Local MSP, Maree Todd has backed the Scottish Government’s proposal of an independence referendum on the 19 October 2023.
Commenting, Caithness, Sutherland & Ross MSP, Maree Todd said:
“72 of 129 MSPs, including myself, were elected on manifestos that commit them to a referendum on Scottish independence during this Parliament, it’s now time to give people the democratic choice they voted for.
“It must be up to the people of Scotland – not a Westminster government they didn’t vote for – to decide how Scotland is governed.
“Continued attempts to block that democratic will only weaken the UK Government’s standing, here and internationally.
“The First Minister set out in Parliament last week the exact steps the Scottish Government will now take to secure a choice on Scotland’s future.”
The First Minister confirmed in Parliament last week that the Lord Advocate has referred to the Supreme Court the question of whether a Bill for a referendum on Scottish independence would relate to a reserved matter.
Legal certainty on this issue is required because this is currently an unresolved question of law.
The First Minister stated:
“It is this Government’s hope that the question in the bill—proposing a referendum that is consultative, not self-executing, and that seeks to ascertain the views of the Scottish people for or against independence—will be deemed to be within the legislative competence of this Parliament.
“If that outcome is secured, there will be no doubt whatsoever that the referendum is lawful, and I confirm that the Government will then immediately introduce the bill and ask the Parliament to pass it on a timescale that allows the referendum to proceed on 19 October next year.”
The First Minister added:
“If it transpires that there is no lawful way for this Parliament to give the people of Scotland the choice of independence in a referendum, and if the UK Government continues to deny a section 30 order, my party will fight the UK general election on this single question: should Scotland be an independent country?
Commenting Maree Todd MSP said:
“Locally, we’re seeing increased support for independence and the SNP, just recently we saw the party return an impressive result in the local elections which resulted in the SNP forming a joint administration in the Highland Council with the Independent Group.
“I look forward to building on this progress and continuing to make the case for Scotland’s independence.”
