What Is Now Needed Is the UK Government to Respect the Voice of the Scottish People and Parliament and Transfer the Necessary Powers

First Minister John Swinney says ‘the world has fundamentally changed’ since the last independence referendum in 2014. A new Scottish independence referendum bill has been published by the SNP government. In publishing the draft bill, First Minister John Swinney said no-one will make better decisions about Scotland’s future than the people who live in Scotland. It proposes the question that should be asked is: Should Scotland be an independent country?

Yes or No.

Mr Swinney said: The world has changed fundamentally since 2014.

So has the UK, and so has Scotland. While people living in the UK endure flatlining living standards and the economic damage caused by Brexit, countries all around us are enjoying a higher quality of life and have more wealth to invest in their public services – often without a fraction of the abundant resources and economic strengths that Scotland enjoys. In May, the largest number of pro-independence MSPs in history voted to support the call for powers to hold a referendum on Scottish independence to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

This draft bill is simple, straightforward and direct. It proposes a clear, unambiguous question, sets out who can vote in the referendum and, once agreed, will include the date. It provides people with certainty.

What is now needed is the UK Government to respect the voice of the Scottish people and parliament and transfer the necessary powers. Scotland is ready. The Scottish people are ready.

It is time the UK Government delivered. The First Minister added: I will have more to say about Scotland’s constitutional future in the coming weeks. Fundamentally, nobody will take better decisions about Scotland’s future than the people who live here.

That future belongs to the people of Scotland – and no one else. The publication of this new independence bill has been derided by opposition parties in Holyrood. The Scottish Lib Dems simply put out a statement from David Green MSP, the party’s public service reform spokesman, which said: Yawn.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: Hard-working Scots suffering from sky-high SNP taxes and declining public services will despair at this desperate distraction from John Swinney. Our message to Swinney is clear - abandon this tedious obsession and get on with the day job. The SNP has brought the NHS to its knees and caused the economy to flatline, resulting in misery for families across the country.

Swinney should put all his energy into fixing the stagnant economy and explaining how he intends to plug his looming £5 billion black hole in the public finances. Alistair Cameron, chair of Scotland in Union, added: This is a pointless exercise, and a complete waste of time and public resources. John Swinney knows the people of Scotland have no interest in revisiting the independence question.

He also knows fine well the UK Government will rightly reject his selfish and obsessive demands. Scots have made it clear they want a government which focuses on the things that matter most, such as health, education and jobs. It was however welcomed by the Scottish Greens, who are now calling on Westminster to respect the will of the Scottish people.

Party co-leader Gillian Mackay said: Scotland can have a fairer, greener and better future as a normal independent country. Yes or No.