SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford hailed the “historic moment” when MPs voted to accept a motion that Scotland “must be independent for economic stability”.
During the heated debate, Scottish Service Minister John Lamont took aim at the SNP’s plans for an independent Scotland, suggesting their desire to continue using sterling and then adopt the Scottish pound was a “subtle acknowledgment of the economic benefits of remaining part of the UK kingdom’. .
Lamont’s remarks came before the House of Commons voted 38 to zero in favor of the SNP motion, which argued Scotland “must be independent for economic stability” and criticized the “economic damage” caused by the Westminster mini-budget .
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Blackford called the vote a “historic moment”, telling the House of Commons: “This House has voted in favor of a motion for Scottish independence, which has happened for the first time, with a clear majority of those who were elected from Scottish constituencies voting for this proposal.”
But the motion was non-binding and Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing later confirmed that the House had “only” a quorum.
A minimum of 40 MPs must be present for a vote in the House of Commons, with the four tellers and Laing’s presence meaning 43 of the 649 sitting MPs were present.
During the debate, Blackford called the UK a “failing state” and said independence would also allow Scotland to return to the European Union after the “total disaster” of Brexit.
He described Europe as a “partnership of equals”, adding: “The fact is we will keep the pound until a number of economic tests that are met allow us to have a Scottish pound, that’s what will happen. ”
Blackford added: “To join [the] euro you must join the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) for a period of two years.
“Joining the ERM is voluntary, you cannot be forced into the euro.”
But Lamont, wrapping up the six-hour debate, said: “The SNP leader here in Westminster has got himself, frankly, into a bit of confusion again about what currency an independent Scotland would use.
“Now the SNP’s currency proposals lack any form of credibility. In the same vein, the SNP is proposing the creation of a Scottish pound, while also committing to rejoining the European Union.
“Now, given that the EU clearly states that adopting the euro is a basic requirement for any membership, I find it hard to find any confidence in what the SNP is proposing.
“The SNP’s proposals, I would suggest, to continue using the pound are a subtle acknowledgment of the economic benefits of remaining part of the UK.”
Scottish Secretary Alistair Jack also said the Scottish Government’s independence papers had “provoked scorn from respected economic experts”, before adding: “A prominent nationalist and I apologize in advance for the unparliamentary language but I quote referred to the recent economic paper as “Bullshit”.
Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, said that in 2022 Scotland was “almost a different country to 2014”, adding: “We can’t go on like this, we need to have a referendum to resolve this”.
SNP MP Gavin Newlands claimed the UK “is a failing state” with a social security system “that Kafka would rip apart at first draft”.
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