IT is no secret that the majority of mainstream news outlets are sceptical of independence. And this was demonstrated, yet again, in a Sky News interview with Ian Blackford.
The SNP's Westminster leader was discussing today's meeting in Parliament with Jeremy Corbyn and the Westminster chiefs of Plaid Cymru, the LibDems, and the Greens.
Blackford said talks were "constructive" and wanted Corbyn to get behind the other leaders in backing a People's Vote and to "recognise where Parliament is".
He quite rightly said that there's "no such thing as a good Brexit". With drug companies asked to ensure they have a six week supply of drugs after we leave the EU and Police Scotland saying it is preparing for post-Brexit chaos, it is clear Brexit will be detrimental to Scotland.
Blackford said Corbyn urged the party leaders to back a Labour Brexit over a People's Vote which they can only win "with Jeremy on board".
"We're not allowing Scotland to be dragged out against its will."
READ MORE: Jeremy Corbyn asks other parties to back Labour Brexit plans
But as Blackford said, "we have a mandate for an independence referendum that the people gave us in 2016 and if we choose to exercise that mandate ..." he was interrupted by Beth Rigby.
She said recent polls don't show support for Scottish independence but Blackford said they do (the most recent poll found 60% of Scots want an independence referendum).
Rigby interrupted Blackford AGAIN to say he'd also claimed as much during in the first indyref campaign.
Blackford again fired back, saying this was under different circumstances and that voters were told their rights as EU citizens would be respected if they stayed in the UK.
Blackford said "Scotland has changed" and "Brexit has changed everything" and that he wants to protect the economic interest of Scots.
Kay Burley tries to drop the old "you'll need to accept the €" chestnut on Ian Blackford, who's having none of it. pic.twitter.com/8Dr9BTFC50
— Robert (@RobDunsmore) 19 March 2019
Blackford was then asked by Kay Burley if an independent Scotland would reject the Euro and switch to sterling because "any new country that joins the EU has to adopt the Euro".
Blackford pointed out that was incorrect, saying: "No, let me explain to it you".
Burley said, "Well don't mansplain it to me", and added that European advisors say that "any new country that joins the EU has to adopt the Euro".
But Blackford responded: "There is a rider to that. To join the Euro you have to join the exchange rate mechanism too as a transition for that and you have to be in the exchange rate mechanism for two years.
"Joining the exchange rate mechanism is entirely voluntary. You can't be forced into the Euro against your will. The last three countries that have joined the EU have not joined the Euro. You can't be forced to do so."
He was then asked why an independent Scotland would keep the pound.
Blackford said the pound belongs to Scotland as much as the other nations in the UK and that the issue on whether to keep it will be debated at the SNP conference.
But he added: "I think it's right that we have a situation that we keep the pound. It is one that will help establish trade."
Rigby asked: "So there will be a second referendum moved at your conference?"
Blackford said: "No I didn't say that and that's not the impression I'm giving you".
He pointed out that Nicola Sturgeon said she would give an update on independence over the Brexit period when we knew the Brexit outcome.
"I think people in Scotland need to reflect on the chaos that we see in Westminster. The fact that we don't have a functioning government."
He was interrupted yet again to say that the SNP lost seats in the 2017 election. Blackford said they have 35 out of 59 seats and that May would "bite her hand off to have the majority of seats in the UK that we have in Scotland".
He said the SNP has won every election that it has put itself forward for in the past 15 years and that it is "by far the largest party in Scotland".
Burley replied: "I wonder why Jeremy Corbyn isn't taking much notice of you then with such credentials?"
Blackford said the Labour party has fallen into third place over the last few years.
"I think Labour has to realise that the best interests of the people of Scotland will be in an independent nation."
The interview exposed the same old scaremongering we heard in 2014.
Blackford concluded by saying that people in England have written to him saying if Scotland becomes independent they want to be part of it.
We can't blame them.
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