Former SNP Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has today backed a ‘consultative’ second independence referendum.
Writing in The Scotsman, he said: “If a referendum is refused then action needs taken. Another electoral mandate would ramp up the pressure, providing legitimacy for a consultative vote and further exposing Westminster.”
It comes after two senior Nationalist figures said that returning a majority of SNP MPs or MSPs would spark independence negotiations.
Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said:
“Talking up the prospect of a Catalan-style wildcat referendum is the height of irresponsibility; if there ever was to be another contest then it must be carried out legally and fairly.
“Trying to get independence through the back door is simply not acceptable.
“And let’s be clear, the majority of people in Scotland do not want another divisive independence referendum.
“Nicola Sturgeon must immediately rule out these irresponsible proposals being put forward by senior nationalists, stop playing constitutional games, and start listening to the people of Scotland.”