Boris Johnson has insisted a second Scottish independence referendum is not a priority for the UK Government. The Prime Minister told MPs the country should be united and focused on "rebuilding after Covid" after he was accused by Alba MP Neale Hanvey of holding "hostage" Scotland's democracy.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has outlined plans to hold a second vote on Scottish independence on October 19, 2023. With the UK Government refusing to grant consent for such a ballot to be held, Ms Sturgeon is asking Supreme Court judges to rule if Holyrood can hold a referendum without the backing of Westminster.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Hanvey, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, said: "I listened carefully to the Prime Minister's warm words about the Commonwealth and the relationship between independent countries, and, of course, in 1941 it was then Prime Minister Churchill that signed the Atlantic Charter with the United States, committing both Britain and the United States to delivering people's right to choose their own form of government and self-government.
