WILLIE Rennie has been accused of hypocrisy after saying his party would block indyref2 even if the SNP and Greens win a majority at the next Holyrood election.
His comments came as the LibDem conference backed a policy of revoking Article 50, stopping Brexit and overturning the 2016 EU referendum result if they win a majority of seats at the next General Election.
The Scottish LibDem leader also said that even if pro-independence parties were to win a majority of seats in Scotland, the LibDems would still reject a request for a Section 30 order from Nicola Sturgeon. The SNP’s depute leader Keith Brown pointed out the contrast in Rennie’s position.
He said: “It’s beyond hypocritical for Willie Rennie and Jo Swinson to call for a second EU vote then stand against people in Scotland having their say.”
In an interview with the Herald on Sunday, Rennie said there should not be another referendum in his lifetime. Asked whether, in the event of the SNP and Greens winning a majority, it would be legitimate for the UK Government to reject another referendum, he said: “Yes, and we would argue very strongly for that at Westminster. Big bang constitutional change is chaotic, damages the economy, and divides the country.”
Rennie claimed that the case for independence is now “weaker”.
READ MORE: SNP's Ian Blackford hails ‘significant’ new support for indyref2 poll
When put to him on the BBC’s Sunday Politics Programme that this wasn’t a very democratic position for a LibDem, the Fife MSP said: “What’s democratic is if people vote for the Liberal Democrats and they vote for us in the understanding that we will oppose another referendum or independence then that’s exactly what they’ll get.”
The party came under fire over the weekend following reports in the Press and Journal that talks were “ongoing” with Boris Johnson’s Tory Party in an attempt to stop the SNP having a “clean sweep” of Westminster seats at the next General Election.
LibDem chief whip Alistair Carmichael was forced to deny the claim his party is in cahoots with the Conservatives.
Brown said that the claims had left the LibDems’ top brass “back-peddling” in the face of public opinion.
“There’s absolutely nothing democratic about teaming up with the Tories in a backroom deal to impose a hard-line Brexit, while openly blocking voters in Scotland from having a say on their own future,” he said.
“Is it any wonder that support for Scottish independence is now at record levels?
“We deserve better than what’s on offer from Westminster, and the Unionist parties can’t stand in the way of the people any longer.”
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