If Boris Johnson keeps Scotland in imprisoned in the UK, Brexit Britain will be condemned by the free world – Helen Martin

Until now Boris Johnson, his Cabinet and Scottish Tories have simply ignored, slagged or criticised the SNP and the majority of Scottish people who support for them and who are determined to vote for independence.

Boris Johnson has said he will refuse to allow a second Scottish independence referendum (PIcture: Andrew Parsons/No 10 Downing Street)

It does seem that for years Westminster believed Scotland leaving the UK was the aim of a weird little minority bunch. They were even deluded that Ruth Davidson had boosted Scottish Tories and there was a real chance of a Conservative First Minister!

Suddenly the penny has dropped and the UK government finally recognises Scotland will vote to leave. Boris Johnson has continually stated he will not approve a Section 30 order which would be followed by an Indy majority vote in a referendum, and open the exit gate for Scotland.

He will simply ignore Scotland’s democratic vote and forbid any acknowledgement of Independence.

Former Chancellor George Osborne has now contributed his advice that to “save the Union” Johnson should refuse to allow a second referendum to take place at all.

It’s quite impressive (though rather revolting) that they really believe they are able to say “no”, in other words to ignore democracy and simply dictate that Scotland should stay in the UK.

In years gone by, the UK was considered to be a rich and powerful empire, something that even carried on when most of its colonies apart from Scotland had deserted.

Great Britain’s role in the Second World War, which drew in the US and, ironically, led to the setting up of the European partnership to maintain peace and the Common Market, continued its international respect.

Recent Brexiteers have shattered its reputation. The Brexit “deal” barely exists thanks to the Tory government, and banning EU ambassadors hasn’t helped either. Their plans for trade deals between Johnson and Trump have gone down the loo. Biden, with admiration for EU and love of Ireland, is the US President.

The UK is now recognised as a little union of four countries with no influence or importance to either the EU or the US. It is also recognised as the worst handler of Covid-19 in the world.

Scotland didn’t want to leave the EU. Independence is its route to re-join. But even some Scots are demanding a Plan B, particularly as Nicola Sturgeon is still hoping for a Section 30 approval.

And here’s my take on that. Many EU spokespeople have said Scotland can be rapidly re-admitted. Biden (who is known to dislike Johnson) seems up for that too. But to both continents which promote and support democracy, Nicola’s government must operate constitutionally, behave properly, and go through the democratic hoops – something that Catalonia did not do.

If we end in a situation where Scotland votes “Yes”, the democratic continents on either side of us would condemn the UK for saying “No”.

Britain is already losing any popularity in the West and will be loathed more if it creates a fascist imprisonment of Scotland. Does it realise that?

I hope there won’t be a UK Union. Westminster may still be the English, Welsh and Northern Ireland government, for a while. But if it accepts Scottish independence and a two-country partnership on the island of Britain, there may be better respect and deals from Scotland, the EU and the US. That’s our best, potential future.

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