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Can Johnson prevent indyref2?

22 March 2021 - If the SNP win a majority in the Scottish Parliament elections in May will Johnson agree to a referendum?

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Listen to the podcast episode 

If the SNP win a majority in the Scottish Parliament elections in May, Nicola Sturgeon will declare they have a mandate for a second independence referendum. Boris Johnson has said he will refuse to allow one. But can he can really resist? Prof Aileen McHarg will explain the legal issues; James Forsyth the politics, and the need for an alternative offer; and Dr Alan Renwick the referendum process, if the Scots are to make a fully informed decision.

Speakers:

  • Prof Aileen McHarg is Professor of Public Law and Human Rights at Durham Law School
  • James Forsyth is political editor of The Spectator magazine
  • Dr Alan Renwick is Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit and Associate Professor in British Politics at UCL

Chair: Prof Meg Russell, the Director of the Constitution Unit and and Professor of British and Comparative Politics at UCL

Useful Links:

James Forsyth, ‘A flat No to Nicola Sturgeon won’t save the Union

Aileen McHarg, Blog on Pathways to Indyref2

Alan Renwick and the Constitution Unit's work on referendums:

Improving Discourse in Elections and Referendums

Independent Commission on Referendums