SNP's continuity bill a 'dry run' for indyref2 legislation
The SNP is using wildcat legislation on Brexit as a “dry run” for forcing an emergency second independence referendum bill, the Scottish Conservatives have said.
The nationalist government will force a hurried stage one debate on post-Brexit powers tomorrow despite Holyrood’s Presiding Officer ruling that the Scottish Parliament could not legislate on such matters.
Now MSP Donald Cameron has said the SNP could repeat the “wilful ignoring” of parliamentary authorities when it comes to legislating for a referendum re-run.
He said the SNP government would cite the case of tomorrow’s UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) if it wanted to perform similar stunts in future.
Scottish Conservative MSP Donald Cameron said:
“We all know what’s likely to happen next: give it a few months, and the nationalists will be back making the same arguments about the need for emergency legislation – but this time for their second independence referendum.
“The SNP has wilfully ignored the Presiding Officer’s ruling that its bill is beyond Holyrood’s powers, and it will happily do so again.
“The truth is that the wildcat legislation introduced this week by the SNP is simply a dry run to help it push a second independence referendum through parliament.
“Unlike Labour and the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish Conservatives will have no truck with the SNP’s games.
“We will oppose this irresponsible law-making.
“We will support a sensible deal on Brexit that brings more powers back to Scotland.
“And, above all, we will oppose any attempt by the SNP to impose a second independence referendum on voters.”