• Bernie Ecclestoned@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    Once in a lifetime was what they campaigned on though…

    In Alex Salmond’s foreword to Scotland’s Future, the white paper on independence ahead of the 2014 referendum, the then first minister said the vote would be a “rare and precious moment in the history of Scotland - a once in a generation opportunity to chart a better way”.

    The document itself went on to state there was “no arrangement in place for another referendum on independence”, and that “only a majority vote for Yes would give certainty that Scotland will be independent”.

    Mr Salmond and his team used the phrase several times in interviews, including one with Andrew Marr where he said that “in my view this is a once in a generation, perhaps even a once in a lifetime opportunity”.

    His deputy Ms Sturgeon, used that “lifetime” phrase during the final Holyrood debate before the referendum - as did three other SNP MSPs, before passing a motion which also called the ballot the “opportunity of a lifetime”.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51120175

    • Blake [he/him]@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      Why should we let the opinions of people who aren’t even in power anymore determine what we should do in the future?

      If a magic money tree was discovered, would you refuse to use it because Theresa May once said it didn’t exist?

        • Blake [he/him]@feddit.uk
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          1 year ago

          Would you kindly share the Hansard reference or Act of Parliament which establishes that another referendum shouldn’t be held until a lifetime has passed?

          • Bernie Ecclestoned@sh.itjust.works
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            1 year ago

            Lol, indyref was agreed on those terms.

            No UK prime minister is going to give another one anytime soon.

            The SNP has fucked themselves royally, and ironically

                • Blake [he/him]@feddit.uk
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                  1 year ago

                  And which of those points do you feel indicates that another referendum couldn’t be held?

                  “Decisive expression of the views of people” just means that the referendum results should have a clear outcome e.g. yes or no, and “that everyone will respect” means that neither side would ignore the referendum result and force through their will regardless. It doesn’t mean that another vote couldn’t be held, does it? And if that was the intent, surely it would be written somewhere like, “and agrees not to push for a second referendum within 30 years of the result” or similar?

                  You’ve got nothing and you know it.

                  • C4d@lemmy.world
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                    1 year ago

                    Not quite nothing…

                    On the one hand, the SNP would argue that there was a material change of circumstances since the first referendum (Brexit, basically) and that a second referendum would only be fair.

                    On the other hand the Supreme Court has ruled that the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to legislate for a referendum on Scottish independence. The only way it is going to happen is if the Westminster Parliament allows it to happen. Those fateful words - “once in a generation” - are likely to prove binding rather than advisory.

                    In short, the SNP have more or less got nothing.

                    There is one more thing though. Brexit might be a complicating factor in more ways than one. How soon should a vote to rejoin the EU be permitted? Would the timescale for another EU referendum affect or be affected by the timescale for any further votes on Scottish Independence?

        • Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk
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          1 year ago

          That’s exactly what we do each general election. We haven’t kept the Whigs in power because they won the general election in 1708.