The Scottish Government has published a new paper calling on Westminster to respect Scotland’s right to choose its constitutional future.
Titled Your Right to Decide, the document sets out the case that if a clear democratic mandate exists for a referendum, both the Scottish and UK governments should accept and act on that decision.
The publication renews calls for the UK Government to make an explicit commitment to uphold that democratic right.
Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson said the principle was widely recognised across political traditions.
“Figures and institutions with very different political outlooks have long supported the idea that it is for people who live in Scotland to decide our country’s future,” he said.
“The United Kingdom is a democracy, so there must be a way by which the people of Scotland can exercise their right to decide if there should be a change to its constitutional status.”
The paper comes amid ongoing debate over the route to a second independence referendum, and just days after Douglas Alexander, the new Secretary of State for Scotland, declined to confirm whether the UK is a voluntary union.
Mr Robertson added:
“Scotland is a proud nation and a lively democracy.
“As such, there is always healthy debate about the best way forward for our country.
“But we can only have that debate, we can only make a decision about our future, if we get a choice.
“I urge everyone, whatever their views, to ensure that the people of Scotland’s right to decide is respected.”
The paper is the latest in a series of Scottish Government publications outlining the democratic case for independence and the mechanisms by which it could be pursued.
