THE Scottish Greens have added to growing momentum behind calls for a second independence referendum.
The party’s co-convener, Patrick Harvie, said Scotland must be given the option of being an independent member of the EU.
He was speaking in Holyrood yesterday as the House of Commons held a no-confidence motion in Theresa May’s UK Government and following a humiliating defeat for her Brexit deal the day before. Harvie pointed to the ongoing Brexit crisis, arguing that it underlined the importance of Scotland being given another option.
The Greens MSP, pictured, said: “The clear majority of MSPs are united in opposing Brexit, demanding a People’s Vote, and having no confidence in a UK Government which has shown incompetence of historic proportions.
“That agreement is a remarkable contrast with the confusion at Westminster, but it is also in the self-evident interests of the people we represent.
“But the Brexit crisis has also shown – ever more clearly as the chaos has escalated – that the UK political landscape itself is broken.
“Regardless of whether Brexit can be stopped or is ultimately forced upon us, the people of Scotland deserve the chance to reject the absurdities of Westminster where Scotland is clearly held in such contempt and instead chart a course to becoming an independent member of the EU.”
The Greens have previously joined with the SNP, Labour and LibDems at the Scottish Parliament in voting to withhold consent for the UK’s proposed Brexit withdrawal agreement.
Harvie has also criticised Westminster’s “power grab”, which would see a tranche of powers returning from the European Union to Holyrood instead taken to the UK Parliament, citing the risk to areas including environmental protections and food production.
The Brexit chaos that spurred the MSP’s call also saw Shetland actor Douglas Henshall voice support for a second referendum.
The Scottish actor is known for his roles as Professor Nick Cutter in the science fiction series Primeval and detective Jimmy Perez in the crime drama Shetland.
He took to Twitter to vent his frustration, tweeting: “Can we have indyref2 now please? Because I’ve had it with this shit. #indy2.”
Then, when asked if the current turmoil at Westminster made the original independence vote result seem “much more tragic”, he replied: “YES!”
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