Ian Blackford claims past two decades show ‘decisions are best made in Scotland’

Ian Blackford has claimed the past two decades show “decisions for Scotland are best made in Scotland”.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford. Picture: Isabel Infantes/AFP via Getty Images

Writing in The Times, the SNP Westminster leader claimed the pandemic had “proven the trust” the people of Scotland had for the Scottish Government and was leading them to reject Westminster.

In a fiery piece, Mr Blackford suggested First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s leadership was driving support for independence, as was that of Boris Johnson.

He said: “The example of her leadership has reaffirmed the Scottish people’s faith in our institutions, in our governance and in our nation.

“That trust hasn’t simply materialised due to the competence shown during this crisis, it has been steadily secured over a longer period of time.

“Over the past two decades of devolution, a majority of people have come to the same simple, but powerful conclusion — decisions about Scotland are best made in Scotland.

“It is little wonder they have come to that verdict when we compare the record of the two parliaments – in Westminster and Holyrood — during that time.

“Over the past 20 years, Westminster has imposed an extreme Brexit, an illegal war in Iraq, £9,000 university tuition fees, the Windrush scandal, the rape clause, the bedroom tax and a decade of Tory austerity cuts, which have pushed millions of people into poverty.”

The Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP also accused the Tories of “denying democracy” by refusing another referendum, but suggested the UK Government’s position was untenable.

He said: “Their actions are not just undemocratic, they are also unsustainable.

“More and more Scottish citizens now see a clear choice between the compassionate leadership of our Scottish Government or the chaos and confusion we have been dealt from Westminster.

“The UK Government’s current strategy of denying democracy is a political position that can’t and won’t hold.

“I am confident it is a position that will crumble under the weight of votes in next year’s Scottish election.”

At his party conference yesterday, Mr Blackford had claimed "unionism has run out of road".

He said: “The UK that they argue for no longer exists and they have no idea how to reimagine or reinvent it.

"The Tories are in a panic – they are unwilling to accept the truth that a majority of Scotland’s people now want an independent future.”

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