IAN Blackford has called for a General Election to “give Scotland the choice of an independent future”, as he told the embattled Prime Minster “it really is over”.
The SNP’s Westminster leader said Scotland doesn’t only want a “different Prime Minister” but a “different future … free from Westminster”.
At a fiery Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Boris Johnson faced fury from MPs, including from his own party about his handling of the Christopher Pincher scandal, who has been suspended over allegations of sexual assault. He denies the accusations.
Blackford compared the Prime Minister to the dead parrot from the famous Monty Python sketch, adding: “Whether he knows it or not, he’s now an ex-Prime Minister.”
Watch as SNP Westminster leader calls on Boris Johnson to hold a general election after telling him 'it really is over' pic.twitter.com/YTHBMPt2FN
— Hamish Morrison (@HMorrison97) July 6, 2022
He told Johnson the “fantasy was over”.
Blackford added: “He will leave behind two deeply damaging legacies.
“I hope the dishonesty of his leadership follows him out of the Downing Street door.
“But the other legacy is that of Brexit and that will stay, because I’m sad to say that the Labour Party now fully support it.
“Scotland wants a different future, not just a different Prime Minister, so if the Prime Minister won’t resign, will he call a General Election and allow Scotland the choice of an independent future free from the control of Westminster?”
Johnson was also branded “best recruiting sergeant” for independence by Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts.
The Prime Minister retorted he had spoken with First Ministers Mark Drakeford and Nicola Sturgeon recently.
He added: “I see the bonds of our union being strengthened all the time.”
Toni Guigliano, the SNP's policy convenor has told The National "any snap poll should be the de facto referendum".
The First Minister has said the SNP will treat the next General Election as a "de facto referendum" on independence should her joint bids either to be given permission by the Supreme Court to hold a referendum or secure a Section 30 order be rejected.
Guigliano added: "We need to be ready to fight the election at any point. On independence. And we should be saying that clearly."
The Prime Minister has been embroiled in scandal since it emerged he had promoted Pincher despite being aware an investigation was upheld against the MP for behaving inappropriately.
It sparked the shock resignation of Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid on Wednesday evening and has seen a wave of junior ministers quit their Government roles.
A bullish Johnson today told MPs: “It’s exactly when times are tough and when the country faces pressures on the economy and pressures on their budgets, and when we have the biggest war in Europe for 80 years, that is exactly the moment that you’d expect a government to continue with its work, not to walk away, and to get on with our job and to focus on the things that matter to the people of this country.”
