THE prospect of a second independence referendum should Scotland be dragged out of the European Union against its wishes has been brushed aside by UK cabinet minister and leading Leave campaigner Chris Grayling, who dismissed it as “just talk”.
He insisted the country would vote as “one United Kingdom” and that the result should stand on that basis.
After making a campaign speech that warned of the risks of remaining in the EU, Mr Grayling was asked that, if the UK voted for Brexit on June 23 but Scotland voted for Remain, would not that lead to a second Scottish poll and the possible break-up of Britain.
He replied: “It’s not remotely either sensible or feasible for Scotland to start talking about a second referendum…The people of Scotland voted very clearly to stay in the Union and Alex Salmond said at the time that was a decision for a generation; we should hold him to that.”
The Conservative frontbencher stressed how, if Scotland had voted Yes to independence in 2014, then the nation would now be in “deep financial trouble” given the collapse in the oil price.
He added: “It’s worth saying in the recent Scottish elections, the SNP lost their majority in the Scottish Parliament. Talk of a second referendum is just that. We are one United Kingdom. The people of Scotland voted for one United Kingdom and to be part of that. What we vote for on June 23 as one United Kingdom is what we should stand by.”
Meantime, Mr Salmond, in an interview with the Washington Post, said the justification for a second independence poll was “amply there to say all bets are off if it's Brexit for the UK but a Remain vote for Scotland”.
The former First Minister added: “Independence is inevitable. We are just debating timescale now.”
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