Scottish Conservative leader rejects any referendum without a Section 30 order and urges the public to boycott it.
Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, has firmly stated that he would boycott any second independence referendum if it were to proceed without the legal framework of a Section 30 order. In an interview with Channel 4 News on Tuesday evening, Ross expressed his opposition to what he described as an “illegal wildcard” referendum, following First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s indication that the Scottish Government may push for a vote on independence even without approval from the UK Government.
Ross argued that a second referendum would be irresponsible, particularly given the pressing issues facing Scotland, such as economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, rising unemployment, and the challenges within the education system and NHS. “This is not the priority for people across Scotland right now,” he said. “People want politicians to focus on recovery, not an independence referendum. If Nicola Sturgeon goes ahead with an illegal referendum, I would not support it, and I would urge people to boycott it.”
Earlier in the day, Sturgeon had declared that her allegiance was to the people of Scotland, not to Boris Johnson or the UK Government. She voiced her frustration, claiming that the UK Government has shown “no respect for democracy.” In her speech, Sturgeon suggested that, if necessary, Scotland could proceed with a referendum without a Section 30 order, which grants the Scottish Parliament the legal authority to hold such a vote.
Ross vehemently rejected this approach, labelling it “reckless” and “unacceptable” for the First Minister to even threaten holding an illegal referendum. He emphasised that his position remained firmly against any referendum conducted outside the bounds of the law, particularly one that lacked the necessary legal backing of a Section 30 order.
As tensions mount between the Scottish and UK Governments over the issue of independence, Ross’s comments reflect a growing divide over the legitimacy and timing of another referendum.
