the SNP because they support Scotland leaving the UK. There’s a variety of reasons and if we look at their manifestos in the past there’s a whole range of things the SNP have a mandate for that they’re not doing.
“Back in 2017, they said there was going to be a nationalised energy provider which is badly needed. They said they wouldn’t cut police numbers and they have been cut.
“I just don’t think there is a positive case to break up Britain. The SNP have had a long time in power to make that argument and we’ve not heard it in 15 years.”
Given hit back at Nash branded her responses to questions as “utter denial” and “nonsense” as she insisted independence would be achieved at some point in the future whether “you like it or not”.
She said: “The polls are clearly saying a majority want a referendum. Independence is inevitable and it is coming, whether you like it or not. You can shout about it, you can stamp about it, but it’s going to happen.
“Look at the polls. 72% of young people want independence. If this is truly a democratic country, we will leave when we want to leave.
“We’ve seen consecutive polls since the Supreme Court ruling putting independence supporters ahead and at this point it’s becoming insulting to the electorate of Scotland.
“Unionist politicians are telling the people of Scotland their opinion doesn’t matter.”
