By Stephen Bailey

SNP member of the Holyrood Executive, Ben Macpherson has said the promise made prior to the the 2014 ‘independence’ referendum by the SNP themselves that it would be a ‘once in a generation’ event was just a ‘turn of phrase’ (click here to read the full details on this: https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-msp-rewrites-history-says-34506247 

The pledge was repeated many times by senior SNP officials during the campaign before the vote, including then First Minister Alex Salmond and his deputy Nicola Sturgeon in an attempt to drive up support for the ‘Yes’ vote.

Infamously, Sturgeon, who effectively led the SNP’s referendum campaign, even said it would be a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity to break up the United Kingdom.

However, almost as soon as the decisive 55-45 result for ‘No’ was delivered, the separatists began backtracking on the promise.

Let’s have a look at the facts on this. Below is an article that looks in detail at this matter:

MORE THAN A DECADE LATER, WE CANNOT TRUST THE SNP TO BE TRUE TO ITS WORD

Eleven years on from the 2014 referendum, Stephen Bailey reminds us that the SNP would not respect the result of another one.

SNP leader Alex Salmond promised to “respect” the result of the 2014 referendum in the 2012 Edinburgh Agreement. He did this because he expected to win. He lost, then reneged on his promise out of obvious sour grapes.

For example, both Nicola Sturgeon and Salmond signed the Edinburgh Agreement in 2012 which stated that the following referendum would: “…deliver a fair test and decisive expression of the views of people in Scotland and a result that everyone will respect.”

Not once, but several times in the subsequent referendum campaign they both stated that they thought that the coming referendum was a “once in a generation”, or “once in a lifetime” event.

They both signed a formal agreement that explicitly stated that they would “respect” the result of the subsequent referendum. That commits them to subsequently do just that.

This obliges them to respect and accept the result as decisive for at least a generation (30 years).

For evidence that Sturgeon stated this, see this link: https://www.pressreader.com/…/20201107/281801401481515

which quotes TEN occasions, with dates and locations when Nicola Sturgeon publicly stated that the 2014 independence referendum was either a “once in a generation” (ie at least 30 years) or a “once in a lifetime” event (ie at least 80 years).

This video also shows them making these claims: https://youtube.com/watch?v=nuQP4XeMngc

Another such video is here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9lzot3DNeU4

The words even appeared in their own White Paper on independence entitled “Scotland’s Future”, published November 2013, a year before the referendum.

Alex Salmond stated in the Preface that it was “a once in a generation opportunity to chart a better way.” (p.viii)

The text of the White Paper stated:

“It is the view of the current Scottish Government that a referendum is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.” (Para 557 at p.556)

In the event, the Yes campaign never even officially closed after the poll, they just continued to operate in the background, hoping for any opportunity that would give them an excuse to ask for another referendum.
The day after the poll, the SNP began making vague assertions that, under certain circumstances (which they would manufacture, irrespective of the real conditions), a second poll would be triggered.

They haven’t stopped trying to manufacture synthetic reasons for another poll since!

Whilst it is certainly true that the polls show a majority for ‘No’ at present, 20 months until 2026 is a long time in politics and it is in no way unlikely that the SNP could snatch an undeserved win.

Even a second “No” vote at a second referendum would not deter the SNP in their quest to break up the Union by any means. They won’t respect the democratic will if it goes against them. They will just keep on making up false reasons for yet another poll until they get the result they want.

(Does not represent the view of Scotland Matters)