Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Independence Referendum for Scotland

30 November 2022 · 4 other contributors · 4,159 words

Opened by Neale Hanvey Alba Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath

Responding minister: John Lamont

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Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Neale Hanvey raised concerns about independence referendum for scotland in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about UK Supreme Court judgment suggesting Scotland lacks right to self-determination, contradicting historical and legal perspectives.
  • MP cites international law principles of self-determination and historical examples of coercion against Scotland's will.
  • Lead MP asks government to recognize Scotland's right to self-determination under Scots law and to support a democratic referendum process.

Key requests to Government

The lead MP asks the Minister to consider the consented, legal, and democratic route by which Scotland can exercise its sovereign right to determine its own constitutional future. He wants recognition that Scotland has a right to self-determination under Scots law.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Neale Hanvey Alba Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath

The lead MP is concerned about the UK Supreme Court's judgment that suggested Scotland does not possess a right to self-determination, overturning what has been accepted as the legal and historic position. He points out contradictions in history where England coerced Scotland into union against public will, and recent socio-economic policies imposed by Westminster that have harmed Scottish communities. The MP also cites international law principles of self-determination, including statements from Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher supporting this right for nations.

Other contributors (4)
  • Angus MacNeil SNP Na h-Eileanan an Iar

    The hon. Gentleman is making a fantastic speech and highlighted paragraph 88 of the Supreme Court judgment, which discusses self-determination rights for people denied internal self-determination. The Holyrood Standing Orders and no-confidence votes could open up a way for Scotland to determine its future if Holyrood decides to do so.

  • David Duguid Con East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow

    Asked for clarification on comparing Scotland's situation within the UK with Kosovo in war-torn former Yugoslavia. The independence referendum in 2014 was agreed on through powers devolved temporarily to the Scottish Parliament. Following last week's Supreme Court ruling, he asked if the democratic and legal position that led to consensus at the time of the independence referendum has changed in any way.

  • Kenny MacAskill SNP Glasgow Katrine

    Asked why more than half of Scotland's people are going to be fuel-poor this winter and many will be in extreme fuel poverty, despite being energy-rich.

  • Peter Bone Con Northampton North

    There will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up, as per convention for the 30-minute debate.

Government Response

John Lamont

It is a privilege to respond to this debate. I congratulated the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath on securing this debate and expressed that valuable debating time could have been better focused on matters of immediate importance. The Minister stated that now is not the time to talk about another referendum, as per the unanimous ruling of the United Kingdom Supreme Court. He emphasized that Scotland has a strong democracy but the power to hold a referendum rests with Westminster. The Scottish Parliament can legislate in all areas given by the Scotland Acts 1998, 2012, and 2016, making it one of the most powerful devolved Parliaments globally. He highlighted that people want their Governments focused on issues like economic stability, inflation, energy bills, NHS support, climate change, Ukraine, and levelling up rather than constitutional division. The Minister pointed out the benefits of the Union, such as higher public spending for Scotland worth around £2,000 per year for every Scot and a record block grant settlement of £41 billion over three years. He also mentioned multibillion-pound investments in Scotland's defence and shipbuilding industries, the city and growth deals programme investing in infrastructure, and local councils delivering real devolution by levelling up communities. The Minister concluded that another divisive referendum is the wrong priority at this time due to real challenges facing people across the country.

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