A SCOTTISH independence referendum could take place “as early as late 2021”, according to SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford.
The MP said, however, that the first priority of the Scottish Government is tackling the Covid crisis.
Blackford explained the “key” would be putting in place circumstances which would allow for an independence vote to be held.
He commented: “I want to see that referendum happen as quickly as is practically possible, I think it’s in everybody’s interest that that is the case.
READ MORE: 'UK is over': SNP welcome blistering Welsh attack on Tories
“But of course we’ve got to get the election out the way, we need to make sure that the SNP are elected back into government again, that we reinforce that mandate for a referendum.
“There’s a Bill that will be published over the coming weeks and that can be enacted once we’re on the other side of the election.
“Of course what I would say is that the first priority of the Government is dealing with the Covid crisis, it’s about keeping people safe, it’s about the acceleration that we’ve seen with the vaccine programme, it’s about taking off the measures of lockdown as and when we can.
“But we do that based on data, we do that based on evidence, we do that based on keeping people safe.
“When we’ve got to that position of safety, that would be the right time to have the referendum.”
He continued: “(Mike Russell) has talked about a six-month period once the legislation is triggered which could be in June, so it could be the case we could face a referendum as early as late 2021.
“But the key thing is that we put in place the circumstances that allow that to happen, whenever it happens, and that we have an inclusive debate with everybody in Scotland about the kind of country that they want to live in.
“And it is a choice of two futures. It’s the long-term damage of Brexit, it’s the impact of Tory austerity, or it’s about that economic recovery, that fairer Scotland, that greener Scotland that we want to see with Scotland being an independent country back into Europe.”
Blackford also warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson that he “cannot stand in the face of democracy” in the event that the SNP wins a majority in the Scottish Parliament elections in May.
READ MORE: Scottish independence: Latest poll shows seven-point lead for Yes
He said: “Democracy has got to prevail and there’s been a long-held, cherished position that in Scotland sovereignty rests with the people.
“There’s never been a situation in Scotland that sovereignty has rested with Westminster, has rested with Parliament, and you can go right back to the Declaration of Arbroath, the claim of right and everything that’s gone around that, that does demonstrate that in the end, it has to be about the will of the people, to be able to choose their own future.
“And I’d say to Boris Johnson or anybody else in the Tory party that they cannot stand in the face of democracy, they cannot stand in that will of the Scottish people to see their sovereignty enacted, to have that discussion, to have that debate and to make that determination as to whether or not we wish to be independent.
“And certainly that’s the case that if we win the election, and I’ll never take anything for granted, that we’d be making that case pretty robustly.
“We will support our colleagues in government in Edinburgh in making sure that we get what the Scottish people vote for.”
The SNP Westminster leader added: “I hope and believe that we can win a referendum and win it well, but I want to be able to bring Scotland together and there is a place for those that are on the other side to come on that journey with us and to contribute to Scotland’s story because it’s in all our interests to do that.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel