ALBA MPs Neale Hanvey MP, ALBA Westminster Group Leader and Kenny MacAskill MP, ALBA Depute Leader have today (Wednesday) asserted that “Scotland’s voice will be heard” in the face of a discredited Prime Minister’s continuing veto over a Section 30 order that would allow a consented and legal Scottish Independence Referendum to take place in accordance with the democratic mandate given by the Scottish people to their elected representatives in the Scottish Parliament.
13 July 2022
The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
LONDON
SW1A 2AA
Dear Prime Minister
REFERENDUM ON SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE
The decision taken by you, in the dying days of your Premiership, to reject out of hand the request for a Section 30 Order which would allow a consented and legal Independence Referendum to take place is an egregious afront to Scottish Democracy and to the people of Scotland. A majority of Scots voted in the 2021 Scottish Parliament Election, on the Regional List, for the Scottish National Party, the Scottish Green Party and the ALBA Party – all of whom stood on a platform of ensuring an Independence Referendum would take place within the current parliamentary term.
Any decision to defy the will of the Scottish people cannot be allowed to stand, disrespecting as it does, the democratic mandate for that Referendum, which has been given by the people of Scotland to their elected representatives in the Scottish Parliament. The principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples was incorporated into the United Nations Charter Articles 1(2), 73(2) and 76 (2). This is an internationally agreed and fundamental right, and the legality of independence is therefore a matter of international recognition, not the purview of any UK Prime Minister, Government or Supreme Court. What Scotland voted for last year must be granted next year to allow the people of Scotland to exercise their right under International Law to choose their own constitutional future.
Scotland’s separate democratic traditions go back to the original “Claim of Right” of 1689, the subsequent “Claim of Right” of 1988 and the Declaration of Arbroath of 1320. Scottish sovereignty stands in direct opposition to the unlimited sovereignty of Westminster, indeed it was Lord President Cooper who put it well when he stated: “the principle of the unlimited sovereignty of Parliament is a distinctively English principle, which has no counterpart in Scottish constitutional law” (Lord President Cooper, MacCormick v Lord Advocate, 1953).
As the self-styled “Minister for the Union” you must recognise that this Union is a voluntary one, and was meant to be a union of equals, as such it can only be maintained by consent of the people of Scotland. You should be in no doubt that holding Scotland’s democracy hostage is something which the people of Scotland will not put up with.
Scotland cannot, and will not, be held hostage within a Union completely detached from the needs, realities, and aspirations of her people. While one in three of our people live in fuel poverty, Scotland is energy rich with abundant resources far greater than our needs. For decades now, this wealth has contributed immeasurably to the energy security of these islands, yet the revenues have only served to feed the largesse of the UK Treasury. Meanwhile some of the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society face the prospect of freezing and going without food this winter. This indefensible failure of your government and its inability to meaningfully tackle the cost-of-living catastrophe, are feeding a groundswell of people in Scotland who demand another say on their constitutional future.
We urge you once again to honour the Scottish Government’s extant mandate to hold a consented and legal Scottish Independence Referendum but put you and your successor on notice that the refusal to respect Scottish Democracy is not a defensible or sustainable position for the UK Government. The Scottish people and their elected representatives will continue to assert their democratic rights through popular demonstration and continuing Parliamentary initiatives. The question of Scottish sovereignty will not be denied and Scotland’s people will ultimately prevail.
Yours sincerely
Neale Hanvey MP Kenny MacAskill MP
ALBA Westminster Group Leader ALBA Depute Leader
Well done Kenny and Neale.
Section 30 is not the route – as I suspect both realise – but it does stand as a good contrast to the meek SNP whose have done sweet Fanny Adam since the FM’s ‘scene-setter’ and announcement of her Great Big Secret Plan last week.
Well said Neale. 👏
I’m hoping, although admittedly not holding my breath, that this kind of action will enthuse and encourage current SNP MPs, I would dearly love to see some leave to join Alba
Not too much of a big secret plan though when we know Martin Keatings own legal action on this route failed
and the SNP are well aware of that too. So whats Her plan ? To just ask a question you already know the answer of then blame the answer you receive on other people when it was your own stupidity for asking it ?
I don’t get this at all do the SNP think we are all that stupid ?
It really is time we stopped asking for permission for something that will not be granted! Get off your knees Scotland. The Scottish Government must simply state that at the next GE if a majority of Independence snaps are elected then they will be called back to Edinburgh to an Assembly and a debate and discussion will take place as yo the best way forward and start negotiations to legally dissolve the Union of 1707.
Well said ALBA!
Next step the Convention of the Estates and both a voice and legal personality secured for the Sovereign Scottish Constitution and the Claim of Right!
1 ALBA is worth 20+ SNP.
2% of the vote, but 98% of the courage and integrity.
Just watched Hoyle in WM throw a wobbler! Great fun to see those eejits upset. Their problem? They don’t know how they’ll keep their heads above water once Scotland leaves them to fend for themselves without our assets. Fairly raised my spirits!
“popular demonstration and continuing Parliamentary initiatives.”
Like the sound of that. Gwan yersel Kenny & Neale.
I think the SNP should have joined in & walked out with them.One for all & all for one…
I noticed all the other nationalist (SNP) were very silent on support for the Alba Party call for democracy and Scotland right to have a referendum.
The whole of Scottish MP’s should have walked out and stated we wouldn’t be returning, I’m afraid because the New SNP kept their seats Westminster will just return to WM to tomorrow with the SNP taken their seats and not showing ant indication there fighting for Scotland.
