MacAskill: There must be no backing down to Westminster regardless of Supreme Court Decision

ALBA Party Depute Leader Kenny MacAskill MP has said that regardless of the Supreme Court decision on an independence referendum the Scottish Government must not back down on a new independence drive. 

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s Government has pledged that an independence referendum will be held next year. 

However, in a surprise to many, instead of progressing a bill for an independence referendum through the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government decided to refer the matter of the competence of the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum to the UK Supreme Court. 

Mr MacAskill, a former Justice Secretary, has urged the Scottish Government in advance of tomorrow’s decision to press ahead with an independence campaign regardless of the result. 

The ALBA Party Depute Leader says that a Constitutional Convention to bring together Scotland’s elected representatives to crank up the pressure on Westminster is “long overdue”. 

Commenting Alba Party Depute Leader Kenny MacAskill MP said: 

“As a former Justice Secretary I know that we should not preempt the outcome of the Court, but it is a fundamental principle that Scotland’s future must be determined in Scotland. 

“Regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision the line must be drawn here, and no further, and there must not be a step backwards on the cast iron guarantee that an independence referendum will be held next year. 

“The UK is an economic basket case. Trust in Westminster has never been lower and there has never been a better set of circumstances to hold a referendum on independence. An independence convention, of all Scotland’s representatives, is long overdue to help bend Westminster to the will of the Scottish people. Enough is enough. It’s time for independence”.