THE Scottish Tories have been branded “ridiculous” after they criticised a Holyrood committee agreeing to undertake an inquiry into legal mechanisms to trigger an independence referendum.
Last week, the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture committee agreed to “examine the options” for a referendum “within the UK constitutional context”.
At the same time, a Tory bid for an inquiry into freedom of speech was rejected by MSPs.
Stephen Kerr, the Central Scotland MSP, claimed the SNP and Greens “hijacked” the committee in response.
“The decision by the SNP and Green members of the committee to block an inquiry into free speech whilst at the same time forcing through a nakedly political inquiry into holding an independence referendum has yet again made an utter mockery of the Scottish Parliament,” Kerr told the Times last week.
“Holding a (free speech) inquiry would not only provide clarity and accountability to those organisations, but it would have sent a strong message that the Scottish Parliament values open dialogue, intellectual diversity, and the right of all voices to be heard,” he added.
“Instead, the message that has been sent is that freedom of speech is only a priority so long as it does not interfere with the SNP’s obsessive push for another divisive and increasingly irrelevant independence referendum.”
SNP MSPs Clare Adamson, Keith Brown, George Adam, and Greens MSP Patrick Harvie backed the referendum inquiry, while Kerr and fellow Tory Jamie Halcro Johnston voted against.
The motion read: "That the Committee agrees to undertake an inquiry to examine the options for a legal mechanism for triggering any independence referendum based on principles of certainty and democratic consent within the UK constitutional context".
The Tory motion called for an inquiry "to examine the issue of freedom of speech and expression within organisations that receive public funding within the context of the Committee’s remit".
In response to Kerr’s claims, Adam told The National: "It’s ridiculous to suggest that the Scottish Parliament’s committee on the constitution cannot examine the manner in which Scotland determines her constitutional future - even for the Tories.”
In 2022, the UK Supreme Court ruled that Holyrood did not have the legislative powers to hold an independence referendum without Westminster’s consent.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ruled out a second independence referendum while he is in Downing Street.
And, Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander has repeatedly refused to set out the democratic route for Scottish independence.
It comes ahead of the SNP’s conference in Aberdeen in October, where members will vote on First Minister John Swinney's independence strategy.
The SNP leader has said that only an SNP majority at Holyrood 2026 can deliver the mandate for a referendum, as Alex Salmond’s 2011 victory set the precedent. After Salmond delivered a majority, Westminster agreed to the 2014 referendum.
However, critics and rebel party members, have argued that votes for all pro-independence parties should count towards a mandate.
