Scottish Referendum Legislation: Supreme Court Decision

Chris Stephens Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jack]

I have made my position very clear. I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave earlier.

[Chris Stephens (Glasgow South West) (SNP)]

Our Secretary of State for Scotland, who can go to the unelected House of Lords at a time of his choosing, is setting democratic tests on how Scotland can choose its own future. It is fanciful and absurd. If he is so confident in his view of what the Scottish people’s priorities are, why does he not call our bluff by calling a referendum?

[Mr Jack]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, we had a referendum in 2014, and we know what the agreement on that was between the Governments, political parties and civic Scotland. We feel now that the priorities for Scotland are for us all to pull together, work to bring back the economy after covid, tackle the cost of living crisis, and get in front of the issues that we believe are the priorities for the people of Scotland.