THE Scottish Greens could back a legal challenge against Boris Johnson's government if it refuses to grant a Section 30 order, Patrick Harvie has suggested.
The party’s co-leader insisted a pro-independence majority after the Holyrood election would be sufficient for an indyref2 mandate.
He warned the Tories that opposition to such democratic demands would be “unsustainable” and open to a court challenge.
Speaking to STV, Harvie said: “If the people of Scotland choose to elect a pro-independence majority in the next Scottish Parliament, then that’s a mandate.”
He added: “The continued opposition to that democratic principle is politically unsustainable, and potentially open to legal challenge as well so we’ll assert that case, that Scotland has the right to make its own choice.”
READ MORE: Greens in manifesto pledge for Scotland to take on international roles in indy push
The Greens co-leader was quizzed on what has changed since 2016, when Scottish voters also elected a majority of pro-independence MSPs.
He explained: “Brexit is a betrayal of the democratic wishes of Scotland. Scotland’s not only Scotland, but also the people in Northern Ireland and the people across the island of Ireland have been betrayed. Scotland has been betrayed by Brexit.
“It’s deeply harmful position that we now find ourselves in, and it is at odds, it’s directly at odds with the promises that were given in 2014 with a Better Together campaign that said the way to protect our position in Europe is to vote No. Well that wasn’t true, it changes the game, and it certainly changes our position on what would justify and require another independence referendum.”
Recent polls suggest the Greens are set to make gains in next month’s election, with some reports hinting that they could be given ministerial positions in a coalition government with the SNP.
Harvie commented: “The Greens, including in many other countries in Europe have been in government, and I absolutely hold that aspiration for my party. Very clearly, we’ve got six seats in the last election; some of the polls suggest that we could double that, at this election.”
He added: “We would look at the arithmetic in the next parliament, and if the leading party that has to form the next government wants to speak to us, I suspect most of our party would be willing to talk.”
READ MORE: Scotland to elect large pro-independence majority next month, poll says
However, the Glasgow MSP warned that there remain “really big differences” between his party and the SNP on issues such as oil and gas and public transport.
He also rejected claims that his party has been the Scottish Government’s “little helpers” at Holyrood, telling the interviewer: “You’ve been reading too many Tory leaflets.”
Boris Johnson has refused to countenance the prospect of another independence referendum, with Scottish Secretary Alister Jack ruling out another vote for at least 25 years.
Both the SNP and Alba have raised the prospect of challenging another Section 30 order refusal in court if a pro-Yes majority is returned to Holyrood.
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