I can’t understand why the Liberal Democrats, Tories and Labour are so very, very exercised about having a second independence referendum once we know the terms of the Brexit “deal” (if there ever is one).
If their arguments are so persuasive, they’d win the referendum hands down and that would be the end of the matter. Can it be that they fear they’d lose?
Jonathan Wills
Sundside,
Bressay.
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John Tulloch
If the polls are to be believed the Scottish people don’t want another divisive independence referendum, either.
I notice that six of the last eight letters on here are from pro-SNP sources, four of them from Jonathan, himself. This smacks of desperation – not “frightened of losing”, by any chance, Jonathan?
It’s understandable, suppose, “Peak SNP” is well past and Jonathan’s reputation as a whizz political spin doctor has already taken a buffetting, following the Scalloway canvassing fiasco with the Shetland TImes.
Robert Sim
If peak SNP is well past, John, how does that fit with the latest polls on the General Election which continue to show the SNP streets ahead? The SNP is quite simply the choice of the Scottish electorate.
Gordon Harmer
Looking at the polls and bookies odds the SNP will only be a few blocks ahead, not streets. How ever many they lose it will show Nicola is marching them down the hill.
Robert Sim
Gordon, it is likely that the SNP will have by far the biggest number of Scottish MPs after this Thursday. That continues to give the SNP the mandate to speak for Scotland.
Voters here would therefore be wise to ensure that we are protected by a strong voice which will put Scottish interests first, not last, going into brexit; and which will have real clout in the context of a very small Tory majority in the House of Commons.
Ian Tinkler
Johnathan Wills, an endless pursuit of the SNP, “Holy Grail” of Independence, is a waste of political resource and also damaging to the credibility of Scotland as a stable place for business. The neverending bleat of the NATS about wicked Westminster “England” is becoming annoying. Scotland has already voted, regardless of, Wicked Tories, Wicked Brexit, fantastic Nicola, beautiful Miriam et al. , people want decent, honest government, not the neverending march to the cliff edge of Snatty independence, especially when that means immediate capitulation and surrender to Brussels. Does Scotland want to become the next Greece under the boot of Merkel, austerity with knobs on?
James J Paton
Mr Tinkler, who is to provide this decent, honest Government? The Conservatives with more cuts to decent people’s living standards or the busted flush Liberal-Democrats, still like king their substantial wounds, self-inflicted after their love- in with the Conservatives.
In Westminster, completely irrespective of independence, a Conservative or Labour majority, or let’s hope a hung parliament, the SNP, having followed BBC Parliament very closely, have and will represent Scotland’s best interests there. I say this as an exiled outside observer living in England and a member of the Green Party.
ian tinkler
Here we go again and we have not had Indy2 yet!!!
From G Harmer, “Not only is Sturgeon obsessed with indy ref 2 she is now going on about indy ref 3 if she (which she will) loses indy ref 2.
“Nicola Sturgeon has refused to rule out trying for a third independence referendum within a short period if she lost her planned second vote.
The First Minister was challenged twice during a special edition of the BBC’s Question Time programme in Edinburgh to promise that the result of a second referendum would be respected for a minimum period, such as a generation or 25 years.
But, to groans from the audience, she argued it would not be right to tie the hands of the Scottish people by making such a pledge.” Will this divisive woman ever stop this is the real SNP.
Robina Barton (Labour Candidate)
Not at all Jonathan, it’s because we fear that it would yet again distract our SNP government from the business of governing, to the further detriment of people they are already failing.
Robert Sim
Robina, the only reason that the SNP very reluctantly raised the matter of a second independence referendum was because the EU referendum resulted in Scotland’s very clear wish to remain in the EU being ignored. The commitment to push for another independence referendum in such circumstances was as you know in the SNP’s last Holyrood manifesto – in this matter, the SNP is being principled and consistent, not something one can say about every political party.
Johan Adamson
Possibly, Nicola’s actions in raising the independence issue forced May to call the general election quickly, to get a mandate for brexit. But since the GE was called, things have changed, and Scotland now have a choice – hard brexit under the Tories, staying in the single market under Labour, the Lib Dems and lets vote on the final exit or the SNPs lets break away from the UK and possibly ask to re-join the EU (note that brexit has an X and not ‘eggs’ in the middle).
John Tulloch
Indeed, Robina,
If Scots wanted another referendum, the SNP would be performing strongly in the polls. However, their popularity is dropping rapidly while both the Conservatives and Labour are rising fast.
SNP support has fallen to 40 percent (a 20 percent drop) from 2015 with a week still to go at the time of polling (see linked chart). ‘Peak SNP’ has passed and they are on the way down – as the saying goes, “Up like a rocket, down like a stick!”
Friday will be interesting, there could be a lot of egg on former socialist, ‘Tartan Tory’ faces.
http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/polls_scot.html
David Spence
We often hear, as above, “Scottish people don’t want a second divisive referendum”
Just stop to think about that short sentence for a minute. Nonsense at its very best. Spike Milligan would be proud.