Holyrood backs Scotland’s ‘right to decide’

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The motion, tabled by First Minister John Swinney following an agreement between leaders of the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to demand powers to hold constitutional referendums, asked MSPs to agree “that Scotland is a nation that has a right to decide its own future.”

Calling for a “meaningful discussion about where power lies across these islands,” Mr Swinney told MSPs: “The refusal of the UK government to even engage with this question of a right to decide could not hold.

“I want to do what I can to break this logjam, but I want to do so not just on behalf of those who want independence but on behalf of all the people of Scotland.

“While we might disagree on where we want our country ultimately to go, we can all agree on the right of the people to decide, on the case for democracy.”

Moving his addendum focusing on child poverty, Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra argued that the SNP had a “different priority.”

“This debate is about managing the First Minister’s party, not leading the country,” he said.

“Every six months or so, when an election or an SNP conference is on the horizon, they are told independence is just around the corner; all it needs is one more push.

“None of the reasons that independence lost in 2014 has been addressed.

“Still no answers on currency, on borders, on defence, on public spending. Instead, there are photo-ops and fundraising drives.

“I believe the people who vote for the SNP deserve better.”