THE SNP have welcomed comments by former Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones stating the people of Scotland "have every right" to hold an independence referendum if they support a party calling for it.

Carwyn Jones of the Labour party criticised PM hopeful Sajid Javid who said he "won't allow" indyref2 if he becomes Tory leader.

He tweeted: "Has he any idea how arrogant this sounds? The people of the UK had every right to have a referendum on EU membership. The people of Scotland and for that matter, Wales have every right to hold a referendum [on] independence if they support a party calling for it."

Has he any idea how arrogant this sounds? The people of the UK had every right to have a referendum on EU membership. The people of Scotland and for that matter, Wales have every right to hold a referendum independence if they support a party calling for it. https://t.co/3QdOR3XMkk — Carwyn Jones AM/AC (@AMCarwyn) May 31, 2019

The Labour Welsh Assembly Member, added: "In 2015 David Cameron got elected with a promise to hold an EU ref which he did. If a party gets elected to government in Scotland or Wales with a similar promise the same principles must apply. He has every right to campaign against independence but not stop a vote."

The SNP was elected in 2016 on a manifesto commitment to hold an independence referendum "if there is a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against our will", winning 46.5% of the vote – the biggest vote share of any party in the history of devolution, and any party in the UK since 1966.

The Scottish Parliament has cemented the mandate by voting to hold an independence referendum.

SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP called on the rest of the Labour party to "join us in standing up to the Tories".

He added: "I welcome Carwyn Jones' support for Scotland's democratic right to hold an independence referendum - and urge the rest of the Labour Party to join us in standing up to the Tories.

"The people of Scotland must have the chance to choose a better future than the one being offered by Westminster. The SNP were elected on a manifesto commitment to hold an independence referendum, with the biggest vote share of any party in the history of devolution – and the Scottish Parliament has voted to enact that mandate.

"It is not for the Tory Party to dictate the terms of our future and arrogantly declare they "won't allow" the people of Scotland to hold a referendum. Even Ruth Davidson used to believe the Tories shouldn't block a referendum until she flip-flopped and abandoned her principles again.

"Scotland has been ignored throughout the Brexit process. We did not vote to leave the EU and we should not be dragged out against our will. With so much at stake, the people of Scotland deserve the choice to become an independent European nation.

"Brexit has made it clearer than ever that Scotland will never be treated as an equal partner in the UK – the only way to properly protect our interests is with independence."