Nigel Farage has hit out at calls for a second Scottish independence referendum, saying the matter was settled in a “once in a lifetime” vote in 2016.
The former Brexit Party leader argued the point during a fiery debate with a founding member of the Alba Party, Charlie Abel.
It comes as the leading force on the matter, the SNP, have been dropped into chaos as a police inquiry into their handling of more than £600,000 in donations is carried out.
Abel’s Alba Party, fronted by ex-SNP leader Alex Salmond, are flying the flag for independence and Farage questioned their stance during a feisty exchange in Aberdeen, live on GB News.
Nigel Farage told the Alba Party member: 'You can't have a referendum every Thursday'
GB News / PA
Farage told Abel that he “doesn’t believe independence is the best thing for Scotland” but admitted that it is for the “Scottish people to decide”.
Farage said: “I agree with you, there was a referendum in 2014, a ‘once in a lifetime’ referendum, and then there was another one in 2016, and it seems like Alba and the SNP don’t respect either result.”
Abel responded: “Remember, the Scottish people instructed a mandate to the SNP in 2016 that if there was a material change of circumstance such as being taken out of the EU against our will, there would be another referendum.”
Farage argued: “You’d already voted. You’d already decided that we would decide as a full United Kingdom in the EU referendum, you can’t have it both ways can you?”
Yousaf at a SNP leadership debatePAThe Alba Party founding member questioned the GB News presenter, saying: “Do you believe in self-determination of the people under the United Nations’ charter?”
Farage said: “Of course I do, I’ve been an independence campaigner for 30 years, but you can’t have a referendum every Thursday!”
Scotland voted in favour of remaining as part of the United Kingdom in a 2014 vote with 55.3 per cent of voters opting against independence.
The topic has remained one of contention ever since with the SNP, who strongly back independence, keeping a stranglehold on power in Scottish Government in the years since.
They have long argued that their political dominance in Holyrood represents the need for a second referendum on the matter.
The party have shown signs of weakness in recent years, and find themselves embroiled in financial struggles.
It has emerged that the SNP still owes money to its chief former executive Peter Murrell after he loaned the party £100,000 in June.
Speaking to FMQs on Thursday, party leader Humza Yousaf said: “I think there is money still absolutely outstanding to Peter Murrell.”
The Alba Party, led by former SNP leader Alex Salmond, are hoping to gazump the SNP as the country’s leading Independence faction.
