THE Scottish Tories are promising to rip up a key commitment in the Smith Commission by attempting to block a post-pandemic referendum on independence, the SNP have said.
SNP depute leader Keith Brown has challenged Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross to reaffirm his party’s commitment to the agreement ahead of his address to Tory party conference today.
In agreeing to the Smith Commission’s principles, the party signed-up to the commitment that voters have the right to choose independence in the future.
The Commission agreed that “nothing in this report prevents Scotland becoming an independent country in the future should the people of Scotland so choose”.
Despite this unequivocal promise, Boris Johnson has signalled his Government will refuse to recognise the Scottish election result as a mandate for a second independence referendum if a pro-independence majority is returned to Holyrood.
Yesterday, a Panelbase poll for the Sunday Times found that 55% of voters in Scotland want to see a post-pandemic referendum within five years.
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Brown accused the Tories of appearing ready to “betray the promises made to voters” in 2014.
He said: “A key principle, agreed by all five parties on the Smith Commission, is a crystal clear commitment that people in Scotland have the democratic right to choose independence.
“That commitment is there in black-and-white for all to see – signed with the seal of approval from the Scottish Tories and their party bosses at Westminster.
“Recent polling shows that the Scottish people’s desire to choose their own future has not dimmed. Now the Tories appear ready to betray the promises made to voters during and after the 2014 independence referendum.
“If Scottish voters in May back the SNP’s plan to hold a post-pandemic referendum, then the Tories have no right to block it.
“Yet Boris Johnson’s remarks show just out of step he and the Tories are with what Scots want.
“What voters need to know is if Douglas Ross and the Scottish Tories are on his party’s side or Scotland’s side.”
The Panelbase poll suggests a majority of Scots believe independence is inevitable in the coming years.
The survey asked voters for their views on the constitution and another referendum. It found 38% of Scots believe the country will become independent in five to 10 years. A further 17% expect it within 10 to 15 years and 8% think it will happen in 20 to 30 years – meaning a total of 63% expect Scotland to leave the Union in the coming years.
A total of 28% said they don’t expect independence at any point in the next few decades, while 9% were undecided.
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Overall, the survey of 1013 adults found Scots were split on the question of independence, with 46% in favour and 47% opposed.
When “don’t knows” are excluded, this put the weighted support for both Yes and No at 50% each.
Respondents were also asked about the timing of another referendum. One in four believe one should take place within 12 months, while almost one in three (30%) believing a vote should be held within two to five years. However, 45% said there should not be another vote “in the next few years”.
The Panelbase research put the SNP on track to win a majority in the Holyrood election, but by a margin of just one seat.
The SNP stood at 47% for the constituency vote, with the Conservatives on 23%, Labour on 20%, the Liberal Democrats on 7% and the Greens on 2%.
For the regional list vote, the SNP were on 38%, the Conservatives on 20%, Labour on 17% and both the LibDems and Greens on 6%.
Speaking at the Scottish Tory conference on Saturday, Ruth Davidson accepted that “barring a complete implosion” the SNP would emerge from the ballot as the largest party.
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Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservatives will have a “relentless focus on rebuilding” the country after coronavirus, Ross will pledge, as he announces plans for a new scheme that aims to deliver a “skills revolution”.
The Tory MP wants to see a £500 “Retrain to Rebuild” grant to be made available to help people learn new skills and build their careers.
The Tories say the scheme could help as many as 100,000 Scots in its first two years, when it could help those who are currently unemployed, anyone facing redundancy, and workers earning less than £30,000.
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