Scottish Parliament Backs 2Nd Referendum

[emmie]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-39422747

[murraymints]

any ad hoc referendum Nicola may call without Westminster approval is not valid and would be no more than an opinion poll and not a very accurate one as many of the no contingency would treat it with the contempt it deserved...no more than an extension to Queen Nicola's ego which I would not massage...

[EDDIE51]

The entire idea is the weaken Theresa May's bargaining power with the EU. If England Scotland ,N Ireland and Wales were 100% united in their desire for leaving the EU our bargaining power would be far greater.
The EU can now be under no illusion that the UK is divided in the wish to leave.
It does not matter if a 2nd Scottish referendum is held or not, it does not matter if the PM refuses to allow it or not.
Just the fact that Scotland does not want to leave the EU and is willing to demonstrate that wish by holding a 2nd independence referendum is enough in itself.
It will do what exactly it is intended to do , make the UK's bargaining power far weaker than it would be if we were united.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't see that it makes a difference. EU negotiations are still with the UK. And Scotland's people has made no decision on whether a further referendum is required, certain parties at Holyrood have simply agreed to push their desire for one.

[jno]

minty, "validity" doesn't mean anything. All referendums, including Brexit, are purely advisory, and it's up to governments what importance they attack to them. If a new Scottish vote, official or otherwise, came out in favour of independence, I don't think there's any way May could just ignore it. "No" voters would be very unwise to stay home.

[murraymints]

the referendum for independence was very much marketed as an instruction to Government here...before NO won...and is still perceived as so here....we have voted "once in a generation " already and patience is wearing very thin among the Scots....

[jourdain2]

I hope so Minty. Going up to Denholm, near Hawick, again in mid-May. No-one there seemed to want to leave the Union last year.
The Greens have nothing to lose, of course. It will cost a fortune and I am sure no-one really wants it. It will give the SNP something to moan and criticise about for a couple of years, I suppose. So silly. )x

[anneasquith]

NS. Is not looking for a referendum tomorrow, I was surprised she has asked for one so soon after 2014 , but I'm sure she has her reasons. Minty , please don't talk for all of Scotland as you often do, you have made it very clear you dislike M's. Sturgeon, but please in you're try not to demean Scotland,

[murraymints]

Anne I speak for myself as one of the majority of Scots that voted no to independence...I don't dislike NS personally ..I dislike the way she has ignored the will of the people and that she has changed the goalposts because she can't and didn't accept the outcome of a democratic process..

[anneasquith]

Patience is wearing very thin from the Scots. Maybe not all of them?

[Kromovaracun]

Like Karl says, there's a bit more than what's technically legal going on here though. Technically the Brexit referendum was not much more than a glorified opinion poll, but it was not portrayed that way to voters and everyone involved now understands it would be politically disastrous not to implement it.

The Westminster govt cannot actually do anything to stop a second Indyref. Sure, they might cause the "no" side to boycott it, but they'll also galvanise the "yes" side by playing directly into the SNP's hands as they can say they're being oppressed by London.

Oh well. This was all very predictable. Will of the people and all that...

[cassa333]

By not allowing a second independence vote (but NS having one anyway) could see the no voters staying home so may well mean the yes win by default simply because the yes voters are more motivated.

Outrage about the Westminster bubble not listening will become heightened and could see a tidal change in attitude to independence.

In my humble opinion they should do the descent thing and wait till after Brexit has happened before they start throwing their dummies out of the window.

[steg]

//In my humble opinion they should do the descent thing and wait till after Brexit has happened before they start throwing their dummies out of the window. //

We aren't allowed to throw NO voters out the windows at any time

[dannyk13]

Hardly a convincing vote 69 to 59.

[anneasquith]

Denny hardly convincing vote , it was enough,

[hereIam]

I'll laugh if it's the same result !

[kvalidir]

You won't when it's not... lol.

[hereIam]

I said 'if'.... lol.