If any party was going to defend Scotland right it had to be the Alba Party.
Absolutely – what a bunch of comfy ,cowardly ,self interested ,useless bench fillers.
Where have we heard this kind of statement before. Scotlands voice will be heard. Scotland will not be dragged out of the EU.
I am getting to the stage where I do not believe any of these people any more I think they are all to comfy sucking on the public teat. England never has and never will listen.
Soooo ok. This is what should now take place. We have found this thing that has been hidden from us for years it’s called The Claim of Right. It nullifies everything since 1707, so cheerio we are off, bye bye its over. Lets hear you you big brave Scottish parliamentarians shout this out loud get off your backsides and end this illegal union, or does your salary package protect you from the humiliation we the people of Scotland have to suffer watching you being sneered at and denigrated on our behalf by the opposition.
The Claim of Right has a powerful message to those who presume themselves to be above the Scottish people and act against our best interest.
Indeed, the SNP have used those lines for way too long. The difference here is that the English government have, legally speaking, been put on notice by representatives of the sovereign nation state of Scotland. That is a big step especially when citing international law and the reasons for doing so such as violation of the treaty, the Scottish constitution and the primary obligations of governance (the fundamental security and protection of the people, their territory and economy). Under the VC rules they have just served notice and asserted Scotland’s sovereignty as a state party to the treaty.
This is precisely what the SNP should have done yet have failed spectacularly to do. Next step the suspension and or denunciation of the treaty.
Scots are now mobilising. Salvo, SSRG, Scottish Civil Rights Movement, various independence groups and parties, individuals such as bloggers, creatives etc. Scotland’s insurmountable power is being realised. THAT is what terrified the speaker and the English establishment. Scotland asserted itself.
In as much as I strongly uphold Independence for Scotland,we are going down the wrong road with the division of in fighting between SNP & Alba,this is totally what the Westminster Tories want,discord.I am inclined to have divided loyalties ,because I admired both Nicola & Alex,& still do.Both parties want Independence,so let’s all get on with it.We have to get it this time,so it is shoulder to the wheel,& sort out any differences after we achieve Indy.
Wilma we all want unity, unfortunately Nicola Sturgeon does not! That is just the reality. In 2021 despite everything done to him Alex Salmond campaigned at Holyrood on SNP Constituency Alba on the list. SNP rehected this offer of a super najority and she said she could work with Anas Sarwar but not with Alex or Alba. In 2022 again Alba said vote all independence candidates again Sturgeon said no only Vote SNP 1 2 . On both occassions she rejected independence super majorities and enabled Unionist victories. She refuses to put Scotland first you need to make a plea to her the trest of us are sick of asking and being rejected
Thank God for Alba. The SNP pretend independence party have like Boris run there course, under Sturgeon they have done nothing for Scotland but capitulated at every opportunity, without a fight, murmur, spinless, clueless, glad and eager for their judus piece of eight.
Scotland is awakening to there game with real anger. Children dont need to go hungry, Old people don’t need to be frightened to put the kettle on. We need a proper government now and the only way this is going to happen is to take back our Sovereignty and assert our democracy through independence.
Tory Brexit rip off Briton is hell on earth a dystopian nighmare a medieval backwater run by spivs toffs for their own enrichment. The nodding donkeys of the SNP are silent and quiet pretending not to notice the chaos of Tory one nation UK. Ok.
We will serve notice on Sturgeon shortly , her legacy is one of betrayal and lost opportunity.
Nothing but praise for these two Alba politicians. We must keeping showing the world what a dysfunctional undemocratic cesspit Westminster is.
I also posted this on Yours for Scotland
If the price of independence means a vote for Sturgeon and her policies then for me that is a price I’m am not prepared to pay.
I voted for her against my better judgement on Alex Salmonds recommendation at the last HR election and deeply regretted it and foolishly did it again on James Kellys (Scot Goes Pop) recommendation at the last council elections afterwards I swore that was the last time I will ever vote for that woman and her party (a party I was once a proud member of).
My political imperative now is the restoration of our constitution and laws enshrined to this day in the ToU and the reconvening of the Convention of Estates so we can fix this broken country in accordance with our own laws and customs, for me this would be a far more noble cause,
Independence will always be my ultimate goal I have wanted it all my life but I will not sell my soul or my conscience to the tyrant that is Nicola Sturgeon.
And so the two Alba MPs have been kicked out of Westminster whilst the turds of the SNP sit on their backsides taking the pay and perks.
Well Sir Lindsay Hoyle, kick them out of parliament. Its not Scotland’s parliament. Scotland and elected representatives questioning democracy, sovereignty, are something to be shit on, fucked out of the chamber. Save that is for the lush brigade that is the SNP who quite frankly would eat shit out of the gutter.
Sorry I can’t be more positive about the SNP at Westminster. Shit suppers at their master’s table. Hopefully, the many of the somnolent at home might wake up to what is going on. Independence will not be taken by participation at a shit house Westminster, it will be taken by the mandate of the Scottish people irrespective of what people like Johnson and the rest of the English establishment decree.
Yes, Scotland’s voice will be heard! We’ve been shouting it up for oh so long. Oor Neale and Kenny called it on Wednesday daytime.
Cheers guys, thx, you’re amazing.
Scotland loves you.
Well Done Neale,I thought Mr Speaker was gonna have a heart attack,my you fair got him in a tizzy..Lost his voice with shouting..😂😂.👍👍🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