The Scottish Parliament has voted by 84 votes to 18 to agree that “Scotland is a nation that has a right to decide its own future”, with support extending beyond the parties which advocate independence.
The vote came at Holyrood on Tuesday 22 September during a Scottish Government debate on Scotland’s constitutional future.
The original motion, moved by First Minister John Swinney, contained just one sentence asking Parliament to agree that Scotland is a nation with the right to determine its future.
It ultimately passed by 84 votes to 18, with no abstentions and 27 MSPs not voting.
The significance of the result lies partly in the breadth of support because the principle was backed by MSPs from parties which take different positions on whether Scotland should become independent.
Scottish Labour successfully amended the motion to recognise the immediate challenges facing Scotland and place greater emphasis on child poverty, employment, education, housing and public services.
A Scottish Green amendment was also agreed, while amendments from the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Liberal Democrats were defeated.
The final motion therefore went considerably further than the original single sentence and included recognition of pressing challenges requiring action to improve people’s lives.
It also reaffirmed the commitment to existing child poverty targets and recognised the role of secure employment, education, housing and strong communities.
However, agreement that Scotland has the right to decide its future does not itself establish a mechanism for holding another independence referendum.
The constitutional question remains contested because the power to legislate for a referendum on independence is reserved to Westminster, meaning political agreement over the principle of Scotland’s right to choose does not resolve how another vote could legally take place.
The result was nevertheless welcomed by SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown, who described it as an important democratic statement from Holyrood.
He said:
“Today the Scottish Parliament, Scottish Labour, Scottish Greens and the SNP came together to agree that Scotland is a nation that has a right to decide our own future.
“70% of our Parliament backed that simple democratic right and basic principle asserted today, building on Andy Burnham’s words just a few short weeks ago.
“The age of Westminster vetoing Scottish democracy must come to an end and today there was a moment where we took genuine steps forward as a country in ensuring our democracy.”
Brown went on to make the SNP’s case for independence, arguing that control of Scotland’s energy resources could be used to tackle child poverty and build greater national wealth.
The distinction between Tuesday’s areas of agreement and the continuing political divide is important.
Holyrood has agreed by a substantial majority that Scotland is a nation with the right to decide its own future.
What Scotland’s future should be, when the question should next be put to voters and how another referendum could legally be delivered remain matters on which Scotland’s political parties are far from agreed.
