'Any request will be DECLINED' Scottish Secretary RULES OUT Scottish referendum
THE SCOTTISH Secretary has echoed Theresa May and insisted any request to trigger a Scottish referendum would be declined.
David Mundell: We will not be discussing section 30 agreement
David Mundell took aim at Nicola Sturgeon following a fiery First Minister’s Questions, in which she accused the Prime Minister of “running scared”.
It comes after Mrs May scolded the Scottish Government in an interview with the BBC and insisted “now is not the time” for a second Scottish independence referendum.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Mundell said: “This argument isn't about mandates, it's about holding a referendum on established criteria which were set on in the Edinburgh Agreement.
"That established that a referendum must be legal, fair and decisive. The proposal brought forward is not fair, people will not be able to make an informed choice.
David Mundell shut down Nicola Sturgeon's calls for a Scottish referendum
Sturgeon accuses Tories of "running scared" from referendum
We will not be entering into discussions or negotiations about a Section 30 agreement and any request at this time will be declined
"Neither is there public or political support for such a referendum.
"Therefore we will not be entering into discussions or negotiations about a Section 30 agreement and any request at this time will be declined.”
He then called on the UK to “work together” to deliver a successful Brexit.
The minister said: “Instead of a constitutional argument within the United Kingdom in the face of the unprecedented negotiations we’re about to embark on in leaving the EU, we need to come together and work together to get the best possible deal for Scotland and the United Kingdom.”
Theresa May said "now is not the time” for a referendum
The crushing comments come after Mrs Sturgeon claimed she was elected on a manifesto commitment to hold a vote if Scotland was “dragged out of Europe”.
She told MSPs in Holyrood on Thursday: “If on Wednesday next week this Parliament votes for an independence referendum to give the people of Scotland a choice over the future of their future – will the Conservatives block the will of this Parliament? Or are the Conservatives running scared?”
She later took to Twitter to deliver a furious rant on Mrs May.
The Scottish leader said: “@scotgov is not proposing #scotref now...but when the terms of Brexit clear and before it is too late to choose an alternative path.
“A section 30 order must be discussed and agreed now to enable that timescale.
“If the Tories refuse to do so, they would effectively be blocking Scotland's right to choose when the Brexit terms clear...
“This would be undemocratic given @scotgov clear mandate and also proof positive that the Tories fear the verdict of the Scottish people.”