With six more candidates in the running for the next leader of the Conservative party and prime minister, columnist Stephen Daisley argued that the threat of Scottish Independence should be taken much more seriously by the budding leaders. At the behest of the Spectator, Mr Daisley warned of an “exceeding lack of urgency” from the Conservative Party over the “velvet revolution” being carried out by the SNP†
He said the Tories “show an extraordinary lack of urgency about a process that could theoretically end with the dissolution of the country the conservative leaders want to lead”.
He added: “The Union should be at the center of this leadership contest.
“It is under threat in a way that is completely unique in its three-century history.”
Mr Daisley described Scotland’s foreign affairs strategy as a ‘velvet revolution’ and warned that Westminster’s response so far had been ‘lukewarm and complacent’.
The Scottish Government openly conducts its own foreign policy, the Scottish Global Affairs Framework, which “records the values, principles and priorities underpinning the Scottish Government’s work to become more active internationally”.
This drive to establish diplomatic relations abroad as Scotland also allowed the SNP to influence the Brexit process.
Ms Sturgeon lobbied the German government on “Scotland’s perspective” on the EU, visited Dublin and pledged: “On virtually every substantive issue related to Brexit, the Irish government has … an ally in Scotland.”
She also attacked Brexit in a speech to the French National Assembly, rebuked the British government’s negotiating strategy and spoke of Scottish independence.
She also stated: “The Scottish Government is committed to the European Union.”
Some Conservative candidates for leadership have made their stance on Scottish independence clear.
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Penny Mordaunt has said that “another divisive referendum” is “the last thing Scotland needs”.
Tom Tugendhat, meanwhile, said of the SNP’s push for a referendum that they “cannot keep asking the same question in hopes of a different answer”.
Mr Daisley pointed out that the 2014 referendum has been repeatedly described as a once-in-a-generation opportunity – only for Ms Sturgeon to immediately campaign for another referendum when it failed to achieve the SNP’s desired outcome .
Rishi Sunak, who was instrumental in the collapse of Boris Johnson’s leadership and the current favorite to win the match, has previously said it is “definitely not our intention” to hold another independence referendum under any circumstances. , describing the UK as the “most enduring and successful union the world has seen”.
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Meanwhile, when asked about the Scottish Government’s intention to vote on the Constitution in October, Mr Sunak told The Herald: “I think what people in the UK want their government to focus on, both the Scottish Government and the British government, deals with the matters that are obvious at the moment.
“And that helps them with the challenges they face with the cost of living. It improves our energy security and stimulates economic growth.”
Daisley also blamed the “arrogance” of the past for striving for Scottish independence.
He said: “The arrogant architects of devolution could not imagine that the SNP would ever supplant Labor and so they have set up a decentralized apparatus with a strong executive, a weak parliament, few checks and balances, and nothing that a separatist party can do about it. prevents you from changing these settings. in a battering ram against the British state.”