ALBA Party’s Ash Regan writes to MSPs urging them to support a Referendum on Powers of Scottish Parliament
ALBA Party Holyrood leader Ash Regan MSP has today shared an extract of legal advice supporting her bid for a referendum on the powers of the Scottish Parliament.
In a letter sent today to all members of the Scottish Parliament Ms Regan has urged the Scottish Government to embrace her proposal, something she says will mean a referendum on the powers of the Scottish Parliament will be held next year.
The ALBA Party Holyrood leader wants the Scottish Parliament to hold a referendum on 19th September next year asking the question of “Should the Scottish Parliament have the power to negotiate for and legislate for Scottish independence?”. Regan says that such a question would be within the competence of the Scottish Parliament and she has today shared with MSPs a legal extract that supports her position by leading Scottish Advocate Aidan O’Neill KC.
In her letter to MSPs, ALBA Party Holyrood leader Ash Regan MSP says:
"Scotland’s future should be set in Scotland. I’m am sure that many who as of yet do not support Scottish independence, or even those who never will, will agree that our Constitutional future should be for the people that live and work in Scotland to determine.
I believe that a Referendum on the Powers of the Scottish Parliament will help advance the cause of Scotland. The Supreme Court said that the Scottish Parliament doesn’t have the legislative competence to hold a referendum on the question of “Should Scotland be an independent country?
The Supreme Court’s decision does not mean that the Scottish Parliament cannot hold referendums and regardless of your view on the constitution it would be a judicial overreach for any court to say that the democratically elected parliament of Scotland cannot consult the people of Scotland on the future powers of their Parliament.
If the Scottish Government decides to embrace this Referendum then it will be held next year. If they do not then I will need your support once I lodge a Draft Referendum Bill."
