THE Tories have told Nicola Sturgeon that she won’t be getting the powers to hold indyref2.
Speaking in Glasgow, Theresa May's de facto deputy, David Lidington, said the 2014 vote had settled matters for a generation.
“We don’t see any evidence that there is a demand from the people of Scotland to review the decision they took in 2014,” he said.
“That referendum was said at the time to settle matters for a generation.
“We don’t see that a Section 30 order is called for. I don’t see how it would help put right problems with Scottish schools and hospitals.
“Devolution in Scotland has given many additional powers to the Scottish Parliament and some of those powers have not even be used.
"So I think there is plenty more that can be done in terms of the Scottish Government using the powers that are already there.”
Asked if he would rule out granting a Section 30 order before 2021, he replied: “We have made it very clear we don’t think that is justified.”
Lidington refused to speculate on whether a new Tory government under Boris Johnson would be more likely to grant the order.
Yesterday, Sturgeon announced plans for a new legislation to “set the rules for any referendum that is, now or in the future, within the competence of the Scottish Parliament.”
READ MORE: Indyref2: First Minister sets out plans for vote before 2021
READ MORE: Andrew Wilson: Nicola Sturgeon’s speech is a landmark in our journey
The First Minister said this could be done without Westminster’s permission, but a Section 30 order would be necessary to "put beyond doubt or challenge" Holyrood's ability to apply the new legislation to an independence referendum.
It was, effectively, she told MSPs yesterday, what had happened five years ago, but in reverse.
“In 2014, we got a Section 30 and then we legislated. This time, I propose that we do it the other way around. Why are we doing that?
“So that we protect the ability of Scotland to avoid Brexit. If we cannot do that through our efforts to stop the whole of the UK leaving the EU, “Scotland must have the opportunity to protect itself from the damage that Brexit will do—damage to our economy, to our public services and to the opportunities and horizons of this and future generations.”
Sturgeon also told MSPs that the UK Government’s current position on a Section 30 order would “prove to be unsustainable.”
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