THE denial of democracy to the people of Scotland was never more in evidence yesterday when MPs of the Better Together persuasion lined up to castigate the very idea of a second independence referendum.
The fear of defeat in such a referendum leached from Unionist speaker after speaker as Westminster Hall heard a debate on a virulently anti-democratic public petition put forward by an anonymous person.
The petition called for consent not to be given to another referendum on Scottish independence and had received 109,929 e-signatures, meaning the Commons had to debate it.
Chris Evans, the Labour member for Islwyn in Wales who had volunteered to lead the debate said the petition stated “the independence referendum was called a once in a generation vote—so let it be.”
Why a Welsh Labourite should be a cheerleader for Better Together is anybody’s guess but Evans let fly with the usual litany of thoroughly debunked SNP-bad stories before saying: “The SNP should be leading the people of Scotland, not misleading them by saying that there are simple solutions to Scottish problems and telling them tales of an imaginary utopia with Scotland outside the UK. Rather than picking at old wounds, the SNP should focus on using the powers it has to help the Scottish people. “
Up stepped Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, who was concerned about trolling: “It hit home to me when the hon. Member for Islwyn said that the lead petitioner wished to remain anonymous because of the state of the debate in Scottish politics right now.
“Today I found out from the police that someone has been charged with making a very graphic death threat against me and another Scottish politician. That is the state of politics in Scotland right now. That is what the SNP wants to take us back to, and it is what the SNP wants us to debate in the days, weeks and months ahead."
John Nicolson, SNP MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, said: “So what should we make of the campaign to stop a referendum? Please, no more of the ‘once in a generation’ baloney. The Prime Minister said that the last general election was a ‘once in a generation’ election. I doubt he meant that there will be no more general elections. Young people who missed out on voting in 2014 are now in their 20s and are hungry to shape their future. Attempting to stifle their voices shows nothing but fear.
“I understand people who feel Unionist. I do not, however, understand those who want to impose their Unionism in defiance of Scotland’s Parliament. The Scottish people are sovereign. We will decide our future, and no one else.”
Former Scottish secretary David Mundell referred to a Commons debate last week and said: “We learned that the nationalists’ statement that the 2014 referendum was a ‘once in a generation’ event was in fact a complete and deliberate con - a trick to persuade their supporters to go out and vote. It is clear that there was never any intention to stick to that promise, and the suspicion at the time that the SNP would keep pursuing a referendum until it got the answer it wanted was correct.”
After several more contributions denying Scottish democracy it was left to SNP MP and National columnist Mhairi Black to fillet the case for denying a second referendum. Black said: “I genuinely do try my best to understand where Unionists are coming from in their defence of the UK as a Union, and although I disagree with them more often than not I always respect and accept what their position is. That’s what keeps a democracy healthy - genuine thoughtful debate.
“Today’s debate is about whether Scotland should have another independence referendum.
“The very basic principle on which all democracies are built is that it is for the people to exercise their democratic rights in free fair and regular elections to determine what the future of their country should be.”
Black added that if the people of Scotland do re-elect a majority of members on an explicit pledge to have another referendum then there is “no democratic or moral argument” against it.
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