David Mundell called on Nicola Sturgeon to rule out a second independence referendum yesterday – as he warned against the vote on Britain’s membership of the EU descending into a “re-run” of the 2014 poll.
The Scottish secretary said he hoped she had heard the message from the people of Scotland at last week’s Holyrood election “loud and clear” – that they do not want a second poll.
And he characterised the SNP’s failure to exclude another referendum as a greater uncertainty for Scotland than the EU vote.
The Tory frontbencher faced a barrage of questions from SNP MPs on the impact on Scotland of the UK leaving the EU at Scottish Questions in the Commons.
Ms Sturgeon – who was backed by almost half of voters last Thursday – has previously raised the prospect of Indyref 2 if Scotland votes to stay in the EU next month, but Britain as a whole votes out.
And on Sunday, she confirmed her intention to relaunch her party’s independence campaign over the summer, pointing to the manifesto pledge to undertake new work to persuade a clear majority that independence is the best way forward.
Speaking in the chamber, SNP Westminster Leader Angus Robertson urged Mr Mundell to concentrate on making “a positive and inspiring case to stay rather than re-warming endless scare stories”.
But Mr Mundell said he had made it clear that is his intention, adding: “Perhaps you could undertake to stop obsessing about process and a second Scottish independence referendum and concentrate yourself entirely on the positive reasons for Scotland remaining in the EU.”
In response to an earlier question, the minister said: “What I believe is the biggest issue that faces Scotland currently is the uncertainty over the Scottish Government’s inability to rule out a second independence referendum, which they could quite easily do.
“The EU referendum is about the UK’s membership of the EU, it is not a re-run of the Scottish independence referendum.”
Shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray asked for an assurance that all Tory MSPs will be campaigning to remain in the EU.
Mr Mundell said Ruth Davidson had made her pro-EU position clear, but added: “We can’t hide the fact there are people in Scotland who would like to leave.”
Outside the chamber, Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael called on the SNP to stop “obsessing” over whether a Leave vote would invoke a second independence referendum.
