Brexit - Conservatives in Disarray

Wednesday 03 February, 2016 Written by Simon Collyer

SNP Westminster Leader Angus Robertson MP has called on the Prime Minister to defer the date of the EU referendum.

Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions today, Angus Robertson MP asked David Cameron for a commitment not to hold the EU referendum in June.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, along with First Minsters from Wales and Northern Ireland, has written to the Prime Minister on the EU referendum date which “risks confusing issues when clarity is required”, and calls for the Prime Minister to “defer the EU referendum at least until later in the year”.

SNP Foreign Affairs spokesperson Alex Salmond MSP MP, who is attending the budget in the Scottish Parliament today, told the Prime Minister yesterday that a June date for the EU referendum would inevitably "conflict" with the devolved elections and therefore be disrespectful to the democratic process in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London.

Angus Robertson MP said:

“The timing of the European Union referendum is extremely important. Why will the Prime Minister not respect the electorate and governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and give that commitment today?

“If David Cameron wants a fair Referendum on our membership of the EU then we need to ensure we have time for a proper debate. Rushing through a Referendum in June just after important elections in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, London and across England, is totally disrespectful to those elections and will simply not give sufficient time to address the key issues about our future relationship with the EU.

“One of the lessons of the Scottish Independence Referendum was the importance of having a debate in which people were engaged and could have their say. To do anything other with the EU referendum has to be resisted.”

Alex Salmond MSP MP added:

“David Cameron has dissembled on his claim.

“I told the Prime Minister last night that while six weeks clearance is a necessary condition for the EU referendum, it is not a sufficient one - he knew that, and chose not to say it. It’s not surprising the Prime Minster has lost all credibility on the EU.”