HERE we go again. Or do we?
What was missing from Theresa May’s initial answer to Nicola Sturgeon’s call for another referendum on independence was any definitive response as to whether or not the PMprime minister will meet the First Minister’s request.
Those with good memories will recall how Ahead of the 2014 vote, the Scottish Government had to secure from the UK Parliament a so-called Section 30 Order, which transfers the power to hold a referendum from Westminster to Holyrood.
READ MORE: Herald View: Independence referendum calls a bold move, but voters must know details of Brexit
Then, David Cameron had no problem with it, given Alex Salmond had won an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament, even though there were quibbles over the timing, wording of the question and the franchise.
On February 2, Sir Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, was asked whether or not the UK GGovernment would facilitate another Scottish poll in this parliament and he, famously, replied: “No, forget it.”
No.10 later said Sir Michael’s remark was “consistent with our position that it was settled in 2014”.
Ever since then, Mrs May and her ministers have stuck to the line that while there could be a second poll, there should not be one.
Yesterday, a Downing Street spokesman said: “We are clear as we have been for many, many months that there shouldn’t be a second referendum.”
The Unionist parties in Edinburgh will be opposed to staging another vote and, no doubt, most of the parties in London will be, too. So it raises the question whether or not a Section 30 could get through the Commons and Lords, where the vast majority of politicians will be opposed to it.
Mrs May is stonewalling, but today she will face MPs during her Commons statement on last week’s EU summit and tomorrow, no doubt Angus Robertson, the SNP deputy leader, will raise it at PMQs.
However, there could be another option. Mrs May, with her Government consumed by the Brexit talks, could agree to a Section 30 Order, but introduce a condition, a “sunrise clause,” that a second referendum could not be held until after EU withdrawal is complete – whenever that is.
READ MORE: Herald View: Independence referendum calls a bold move, but voters must know details of Brexit
Having gone through all the draining exercise of Brexit, Mrs May will need another independence vote like a hole in the head. We thought her legacy would be defined by Britain leaving the EU, we might be wrong; it could be by whether or not Britain survives beyond 2020.
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