Devolution myth

If all the claims made by either side in this referendum, nothing is more fanciful and false than the Better Together’s claim that a No vote will secure greater devolution for Scotland. The proverbial Blind Freddie would know that there would not be a referendum but for the significant success of the SNP in recent times.

By The Newsroom

Published 28th Feb 2019, 14:03 BST

Let us suppose that the No campaign attracts all of the currently undecided voters and achieves close to 70 per cent of the vote. Such a result would be interpreted as an endorsement of the status quo.

In these circumstances the Westminster government could not be expected to devolve major powers to the Scottish Parliament. However, the greater the Yes vote, the greater the mandate for devolution.

Angus Edmonds

Edinburgh