DAILY disruption of Westminster business has been suggested by the Alba Party as a method of securing permission for a second independence referendum.
The party urged SNP MPs to follow the lead of Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey, who were kicked out of the Commons earlier this year for continually interrupting Prime Minister’s Questions this summer.
Alex Salmond’s party believes that pro-Yes MPs could “grind Westminster to a standstill every single day until Westminster accepts Scottish democracy” and grant a Section 30 order giving Holyrood the power to hold indyref2.
The UK Government has repeatedly blocked requests from the Edinburgh administration to grant the ability to hold another vote and there has been no indication since the most recent Prime Minister took office the position will change.
READ MORE: Holyrood authorities investigating after Tory MSP accused of flouting rules
Alba have also urged Scots to take part in protests in London which they said “would open the world’s eyes to the cause of Scotland”.
It comes after the Supreme Court rejected the Scottish Government’s bid to hold an independence referendum without Westminster’s permission.
Chris McEleny, Alba’s general secretary, said: “The ruling by the Supreme Court to reject, not just the Scottish Parliament’s legal right to hold an independence referendum, but to go even further, in denying the ancient nation of Scotland’s right to self-determination will go down as one of the key defining moments of 2022.
“But we should be in no doubt that the Supreme Court ruling and the UK Government’s ongoing refusal to transfer the power to the Scottish Parliament to hold an independence referendum pose challenges to the Yes movement which we have a duty to meet head-on.
“Either the Westminster Parliament is sovereign or the people of Scotland are sovereign. It cannot be both.
READ MORE: 2022 the warmest year on record for the UK, Met Office says
“How then should the Yes movement respond? The aim must be to bend Westminster to the will of the Scottish people.
“But for that to happen it will be necessary to utilise all of the tools at hand and to implement a clear strategy of parliamentary disruption, diplomatic initiative and to take direct action - on the streets of London, if necessary.
“Each of these tactics has a part to play in driving home the message that the people of Scotland are sovereign and that Scotland’s democracy will not be silenced.
“Alba have shown in the last year, when we disrupted Prime Minister’s Questions, what two MPs can do to command parliamentary and media attention, if they are determined to do so.
“Just think what more could have been achieved if the 40 plus SNP MPs were to exert their political muscle, day in and day out, at Westminster.
“Scottish MPs could grind Westminster to a standstill every single day until Westminster accepts Scottish democracy and peaceful action outside of the parliament in London would open the world’s eyes to the cause of Scotland.
“In the coming year Alba will be setting out ways in which the Independence movement can give voice to Scotland’s democratic right to choose its own future and challenging others to follow our lead.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel