Scottish Parliament will veto Britain’s Brexit vote says First Minster Nicola Sturgeon
SNP leader threatens to urge MSPs to block the UK leaving the European Union
SCOTTISH leader Nicola Sturgeon sparked fury yesterday by threatening to veto Brexit.
She said she would ask Members of the Scottish Parliament to block the UK leaving the EU as it is not in her country’s interests.
But the SNP chief admitted the move could spark outrage in England and Wales.
She said: “It is perhaps similar to the fury of many people in Scotland right now as we face the prospect of being taken out of the European Union against our will.”
Politicians in Scotland and in Northern Ireland, which also backed Remain, have suggested they could block Brexit under “legislative consent” powers.
That requires politicians in devolved assemblies to vote on some major changes.
Ms Sturgeon told the BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland: “Looking at it from a logical perspective I find it hard to believe that there wouldn’t be that requirement.
“I suspect the UK Government will take a different view on that and we’ll have to see where that discussion ends up.”
When asked if she would consider asking the Scottish Parliament not to back such a motion, Ms Sturgeon said: “Of course.”
‘Nicola can make life hard for Westminster’
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She added: “If the Scottish Parliament was judging this on the basis of what’s right for Scotland, then the option of saying we’re not voting for something that is against its interests, of course that is on the table.”
Ms Sturgeon was furious after 52 per cent of UK voters opted to Leave the EU on Thursday, with 48 per cent voting Remain.
Scotland voted 62 per cent to 38 per cent in favour of staying shackled to Brussels.
But Brexiteers said the Scottish Parliament has no right or powers to carry out her threat.
Pro-Brexit Tory MEP David Campbell Bannerman said: “It was a UK-wide referendum and what she is doing is disgraceful.
“She is in the business of creating tension and building that up. It’s gesture politics. The SNP feeds off grudge and dissatisfaction and it is very dangerous.”
Westminster’s Scottish Secretary David Mundell insisted the Scottish Parliament was “not in a position” to block Brexit.
He said: “We have to respect the result on Thursday, even if we don’t like it.”
Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers agreed amid similar threats from Stormont. She said leaving was “Parliament’s decision”.
Glasgow University law expert Prof James Chalmers also dismissed the plan and said Scotland had no veto power.
He said: “Nicola Sturgeon can make life difficult for Westminster, but this is a political problem, not a legal one.”
Indy Poll 2 is on
FIRST Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon is stepping up her push for a second independence referendum — despite losing one less than two years ago.
The SNP leader wants a renewed breakaway push so an independent Scotland can remain in the EU.
She told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show yesterday: “The UK that Scotland voted to remain within in 2014 does not exist any more.”
It would almost certainly mean ditching the Pound for the euro.
But a second independence referendum needs permission from Westminster and Ms Sturgeon warned the next PM not to block it.
She said: “The people of Scotland would find that completely unacceptable if the Scottish Parliament had voted for a second referendum.
“I would caution any future Prime Minister against putting themselves in that situation.”