Scottish independence: UK rules out giving referendum powers to Holyrood The move is designed to prevent a repeat of the current stalemate in which the PM has ruled out another legal referendum

It would be “completely wrong” for Holyrood to be given powers allowing ministers to call repeated referendums on Scottish independence, the Scottish Secretary has said.

Alister Jack said voters north of the border would face a “series of neverendums” if Nicola Sturgeon‘s request for permanent powers over such votes was granted by Boris Johnson.

Before Christmas, the First Minister said the law should be changed so Holyrood rather than Westminster had control over when indyref2 and any future referendums could be held.

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The move is designed to prevent a repeat of the current stalemate, which has seen Mr Johnson rule out another legally binding referendum on Scottish independence while he is in office.

‘Series of neverendums’

While the UK Government has yet to formally respond to Ms Sturgeon’s paper setting out the proposed changes to the Scotland Act, Mr Jack made clear it would reject the idea.

“The First Minister has asked for the right to set referendums in the future, to decide the context of those,” he told MPs during Scottish Questions in the House of Commons.

“Constitutional matters are reserved and it would be completely wrong for us to hands those powers over to the Scottish Parliament because we would end up in a series of neverendums.”

Ms Sturgeon has also sent the Prime Minister a formal request for a Section 30 order which would allow indyref2 to be held this year – but is still awaiting his response.

Mr Jack said the UK Government would reply to her letter “in due course”, but speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions Mr Johnson indicated that his view had not changed.

He was asked by the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford: “Who should determine the future of Scotland? The Prime Minister or the people who live in Scotland?”

‘Once in a generation’

Mr Johnson replied: “I think the answer is very clear, it’s the people of Scotland, who voted decisively only four, five years ago, to stay members of the most successful political partnership in history, by a decisive majority, in a once in a generation choice.”

Mr Blackford countered by pointing out that Scotland was about to be taken out of the EU against its will and that the Conservatives lost more than half their Scottish seats in last month’s election.

“Why is this Conservative Government dismissing the will of the people of Scotland, ignoring their voices and disregarding our Parliament?” he asked.

Mr Johnson responded by attacking the SNP‘s record, accusing the party of “mismanaging” the Scottish NHS and leaving schools “falling behind in educational standards”.

He added: “I think the real question is why does the SNP keep going on about breaking up the most successful union in history? To distract from their abundant failures in government.

“Concentrate on what you’re doing and stop going on about breaking up the Union.”