Boris Johnson must give all Scots the right to vote in any future Scottish independence referendum, the leader of the All for Unity party has told GB News.
The prime minister is reportedly drawing up plans to allow the 800,000 Scots living in England a right to vote, as well as the 50,000 living in Wales.
But Jamie Blackett said the government should go further and ensure all Scots, whether living in the UK or abroad, should be given the right to vote.
He said: “I don’t think it’s inevitable at all there will be another referendum. Nicola Sturgeon had 31% of the electorate voting for her on May 6 and that to my mind is not a mandate.
“The unfortunate thing is that the unionist vote was split, which allow the SNP to win the majority of the seats.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrives to attend First Minister's Questions at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh. Picture date: Thursday June 10, 2021.
Russell Cheyne
He added: “I do think we need to clarify matters. We cannot have in Scotland this toxic neveredum which is dividing communities, dividing families, and holding back the economy.
"We’ve urged the government to pass a Canada-style clarity act. One of the sections of that would be to sort out the franchise, not just to allow 800,000 Scots living elsewhere in the UK, but to allow all Scots to vote. Its part of the Scottish condition to go off and seek your fortune, before returning to Scotland.
“My own children are in London but they have ever intention to come back to live in Scotland.
“It’s manifestly unfair that just those Scots living in Scotland are given a vote. Goerge Galloway always points out that the captain of Lithuania would have a vote, but the captain of Scotland would not be able to as he’s playing in England.”
The Times is also reporting that Ruth Davidson could be ready for a return to frontline politics - being offered a ministerial role co-ordinating policy to keep the union together.
Last week former prime minister Gordon Brown warned of 50 years of conflict between England and Scotland if the country was partitioned.
- Do you think all Scots should be allowed to vote in any independence referendum? Or should it be reserved for just those living north of the English border? Let us know what you think in the comments below.