Boris Johnson has insisted a second Scottish independence referendum is not a priority for the UK Government. The Prime Minister told MPs the country should be united and focused on "rebuilding after Covid" after he was accused by Alba MP Neale Hanvey of holding "hostage" Scotland's democracy.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has outlined plans to hold a second vote on Scottish independence on October 19, 2023. With the UK Government refusing to grant consent for such a ballot to be held, Ms Sturgeon is asking Supreme Court judges to rule if Holyrood can hold a referendum without the backing of Westminster.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Hanvey, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, said: "I listened carefully to the Prime Minister's warm words about the Commonwealth and the relationship between independent countries, and, of course, in 1941 it was then Prime Minister Churchill that signed the Atlantic Charter with the United States, committing both Britain and the United States to delivering people's right to choose their own form of government and self-government.
"This respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples was incorporated into the United Nations charter in paragraph two of articles 173 and 76. In light of this, can the Prime Minister set out what mandate he has won which allows him to breach this UN principle, deny Scotland's claim of right and hold Scotland's democracy hostage?"
Mr Johnson replied: "I know that the First Minister has asked for another referendum. I just point out that we had one in 2014. I think right now the priorities of the country should be rebuilding after Covid. They should be taking us forward together as a united country, and that's what we want to do."
