A SCOTTISH Government minister has clashed with a BBC presenter during an interview about how the SNP plans on delivering independence.
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin appeared on Radio Scotland on Monday morning and dismissed claims that the First Minister John Swinney had not spoken with the Prime Minister about Scottish independence.
Martin had appeared on the show to discuss the Scottish Government's plans on how to mitigate waste when "black bag" waste is banned from being buried in landfills at the end of the year.
According to the BBC, up to 100 truckloads of Scotland's waste could be transported each day to England once a landfill ban comes into effect; however, Martin argued that the measure was only temporary while local authorities adjusted to the change in waste policy.
The SNP minister was arguing about how they need to work with Scottish households on how to recycle better and to look at ways to stop people from “over-consuming”.
Shortly after, Radio Scotland host Laura Maxwell changed the topic towards independence as she highlighted that Swinney is set to deliver a speech in Edinburgh on Tuesday outlining how self-determination could achieve Scotland’s long-term goals.
Maxwell asked Martin if she could “lay out his [Swinney’s] vision” ahead of his speech.
Martin replied: “The First Minister will lay out his vision, and what I would say is that independence for Scotland is the right thing for Scotland.”
Maxwell then interrupted Martin, asking: “In a couple of sentences, just lay out how the current government plans to achieve independence.”
Martin replied: “Scottish independence will happen when the majority of people in Scotland want it.”
She went on to say that the SNP is the “vehicle for independence” and that independence can only be achieved if people vote for the party next year.
However, Martin was again only seconds into her reply when Maxwell cut her off again by saying: “That’s the political argument, but actually doing it, how do you plan to achieve it?”
Martin replied: “It is an untenable situation for the UK Government to deny democracy to the people of Scotland.
“If they vote for independence-promoting parties, then there has to be a rethink.
“It is an undemocratic situation if they don't do that.”
Maxwell then said that the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said last week that Swinney hadn't broached the subject of independence with him.
The BBC host added, that if Swinney hasn't asked Starmer about independence, how does he plan to achieve it?
To which Martin replied: “Well, I would imagine that the First Minister has broached that subject with the Prime Minister.”
Maxwell ended the interview after Martin’s reply.
Earlier this month, Starmer dismissed the idea of a second independence referendum for Scotland, even if the SNP gets a majority at next year's Holyrood elections.
“It's not a priority,” the Prime Minister told Good Morning Scotland while in Glasgow.
He claimed there was a need for Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom in order to remain safe, as he released his defence review.
Swinney has established his strategy as building “demonstrable support” for independence through the Government.
To which Starmer said: “Nobody's raising that with me as their first priority.”
