Liz Truss rules out Scottish independence referendum if she becomes Prime Minister

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Liz Truss has insisted she will not allow a second referendum on independence to take place if she becomes the next prime minister.The favourite to replace Boris Johnson as Tory leader claimed she would "do what is necessary and right to defend our Union" in comments which are likely to infuriate Nationalists.Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly said she has a clear mandate to hold another referendum following the SNP's victory at the Holyrood elections in May last year.The First Minister announced to MSPs last month her government was planning to hold an IndyRef2 on October 19, 2023 - but only if the UK Supreme Court agreed such a move was legal.Johnson has insisted "now is not the time" - but the comments from Truss show she is willing to take a stronger position."Scottish Nationalists accepted that their referendum was a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and I will hold them to that," she told the Sunday Telegraph."I will work to strengthen our whole Union.

As prime minister, I will do what is necessary and right to defend our Union, just as I have already done on the Northern Ireland Protocol."Truss continued: "The SNP lost the 2014 referendum and Nicola Sturgeon is now leading a campaign of deception to steamroller the UK and break up the Union."But I am completely clear that there will be no second Scottish independence referendum on my watch."The Scottish Independence Referendum Bill isn't legal and it will be invalidated if passed by the Scottish Parliament.

When Westminster devolved power to Scotland, it did not include the ability to hold valid referenda to break up the Union."Any Scotland independence referendum would need to be authorised by the Westminster Parliament.