DREW HENDRY: Conditions have changed dramatically since 2014

Last week, the Supreme Court responded in the negative to the question it was asked to consider: Would a Bill providing for an advisory referendum on independence be within the current powers of the Scottish Parliament?

This means that without a section 30 Order or a UK Act of Parliament to change its powers, the Scottish Parliament cannot legislate for the referendum the people of Scotland have instructed it to deliver.

The ruling, of course, was about clarifying a narrow point of law – which it did. The outcome shattered any myth that the United Kingdom is a voluntary union of nations.

There is no partnership of equals between nations of the UK, and parties at Westminster have made clear that is how they want it to remain.

Following the ruling, the Scottish secretary stood up in the UK parliament and ignored almost every question posed to him. I asked him if he considered this a voluntary union and, if so, what is the mechanism for Scottish people to decide if they wanted to stay in it, or not. Either he believes we are or aren’t and surely, as the UK government’s representative for Scotland, he should be able to answer these questions.

Regardless of whether someone wants Scotland to be independent, most will agree that the conditions for people have changed dramatically since 2014. The “Better Together” promises lie in tatters, and we have been dragged out of the EU to face the devastating impacts of Brexit.

If the Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems are so sure this union is one that the people of Scotland want, then why not allow democracy to take its rightful place in the process.

At the budget statement, the Chancellor let slip that he will raise £56 billion from, largely, Scotland’s resources in the coming years. As history repeats itself again, we will see yet another Westminster government waste billions on nuclear power and weapons Scotland doesn’t need or want and prop up the enormous cost of Brexit and vile ideological policies such as the hostile environment. All this while they preside over widening inequality and working families unable to afford to put food on their tables.

These are not inevitable outcomes; we can make different choices.

Until the Supreme Court ruling, we were told that the UK is a voluntary partnership of nations. Does any of this feel voluntary to you?

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