MILIBAND BETWEEN THE ROCK AND HARD PLACE ON REFERENDUM

MILIBAND BETWEEN THE ROCK AND HARD PLACE ON REFERENDUM

UK Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary David Miliband has been challenged to
explain why his party is refusing to allow people in Scotland the chance to
choose their future in a referendum after observing that, for Gibraltar, the
issue of sovereignty lies with its people.

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP has this weekend written to Mr
Miliband seeking clarification over how his view was reconciled with the
refusal by Labour to allow people in Scotland to have a say on their
constitutional future in a referendum.

Mr Robertson said:

“David Miliband is between a rock and a hard place on the issue of
sovereignty – he says people in Gibraltar should have their say, but denies
people in Scotland the same right.

“Of course sovereignty for Gibraltar must rest in the hands of the people,
and that is why I cannot understand the Labour party position of refusing
people here the right to have their say in a referendum.

“People in Scotland have just as much right to have their say as people in
Gibraltar, and David Miliband needs to explain the inconsistency in Labour’s
position.

“Labour are in a completely ridiculous and absurd position – denying people
the chance to choose their future in a democratic referendum.

“The SNP were elected on the promise to bring forward a referendum Bill in
2010 and that is what we will do.

“It may be that Labour’s real fear is that as the UK’s disastrous economic
management and Labour’s swingeing budget cuts for Scotland are exposed more
and more people will see that the best route to prosperity for Scotland is
as an independent nation with full financial powers.”