Boris Johnson branded a 'cowerin' timorous beastie' by Nicola Sturgeon for blocking IndyRef2

Nicola Sturgeon invoked the spirit of Robert Burns when she was asked if she would hold a so-called “wildcat referendum” on Scottish Independence.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been labelled as being "frightened of democracy"Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been labelled as being "frightened of democracy"
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been labelled as being "frightened of democracy"

Labelling the Prime Minister Boris Johnson a “cowerin’ timorous beastie’, the First Minister said he plan is to hold a “legal referendum” on Scottish Independence should the SNP win this year’s Holyrood election.

Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show, Ms Sturgeon responded to questions on whether there should be a 40 year gap between the 2014 referendum and the next independence referendum.

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Adding that she believed Mr Johnson to be “frightened of democracy”, she said: “It’s Robert Burns’ birthday tomorrow, our annual Burns Day.

“And when I hear Boris Johnson talk about this I bring to mind a Burns poem: ‘Cowerin’ timorous beastie, what a panic’s in thy breastie’.

“He’s frightened of democracy. The polls now show that a majority of people in Scotland now want independence.

“If the SNP win the Scottish election in a few months’ time on the proposition of giving the Scottish people that choice then what democrat could rightly stand in the way of that?

"Boris Johnson clearly just fears the verdict of the will of the Scottish people.”

The First Minister was also asked whether she would hold an advisory “home-made Scottish referendum” if the SNP wins in the upcoming elections.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I want to have a legal referendum, that’s what I’m going to seek the authority of the Scottish people for in May.

“And if they give me that authority that’s what I intend to do.”

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“That’s democracy, it’s not about what I want or about what Boris Johnson wants, it’s about what the people of Scotland want and the increasing evidence is that they want independence.”

In plans unveiled on Saturday by the SNP’s president Michael Russell, the party plans to claim legislation already passed provides the legal basis for Scotland to hold IndyRef2, without the UK Government’s explicit consent via a section 30 order.

In 2014, a section 30 order was granted by the UK Government to allow for a referendum to take place.

Such a move could see the Scottish Government legislate for a referendum with it then being challenged by the UK Government in the courts.

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