Statement from Angus Robertson MP, leader of the SNP in Westminster on the new Government and the SNP's plans for an independence referendum.
The SNP congratulates the new Prime Minister on his new role. We find his commitment to revoke article 50 on day one to be encouraging and the SNP has many areas of agreement with the new government, especially with Labour and the Greens. However, the Prime Minister refused to hold an independence referendum despite the overwhelming support for one in Scotland. We made the fact that we can't participate in a government which refuses to allow the Scottish people to chose their future clear during the election campaign and the fact that 52% of Scots voted for pro-independence parties solidifies our conviction.
We will be talking to other parties about the importance of letting the Scottish people vote and will be putting forward a bill regarding this very soon. We appeal to unionists, it is your right to oppose independence but it isn't acceptable to deny a vote which the Scottish parliament and the Scottish people have voted for many times. If you have the courage of your convictions, you can campaign against independence during the referendum. If this bill fails to pass, we will start exploring other options. We will be fighting very hard for this referendum, it is not a point on which we will compromise. The Scottish people have been ignored for a long time and we won't let it happen any longer.
