The Scottish government will continue to push for a repeat of the “gold standard” set by the 2014 independence referendum process, said Constitutional Secretary Angus Robertson.
But he declined to comment on reports that Nicola Sturgeon plans to announce a “softer” consultative referendum to avoid Westminster’s continued refusal to grant Holyrood the powers to hold a legal vote.
Speaking at the BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Robertson said: “These are right issues that should be announced in the Scottish Parliament and Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said he intends to make this update before the end. Summer vacation.
“I will not be able to give you a glimpse of this announcement, but what I would say is that it is the preferred route for everyone, since we have precedents. [in 2014]and it worked, [is a section 30 order granted by the UK government, transferring the necessary powers to Holyrood] … If then it was possible, there is no reason why it is not possible now. And it is true that those who seek to block democracy are explaining why. “
Robertson confirmed last week that the SNP government planned to hold a second referendum next October, as Sturgeon released the first of a series of documents outlining a renewed case for independence and continued his plans for a legally safe alternative route to another vote, which is likely to result in lengthy challenges to the UK Supreme Court.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said after last week’s announcement that he would boycott any “savage” referendum, but Sturgeon has always ruled out a Catalan-style poll.
Writing in the Sunday Times, Ciaran Martin, the former director of the UK government’s constitution who helped agree on the framework for the 2014 referendum, said senior SNP officials were considering a consultative route: “The conversation in Edinburgh circles is about a smart legal sibyl where “softer legislation is being drafted; perhaps more than a referendum on independence, the bill is about something like asking the people of Scotland for a mandate to open independence negotiations with the UK. Something like this, often incorrectly described as a consultative referendum, could have more chances in the courts, even though many experts are skeptical. “
The UK government has consistently ruled out the possibility of granting an Article 30 order, but Sturgeon believes he has an election mandate to hold a referendum with or without the Westminster agreement after the SNP wins its fourth consecutive elections in Holyrood last May.
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The 2014 referendum, which did not win between 55% and 45%, was called after then-Prime Minister David Cameron agreed to provide an Article 30 order for Alex Salmond, then Prime Minister. , had won a victory in the Holyrood election. in 2011.
In early June, opposition parties urged the Scottish government to “clarify once and for all” whether it had the power to legislate for a second referendum in Holyrood.
A limited selection of legal advice was published on Tuesday after a long battle for freedom of information with the Scottish newspaper, but the key question is whether the SNP government has been warned to introduce a bill to to a second independence referendum is the competence of the The Scottish Parliament was not included in the disclosure.