Boris Johnson refuses to hand Scotland power to hold second independence referendum

14 January 2020, 12:48

Boris Johnson has formally refused to give Holyrood the power to hold a second Scottish independence referendum.

In a letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the Prime Minister said he had "carefully considered" the arguments she made for Indyref2.

But he said the SNP leader and her predecessor Alex Salmond had made a "personal commitment" that the 2014 referendum would be a "once in a generation" event.

Scots voted by 55 per cent to 45 per cent to stay in the United Kingdom in a referendum in 2014.

Mr Johnson also said holding such a vote would mean "political stagnation" for Scotland.

Instead, the PM said it was instead time for the nations to "work together and unleash the potential of this great country".

He wrote: "The UK Government will continue to uphold the democratic decision of the Scottish people and the promise that you made to them.

"For that reason I cannot agree to any request for a transfer of power that would lead to further independence referendums.

"Another independence referendum would continue the political stagnation that Scotland has seen for the last decade, with Scottish schools, hospitals and jobs again left behind because of a campaign to separate the UK.

"It is time that we all worked to bring the whole of the United Kingdom together and unleash the potential of this great country."