Plans for a second Scottish independence referendum have been heavily criticised by Carlisle's MP John Stevenson.

Mr Stevenson said the result of the 2014 independence referendum should be respected and said he thought it was "incredibly arrogant" of Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to table a second referendum.

Mrs Sturgeon announced on Thursday at the SNP conference that a consultation is to begin next week on legislation for a second referendum.

With Scotland having voted strongly to remain in the European Union, she said the Holyrood Parliament was entitled to protect the interests of the Scottish people in the light of the overall UK vote to leave.

But Mr Stevenson said: "They are not being taken out of the EU against their will. It was a UK wide vote so it's a UK wide decision."

He added: "I think the Scottish people will be very angry about this. I don't think there's any appetite for another vote. I think people made their vote in 2014 and that should be respected."

Mr Stevenson said he thought Mrs Sturgeon had a weak hand. He said questions would have to be answered if there was a second referendum that were not clear during the last one such as what currency an independent Scotland would have and if it would be a member of the EU.

He said: "They can't be answered because that's the whole problem because the EU would have to make a decision at a later date."


Nicola Sturgeon Ms Sturgeon has said it is "inconceivable" that Theresa May could try to block a second independence referendum. She said Scotland had found itself in a position it did not want to be in as a result of the Brexit vote and she could not see how the Government at Westminster could justify refusing them another chance to leave the UK.

She told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "Scotland is in a position just now we didn't ask to be in,"

"We have been put into this position by, largely, the Conservative Party and if as a result of that there is a view in the Scottish Parliament that the best way to protect our interests is to offer the choice of independence again, the idea that the same party that put us into that position would then deny us that choice I just find inconceivable."

Craig Johnston, a former mayor of Carlisle who lives in the city and is the RMT rail union relief organiser, was a supporter of Scottish independence in the last referendum and said he still supports it.

He said: "I'm a little bit confused why [Mrs Sturgeon] wants to ditch Westminster rule to embrace an undemocratic bureaucracy in Brussels but that's for the Scottish people to decide."

Mr Johnston believes regions should have proper regional government.

He said: "I think it would be a major blow to the British establishment which would be a delight to me. It's going to be very interesting to see how it goes."