THE extended Holyrood debate on a second independence referendum has been postponed until Tuesday, following its interruption by the Westminster terror attack.
The two-day debate on whether to ask Westminster for transfer of referendum powers was suspended yesterday 90 minutes short of its scheduled conclusion.
The new timetable was decided by a meeting of party business managers this morning.
The Conservatives, Labour and LibDems argued the debate should finish today, as the Commons and Lords have already returned to their normal business.
The SNP argued for next Thursday, the day after Theresa May is due to trigger the Article 50 Brexit withdrawal process, but the Greens offered up their debate slot on Tuesday instead.
The motion calling for the UK Government to grant a Section 30 order devolving referendum powers is expected to pass thanks to the pro-independence majority of SNP and green MSPs.
Theresa May has already said she will refuse the request.
There was surprise at Holyrood that the debate was allowed to drift on until 4pm on Wednesday, more than an hour after the first reports of the tragedy at Westminster emerged.
Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh finally suspended proceedings for the day in light of events at “our sister parliament”.
The suspension led to an angry scene in which the Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham shouted and finger jabbed at the Tory benches, and said the suspension was an “absolute disgrace” as it was giving in to terrorists.
Tory sources also claimed Ms Cunningham said “This is because you didn’t want to talk about independence”, although the SNP deny this.
Nicola Sturgeon, Kezia Dugdale and other MSPs observed a minute’s silence in the Holyrood lobby at 933am today in a sign of solidarity with those at Westminster.
The Saltire, Union Jack and European flags outside the Scottish Parliament are also being flown at half-mast in a mark of respect.
Five people, including the attacker, died and 40 others were injured in the worst terror attack in Britain since the 7/7 London bombings of 2005.
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