The deputy leader of the Scottish National Party Angus
Robertson tactically dodged answering a question when asks the First Minister’
second independence referendum fails, whether the party would still go ahead to
campaign for another referendum for Scotland.
Instead he answered saying he would never give up on what he
believes in that “the undertaking of democratic change is not given up” even if
the Scottish people vote to remain a part of the UK.
The ambiguous answer came after The Guardian’s Owen Jones
asked: “If you get that referendum, and you lose it, is that it?”
Towards which Mr Robertson said: “Look, the undertaking of
democratic change is not given up.
“I’m never going to turn my back on my beliefs and I
wouldn’t encourage people in other parties to do it either.”
According to the pro-EU politician the SNP had called for a
second vote because it was “right” for Scotland to have a vote on its future
before Theresa May’s negotiations with the bloc are finished. Saying that
“We’re holding a referendum because it’s right.
“But I actually think the proposition of a Scotland with a
continuing relationship with Europe and a sovereign state able to determine our
own future when measured against a part of a right-wing Brexit Britain that’s
doing the exact opposite, there will be a very lively debate about it but I
think we’d win that.”
The SNP deputy leader also blasted the Prime Minister for
rejecting Ms Sturgeon's demand for a referendum sometime between autumn 2018
and spring 2019, as he argued “everyone and their dog” was going to be given a
vote on the final Brexit deal.
“At the end of negotiations between the UK and the EU there
are going to be a number of months for a decision to be taken on the outcome of
the negotiations,” Mr Robertson said.
“That decision will be made in the European Parliament, it
will be made by all 27 member states of the European Union, it will be made in
the House of Lords by people that nobody’s elected, be made in the House of
Commons which has a non-Scottish majority.
“Given everybody and their dog seems to be able to have a
choice at that stage, why can the people of Scotland not have a choice?”
He further took a swipe at Mrs May, saying: “If the Prime
Minister was confident that the outcome that she is negotiating is going to be
so popular she shouldn’t run away from the public.”
During PMQs on Wednesday, Mrs May slapped down Mr Robertson
after he accused her of "broken promises”, saying the PM promised she
would secure a UK-wide agreement.
He asked: "Will Scotland have a choice? "
Mrs May snapped back saying: "Can I remind you Scotland
is part of the UK", before adding: “I have been very clear throughout and
since my first visit to Edinburgh last July, we were going to work with
devolved administration.
“But it would be a UK approach it would be the UK government
that took forward that. We are taking forward the view of the UK into
negotiations with the EU on the UK exiting the EU.
"The Scottish Nationalist Party. They consistently talk
about independence as the subject they want to talk about.
“Now is not the time to be talking about a second
referendum. On today of all days we should be coming together as a United
Kingdom to get the best deal for Britain.”
No comments:
Write comments