Kwasi Kwarteng slams Nicola Sturgeon over second independence referendum on BBC Question Time

A Tory MP launched a scathing take down of Nicola Sturgeon’s bid to hold another independence referendum – saying she only wants one because she lost last time.

The SNP leader has vowed to relaunch her bid to tear Scotland away from the UK in the wake of the Brexit vote.

But Kwasi Kwarteng said the SNP promised the 2014 Scottish independence referendum was a once in a generation vote and should not go back on that.

While audience members on BBC Question Time also piled into Ms Sturgeon, accusing her of double standards by trying to break away from Westminster while staying in Brussels.

Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to 'reopen' the Scottish independence debate (file pic)

Kwasi Kwarteng (pictured , left, on BBC Question Time last night)  tore into Nicola Sturgeon (pictured right)  for going back on her promise that the 2014 Scottish independence referendum was a once in a generation vote

The audience applauded the Tory MP as he delivered his take down of Nicola Sturgeon's position while on BBC Question Time last night (the panel, pictured)

The audience applauded the Tory MP as he delivered his take down of Nicola Sturgeon’s position while on BBC Question Time last night (the panel, pictured)

Mr Kwarteng, MP for Spelthorne in Surrey slammed Scotland’s First Minister for trying to rerun the referendum.

He told the programme last night: ‘I think the whole point about referendums – in fact the SNP said this before the Scottish independence referendum – is that it would settle the issue for a generation.’

What is the timeline of the SNP’s bid for Scottish independence?

Here are the key dates in the SNP’s bid for Scottish independence   

2011 – SNP led by First Minister Alex Salmond wins a majority in the 129-member parliament with 69 seats to Labour’s 37, leading to Scotland’s first majority government.

Oct 2012 – Edinburgh Agreement is signed by Salmond and British Prime Minister David Cameron paving the way for a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014.

Nov 2013 – Scottish government publishes ‘Scotland’s Future’, making the case for independence.

Sept 18, 2014 – Scots vote against independence in historic referendum 

June 2016 – Nicola Sturgeon says a second Scottish independence referendum is ‘very likely’ after Britain votes to leave the EU

April 2017 – Holyrood vote against a bid to ban Scotland from holding another independence referendum until after 2020

May 2018 – Ms Sturgeon says she wants to restart the independence referendum debate 

He added: ‘That was what they said. It was very similar to the Brexit referendum – the whole idea  is that it would settle these difficult questions we face for a generation.

‘Now the way the game is played at the moment is, it seems to me that the only reason you have a  referendum is if you last the last one and want to have another one.

‘So it is not settling it for a generation, it is  lets have a referendum every five years until I get the answer I want.

‘And I don’t think that’s a good way of operating a referendum or any kind of political  system.’

His remarks were met with applause from the audience. 

Ms Sturgeon has said she wants to ‘restart the debate’ on Scottish independence as she tried to capitalise on Brexit disarray to push separation. 

The SNP have ramped their campaign back up after the Scottish Parliament earlier this month refused to give its consent to the crucial Brexit Bill. 

But audience members piled into the party’s position on the BBC flagship political show last night.

One woman in the audience said: ‘How can Scotland ever be independent when it is swapping a Westminster Government for a Brussels one?

‘I voted to remain in the UK but leave the EU so really the SNP don’t represent me in any way shape or form. I just think there are double standards there with the SNP.’  

Another audience member warned Ms  Sturgeon that now is not the time to plunge Scotland into a fresh independence campaign.

He said:  ‘I think it’s fair enough for Scotland to have another independence referendum the change of circumstance with Brexit.

Another audience member warned Ms  Sturgeon that now is not the time to plunge Scotland into a fresh independence campaign.

One woman in the audience said: 'How can Scotland ever be independent when it is swapping a Westminster Government for a Brussels one?

Two audience members piled into the party’s position on the BBC flagship political show last night (pictured) warning  that now is not the right time to restart the Scottish independence debate 

‘But I think  it’s a little bit silly for us to be having it in the middle of the EU negotiations – it’s kind of undermining our country’s efforts – our current country, the UK.’

Ms Strugeon has put ministers on notice that she is likely to push for a fresh independence referendum this autumn – just four years after Scots voted against separation.    

She told ITV’s Peston on Sunday a fortnight ago: ‘Once we get some clarity, which hopefully we will in the autumn of this year, about the Brexit outcome and the future relationship between the UK and the EU then I will consider again this question of the timing of an independence referendum.

‘I’m not going to say more about that in advance of that moment arising.

‘But of course over the next couple of weeks we will, I suppose, restart a debate about why independence for Scotland is an opportunity and what those opportunities are.’ 



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