A Highland MP is set to bring forward legislation in the House of Commons today that would transfer powers over an independence referendum from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament.
Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey MP Graham Leadbitter will present a Bill calling for the devolution of powers relating to a future independence referendum, arguing that decisions about Scotland’s constitutional future should be made in Scotland rather than at Westminster.
The move comes against a dramatic political backdrop following the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, a development Mr Leadbitter said reinforced his argument that Scotland should have the power to determine its own future.
If successful, the proposed legislation would transfer responsibility for authorising an independence referendum to the Scottish Parliament.
The Bill has been signed by all eight SNP MPs currently sitting at Westminster, including newly elected Arbroath and Broughty Ferry MP Lara Bird, who is due to be sworn in today.
The proposal follows the recent Scottish Parliament election, which saw the SNP returned to government for a fifth consecutive term and pro independence parties secure a majority of seats at Holyrood.
Mr Leadbitter said:
“Westminster has consistently taken an undemocratic approach to Scotland’s people and their calls for a vote.
“It’s time we take the power out of the hands of Westminster politicians and put it into the hands of a Scottish Parliament that will deliver on people’s priorities and wishes.
“Scotland just delivered an overwhelming majority of pro-independence MSPs to the Scottish Parliament, the largest number in history, their demand for a fresh vote deserves to be heard.
“There are now also hundreds of thousands of voters in Scotland who were either not old enough to vote or not living here for the 2014 referendum.
“That number will reach a million in the next four years.
“It’s perfectly reasonable and democratic to put the question of Independence to the people of Scotland and the Scottish Parliament must have the power to do so.
“It’s particularly appropriate that this bill will be presented today, fresh off the back of the Prime Minister’s resignation announcement.
“Keir Starmer joins a growing list of Prime Ministers who’ve delivered absolutely nothing of value for Scotland except another reason to back independence.
“We were promised change but got more of the same and worse, and now we’re going to be subject to the self-serving manoeuvres of Andy Burnham who’ll be equally as bad.
“While Westminster is distracted and embroiled in civil war we’ll use every mechanism at our disposal to secure an independence referendum.
“The people of Scotland should embrace the chance to permanently escape the chaos of Westminster by voting for a fresh start with independence.”
Presentation Bills rarely become law without wider parliamentary support, but they are often used by MPs to raise awareness of issues and force debate on matters they believe deserve greater political attention.
The latest move ensures the constitutional question will remain firmly on the political agenda as Westminster begins the process of selecting a new Prime Minister and Scotland’s political parties continue to debate the country’s future direction.
For Mr Leadbitter, whose constituency stretches from Moray into Nairn and Strathspey, the Bill represents the latest effort to push the question of Scotland’s constitutional future back into the centre of political debate.
