Amid the cost-of-living crisis and his own party’s inner turmoil, one of the most pressing issues facing new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is that of Scottish Independence.
The Supreme Court is currently assessing the Scottish Parliament’s ability to hold a second independence referendum, after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon proposed the date of October 19, 2023.
As the new leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party, Mr Sunak opposes the plans of the SNP, but what exactly has he said about Scottish independence in the past?
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The issue was a hot topic during the Conservative Leadership contest played out over the summer following Boris Johnson’s resignation, which Sunak lost to rival Liz Truss.
With Britain’s third female Prime Minister lasting less than 50 days in the job – and leadership contender Penny Mourdant dropping out of the race to replace her on Monday afternoon - Sunak will become the first non-white person to occupy 10 Downing Street.
During a hustings in Perth in August, the 42-year-old said that now was not the time for “an unnecessary, divisive constitutional referendum”
He also previously called the idea of holding a second referendum soon as a “quite frankly barmy idea.”
In the summer, he said: “There is nothing more Conservative than our precious Union, and everything great that we have achieved we have done so as one family.
“For all of these reasons, my Government will do anything and everything to protect, sustain and strengthen it.
However, the former Chancellor has described the union as being “there by consent” and said that it exists democratically and voluntarily.
While his predecessor was criticised for failing to contact Ms Sturgeon during her tenure as Prime Minister, Mr Sunak has stated it would be “dangerously complacent” to ignore the SNP leader.
The MP for Richmond (Yorks) has previously vowed that a government under his leadership would be the most active north of the border for decades.
Mr Sunak’s plans for Scotland involved sending ministers across the border more regularly, reforming the union unit, and bolstering funding to the Scottish Tories.
The First Minister tweeted her congratulations to the new Prime Minister on Monday afternoon, while reaffirming calls for both a general election and Scottish independence.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Congratulations to @RishiSunak – I wish him well and, notwithstanding our political differences, will do my best to build a constructive working relationship with him in the interests of those we serve…
“He should call an early General Election…For Scotland, of course, he becomes another PM we did not and, without doubt would not vote for even if given the chance.
“To escape the damage of Westminster governments with no mandate here, and take our future into our own hands, Scotland needs independence.”
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