NICOLA Sturgeon’s decision to “reset” her timetable for an independence referendum was going to leave Scotland as the only country in the European Union without a vote on Brexit, co-convener of the Scottish Greens Patrick Harvie warned.
Harvie urged the SNP leader to rethink her caution about pushing on and demanding a Section 30 order just now. “Scotland has not consented to being taken out of the European Union against our will,” he argued during the First Minister’s statement. “Scotland has not consented to the social and economic wreckage which we know will result if that happens.
“If the First Minister does not introduce a Referendum Bill until after autumn next year, how long will it be after we’ve been dragged out of Europe without having consented to it before the people of Scotland are even entitled to make their choice?
“Why after a negotiation between a UK Government and EU institutions, and decisions made by every other member state in Europe, why should the people of Scotland be the only people without the right to make a decision on that timescale?”
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, however, called on Sturgeon to “give the country some certainty” by taking the prospect of another vote “off the table for the rest of this Parliament”.
She said: “Yes voters and No voters, most people simply don’t want this brought back any time soon and none of the questions – none of the questions – that are raised by Brexit are answered by ripping Scotland out of our own Union of nations, our biggest market and our closest friends. I’m afraid to say that that statement will fail to give an assurance to those people that this First Minister is listening to them.
“Again, she makes virtually no mention of her domestic responsibilities. Instead she appears to be in denial about her mistakes over this last year and, as a result, is leaking credibility and confidence in her leadership by the hour.
“Her response actually hasn’t been to reflect but to simply lash out at the UK Government at every opportunity and to sing the same old songs in the same old tune.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale urged Sturgeon to “get on with the job that really matters – improving our schools, growing our economy and fixing our NHS”.
She said: “The First Minister says she has heard the views of the people, that she’s reflected on the result of the General Election, and her incredulous conclusion is to double down and continue with her campaign for independence.
“The truth is the threat of an unwanted second independence referendum is dead and this didn’t happen because Nicola Sturgeon wanted it to, the people of Scotland have taken that decision for her.
“The First Minister is digging her heels in, putting her fingers in her ears and pressing on regardless.
“First Minister, why don’t you understand the people of Scotland sent you a clear message at the General Election – get back to governing.”
LibDem leader Willie Rennie added: The First Minister has had a long, hard think about her plans for independence. And after that long hard think the First Minister has concluded that the First Minister should call another independence referendum at a time of the First Minister’s choosing.”
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