May’s argument for preventing indyref2 is hypocritical and false
Today Theresa May told Scotland that we can’t have indyref2 even if our parliament votes for it.
In an interview with Robert Peston she said:
Just at this point, all our energies should be focused on our negotiations with the European Union about our future relationship.
To be talking about an independence referendum will make it more difficult for us to be able to get the right deal for Scotland, and the right deal for the UK.
And more than that, I think it wouldn’t be fair to the people of Scotland because they’re being asked to make a crucial decision without all the necessary information – without knowing what the future partnership would be, or what the alternative of an independent Scotland would look like.
The last paragraph of her statement manages to be both hypocritical and false.
It is false because as we discussed yesterday, indyref2 is planned for a time when we will know the details of the Brexit deal. So we certainly would be able to make an informed choice.
It is hypocritical because we just had a Tory led referendum on leaving the EU with no prior information on what that would actually entail. In fact the Tories still don’t have a clue what leaving the EU will look like 9 months after the vote. If you have any doubts about that watch this car-crash display by the Secretary of State for exiting the European Union.
This is another act that highlights the glaring lack of sovereignty of the Scottish parliament.
May is willing to lie by saying she wants us to be informed, while forcing through a hard Brexit that was won on the back of a referendum in which there was zero clarity. She is willing to deny a democratic vote in the Scottish parliament while at the same time pushing through a Brexit that was designed to restore decision making power to the UK parliament.
Informed about EU ref?
We have been talking for ages about how Scotland is a passenger and not a partner. About how we need to decide whether we want to be a region or a country.
This is ultimately what indyref2 will be about and May is helping to highlight this by treating us with no respect.
Sturgeon should continue with plan A and force the Prime Minister to deny the will of the Scottish parliament. In the long run the PM may be able to delay indyref2 but in doing so is she making our points for us.
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Isn’t there a tension between setting aside nearly half a year for the ratification process and the assumption that it’s just a rubber-stamping formality? Suppose the UK does have a deal agreed by October 2018, and then Scotland votes for independence. Surely those who are unhappy with the deal could use that as an excuse to reopen negotiations, for all manner of reasons — the UK market will be 8% smaller, its fishing stocks will be greatly reduced, the future of its nuclear deterrent will be very much in question. They could demand all kinds of concessions on the UK’s… Read more »
Barnaby
Ms Sturgeon has a very clear position she is first minister of Scotland .
Scotland is her responsibility how rUk run there country or do trade deals is for there leaders to decide I’m sure the first minister will have enough to keep herself busy
Also .. “the UK market will be 8% smaller, its fishing stocks will be greatly reduced, the future of its nuclear deterrent will be very much in question. They could demand all kinds of concessions on the UK’s part in response, knowing that the latter will now be under tremendous time pressure. A victory for Scottish independence during the Brexit negotiations could wreck even a deal that had previously been agreed in principle ” As of Monday and Ms Sturgeon’s announcement of a second referendum all of Scotland’s resources are off the table in any brexit talks with the EU… Read more »
I think these are valid points. However, from my viewpoint these highlight the problem with the Brexit vote more than problems with Scottish independence. Brexit was sold as something that would be an easy and beneficial process. However, it is extremely complex. Scottish independence is just one of the potential consequences that the Brexiteers never considered when they sold the plan.
Scottish independence would also be an extremely complex process, surely. Opinion seems to be quite divided as to what effect Brexit would have on Scottish independence. Some say it makes it more likely, as it shows up a UK-Scotland divide in terms of national destiny and values. Others say it makes it less likely, as the more Scotland is enmeshed within a uniquely British set of institutions, regulatory frameworks and international ties (as opposed to the EU equivalents) the harder independence would seem (the ‘had Britain adopted the euro, Scotland would have voted for independence’ argument). Perhaps we’ll see which… Read more »