Ruth Davidson warned campaigners for a ‘People’s Vote’ they cannot have a re-run on Brexit without giving the SNP a second go at smashing the Union.
The Scottish Tory leader said referendum results had to be respected or there was no way to heal the divides caused by binary choices.
Ms Davidson said she would be a ‘hypocrite’ if she wanted a re-run on Brexit after campaigning for Remain but insisted the 2014 Scottish independence result was ‘sacrosanct’.
SNP leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly demanded a new referendum on Scottish independence since the Brexit vote but been rebuffed by Theresa May and Ms Davidson.
Campaigners for a second Brexit referendum have spent all summer demanding a ‘People’s Vote’ to settle the terms of exit and give another chance to Remain in the EU.
Ruth Davidson (pictured today at Tory conference in Birmingham) warned campaigners for a ‘People’s Vote’ they cannot have a re-run on Brexit without giving the SNP a second go at smashing the Union
The Scottish Tory leader (pictured making her main speech to conference) said referendum results had to be respected or there was no way to heal the divides caused by binary choices
She said: ‘Those of us in Scotland have been at this for some time already.
‘Four years ago, the SNP told Scotland they’d respect the independence referendum result. And for four long years, they’ve been pushing, pushing, pushing to have another go. And to keep going till they get the result they want.
‘And my response and the Prime Minister’s response has been clear: the people of Scotland spoke. They said No. It’s time to move on.
‘Well – the same message applies with Brexit. I don’t get to stand here and profess myself a democrat – to declare that some decisions are so big they can’t be taken by politicians alone – and then demand a re-run just because I wasn’t on the winning side.
‘And if I tried to argue differently – to insist that one referendum result was sacrosanct while another should be immediately overturned, well, that would make me just the worst type of hypocrite.’
Nicola Sturgeon (pictured today in Edinburgh) has repeatedly demanded a new referendum on Scottish independence over Brexit
At an otherwise muted conference, Ms Davidson was cheered to the rafters of Birmingham’s Symphony Hall despite repeatedly insisting she will never come to lead the Tory activists wrestling over the future of their party.
Ms Davidson, who is about to go on maternity leave, said she was eager to press onto the 2021 Holyrood elections and become First Minister of Scotland.
She said: ‘People keep asking me: do you seriously think you can beat the SNP?
‘Damn right I do. Because Scotland has had enough of the negativity, the grievance, the decade long moan.
‘Instead, we want to crack on.’
At an otherwise muted conference, Ms Davidson (pictured today signing copies of her book) was cheered to the rafters of Birmingham’s Symphony Hall despite repeatedly insisting she will never come to lead the Tory activists wrestling over the future of their party