SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown has urged the leaders of Scotland’s pro-Union parties to publicly support the principle that Scotland has the right to decide its own future.
Writing on Monday 8 September, Brown issued the challenge to Anas Sarwar, Russell Findlay, and Alex Cole-Hamilton, calling on each to reaffirm a pledge they made ahead of the 2014 independence referendum.
At the time, the leaders of Scottish Labour, the Scottish Conservatives, and the Scottish Liberal Democrats signed a joint statement which read:
“Power lies with the Scottish people and we believe it is for the Scottish people to decide how we are governed.”
But Brown said those same parties have since walked away from that commitment, despite successive election results in Scotland supporting a fresh vote on independence.
“Scotland is a nation and must have the right to decide our own future,” he said.
“In 2014, the Better Together parties signed a pledge which said that it is for the Scottish people to decide how we are governed.
“But in the years since, the pro-UK parties seem determined to ignore the decisions of the Scottish people.”
Brown said that while views on independence may differ, the democratic principle should unite politicians from all sides.
“We can disagree on independence, but surely we must agree on democracy,” he said.
“That’s why I’ve written to the leaders of the Better Together parties this morning, urging them to make public their support for Scotland’s right to decide, as they did in 2014.”
Brown added that independence will be a central issue in next year’s general election.
He said voters deserve clarity from the leaders of Scotland’s main pro-Union parties.
“Anas Sarwar, Russell Findlay, and Alex Cole-Hamilton must come clean,” he said.
“Do they agree that Scotland has the right to decide our own future, or are they happy to continue to deny Scottish democracy just like their London bosses?”
