General Election 2019: Edinburgh unionists say SNP landslide not a mandate for Indyref2

Conservatives and Labour politicians in the Capital believe an SNP landslide in Scotland may still not give the party a mandate for a second independence referendum.
SNP supporters celebrate their victories in the general election in EdinburghSNP supporters celebrate their victories in the general election in Edinburgh
SNP supporters celebrate their victories in the general election in Edinburgh

Unionists in the Capital have insisted that the SNP cleaning up in Scotland may still not be enough to give them a mandate for a second independence referendum.

The SNP won 47 of Scotland’s 59 seats, plus a candidate they had disowned for anti-Semitism – but Conservative and Tory politicians in Edinburgh said the party only claiming 45 per cent of the vote share is not enough for them to start claiming it’s time for another referendum on independence.

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Conservative Cllr Mark Brown said: “You can’t say the election is all about Brexit and then want another independence referendum.

“Their seats might be up but if their vote share is static, it’s no mandate for another independence referendum.”

Labour Cllr Scott Arthur, added: “Even people within the nationalist movement have been critical of how much independence has been missing from the campaign.

“Some of the leaflets have not mentioned independence – it’s all been against Brexit and anti-Tory. They have to be honest about that.”

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But SNP politicians have hit back at the claims, saying the national picture means a second referendum on independence should now take place.

Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, said: “The Scottish Conservatives’ no to IndyRef2 campaign has not been a success.”

The city’s housing, homelessness and fair work convener, SNP Cllr Kate Campbell, added: “As the Labour vote implodes in on itself, it’s good to see Scott Arthur scrambling around trying to make excuses.”

Transport and environment convener, SNP Cllr Lesley Macinnes, told the unionist politicians to take the national picture seriously.

She said: “Our local politicians have to take a long hard look at the national picture before their rather desperate comments.”