SNP leadership candidate Ash Regan has set out her plan for if Westminster says no to opening negotiations on securing independence, should she become first minister and use her “voter empowerment mechanism”.
Regan, the MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, is proposing using each election as a means to achieve independence, with a result of 50%+1 for Yes parties triggering negotiations with the UK Government on leaving the Union.
The MSP has consistently been asked what she would do if the UK Government refused to negotiate in those circumstances, and has now set out her response to that possibility.
It comes after a new poll by Find Out Now, commissioned by the Scot Goes Pop blog, found 69% of SNP voters agree that a majority of votes for pro-independence parties could be used as a democratic mandate to negotiate an independence settlement. Among all voters, the figure was 33% - while 30% disagreed and 25% did not know.
The four pillars to ensure #Scotland will become Independent through my #Independence Plan. SAY NO to the status quo!#voteAshRegan for Leader of @theSNP. pic.twitter.com/qz4VvtJfdH
— Ash Regan MSP (@AshReganSNP) March 11, 2023
“I have the only plan that has historic precedent, can be delivered legally by Scotland alone, moves us beyond the referendum stalemate, is supported by the majority of SNP members, and is accepted by the public,” Regan said.
“Bluntly, there is no possibility of the UK Government not agreeing, as demonstrated in the 65 examples of countries that have left the UK or British Empire,” she said.
“There is a 100% success rate in those countries getting the UK Government to the negotiating table after an initial refusal. It is not credible to suggest anything else, the UK Government will even concede this fact.”
Regan split her explanation into four pillars – the first, that the Smith Commission states clearly that “nothing in this report prevents Scotland becoming an independent country in the future should the people of Scotland so choose”.
The second pillar is that the international community has always recognised UK elections, and would therefore recognise the will of Scotland’s electorate.
In her third pillar, Regan argued that there’s “no legal method to stop the Scottish Parliament from deciding when it wants an election, in the same manner the UK Government can decide when it wants one”.
And in the fourth, Regan stated the UK isn’t a full democracy, but a constitutional monarchy. As head of state, she noted that King Charles acknowledged Barbados announcing itself as a republic.
“King Charles is the Head of State for the United Kingdom and his public speeches show us the character of the man on the throne,” she said.
“As first minister, I would be required to attend audiences with him, and would serve as a member of his Privy Council - which is the recognised mechanism for reaching interdepartmental agreement for ‘prerogative business’, which is the business of which no other precedent or clear delegation to minister or department exists.”
Regan concluded that while the UK defends its position of blocking indyref2 with “bluster and bullish statements”, the evidence suggests Scotland would not be held in the Union “in perpetuity”.
Her explanation, which was also set out in video, came as her fellow candidate Kate Forbes called for more preparations for independence – including new organisations focusing on reserved areas.
Meanwhile, Humza Yousaf suggested the creation of a new Cabinet Secretary for Advancing Independence, should he win the contest.
