Scotland has consistently faced refusals from successive Conservative prime ministers regarding its plea for another referendum on exiting the UK. The potential for Scotland to achieve independence now hinges on the Alba Party’s novel approach. Will the Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) rally behind the Alba Party’s fresh strategy for independence? This proposed plan marks a significant stride towards autonomy. Ash Regan MSP, the Party’s leader in Holyrood, advocates for a Referendum Bill aimed at seeking the opinion of the Scottish populace on the matter of independence. The question of the Bill is whether the Scottish Parliament’s authority should be expanded to encompass the ability to legislate and negotiate independence.
The Plan
As reported by Standard, the former Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond, expressed confidence that his Alba Party could advance the independence movement. Salmond unveiled the Party’s strategy to present a referendum Bill in Holyrood.
Alba Party member Ash Regan, who recently switched allegiance from the SNP, is set to introduce a member’s Bill to compel a referendum. The proposed Bill aims to gauge Scots’ opinion on whether the Scottish Parliament should be granted the authority to legislate and negotiate for independence.
Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, the Chairwoman of Alba, revealed that the Bill was formulated after consulting with a prominent Scottish lawyer. This legal expert examined the “legal routes forward out of the constitutional dead-end into which Scotland has been led.” The National reported that Alba sought legal advice from constitutional law specialist Aidan O’Neill KC. Ms Regan believes that “this draft bill creates a clear, achievable, coherent roadmap towards independence.”
When to Hold the Vote
Such a vote would be held exactly ten years after the 2014 poll. As Standard reports, they announced the plan on Thursday, St Andrew’s Day. They aim to hold the vote exactly ten years after the September 18 referendum in 2014. At that time, Scots rejected independence and voted to stay in the UK.
Salmond’s View of the Plan
According to The Independent, Mr Salmond asserts, “This proposal has the potential to propel the independence movement forward and liberate it from its existing state of inertia.” Mr Salmond resigned as the first minister in 2014 following the referendum defeat. The 2014 referendum was conducted after the SNP secured the majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament during the 2011 election, with Mr Salmond leading the efforts. He expresses that the current plan aligns with the initiative he would have pursued if then-Prime Minister David Cameron had not granted a referendum.
Alba Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh’s Comments
As the Alba Party website reports, Alba Party Chair Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh states Neale Hanvey MP has a Scottish sovereignty Bill before the Westminster Parliament. The Bill would transfer the power to hold a referendum on independence to Scotland. However, the real prospect of momentum lies here in Scotland. Last year’s unlucky expedition to the Supreme Court stopped the opportunity to propose an independence referendum in Scotland’s Parliament.
ALBA Party Chair Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh adds that the Alba Party’s plan for the referendum Bill goes right to the heart of the issue. With this legislation, Scottish people would have the opportunity to express their views. They will vote on whether the nation’s political destiny should be in Scotland’s hands. It will be the people’s chance to answer the Supreme Court’s judicial overreach democratically. There can be no better initiative to take on this St Andrew’s Day.”
Support of 18 MSPs Needed
As the National reports, Ash Regan has claimed that two figures have supported Alba’s plan for a referendum. The two figures are a minister in the Scottish Government and a second SNP MSP. Ash Regan did not name either figure.
Alba Party’s plan for the referendum Bill needs more support to move forward. It needs the support of “at least 18 other MSPs from several political parties”. This information is according to the Scottish Parliament website.
London Rejecting Independence Plans
According to Herald Scotland, both Ms Regan and Mr Salmond urged the Scottish Government to adopt the Bill. They almost certainly know it would not. Any referendum to bring independence could also be regarded as a de facto Indyref2. Therefore, it is out of Holyrood’s powers and liable to a Supreme Court challenge. Even if the electorate backed the referendum, the UK Government would not be compelled to give power to Holyrood. As we have seen, the UK Government has refused SNP election mandates.
According to the National, pointing to O’Neill’s advice, Alba stated that a referendum on Holyrood’s powers would be within competence. However, other legal experts have questioned how far these arguments will track.
“Given that this would almost certainly be seen as a proxy for a referendum on independence itself, I imagine that the Supreme Court would regard this as relating to the reserved matter of the Union, in the same way as the draft independence referendum bill,” Aileen McHarg, a Durham University public law professor, tells The National.
In response, Alba general secretary Chris McEleny states: “Ash Regan wouldn’t have any difficulty stating that the proposed referendum on the powers of the Scottish Parliament bill is within competence as she has an expert legal opinion from one of the country’s most respected KCs that says so.”
Alba Not Prepared to Hear “No“
Standard reports that the Supreme Court prevented Scotland from holding a second independence referendum last year. It ruled that the Scottish Government cannot hold a second independence referendum without Westminster’s approval. However, Mr Salmond says independence supporters may need to clarify they are “not prepared to take ‘No’ for an answer”. He welcomes Ms Regan’s move to Alba as a “breath of fresh air” for Holyrood. Mr Salmond also says: “This proposal can propel the independence movement forward and free it of its current inertia.”
To sum up, the Scottish Government has to tackle the challenges on its way to independence. Alba Party’s plan for a referendum Bill can be an effective step towards independence. The pro-independence parties and Scottish people must get together to hold the second independence referendum.
