But he declined to comment on reports that Nicola Sturgeon plans to announce a “softer” consultative referendum to overtake Westminster’s continued refusal to give Holyrood the power to hold a legitimate vote. Speaking to BBC Scotland on Sunday, Robertson said: “These are very good issues to be communicated to the Scottish Parliament and Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she intends to do so before the summer break. “I will not be able to give you a sneak peek at this announcement, but what I would say is that it is the preferred route for everyone, given that we have a previous [in 2014]and it worked, [is a section 30 order granted by the UK government, transferring the necessary powers to Holyrood] … If it were possible then, there is no reason why it is not possible now. “And it’s really for those others who are trying to prevent democracy from explaining why this is happening.” Robertson confirmed last week that the SNP government planned to hold a second referendum next October, as Sturgeon launched the first of a series of documents exposing a renewed independence case and pursued her plans for a legally safe alternative. another vote, which is likely to lead to lengthy appeals to the UK Supreme Court. Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said after last week’s announcement that he would boycott any “wildcat” referendum, but Sturgeon always ruled out a Catalan-style poll. Writing in the Sunday Times, Ciaran Martin, the former constitutional director of the UK government who helped agree on the framework for the 2014 referendum, claimed that senior SNP officials were considering a consultative path: “The Edinburgh debate is a a clever legal whistle where “softer legislation is being drafted; perhaps instead of a referendum on independence, the bill is about asking the people of Scotland for a mandate to start independence negotiations with the United Kingdom. “Something like this – often erroneously described as a consultative referendum – may be more likely in court, although many experts are wary.” The UK government has repeatedly ruled out a 30-seat mandate, but Sturgeon believes it has an electoral mandate to hold a referendum with or without the Westminster agreement after the SNP won its fourth consecutive Holyrood election last May. Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST The 2014 referendum, which his side did not win by 55% to 45%, was called after then-Prime Minister David Cameron agreed to give a mandate for Section 30 because Alex Salmond, then-Prime Minister, had won a landslide victory. victory in the Holyrood elections. in 2011. In early June, opposition parties urged the Scottish government to “clarify once and for all” whether it had the power to legislate for a second referendum in Holyrod. A limited selection of legal advice was published Tuesday after a lengthy battle for freedom of information with the Scotsman, but the key question is whether the SNP government has been informed that submitting a bill for a second independence referendum falls within the remit of its parliament. Scotland was not included in the revelation.
