SCOTLAND
The Scottish Conservative Party has blasted the emergence of a memo revealing that Scottish Public Servants are working on measures for a second referendum on independence from the UK.
Under Freedom of Information legislation, the Conservatives have obtained a note confirming the moves, which was sent by Permanent Secretary, Leslie Evans (pictured) to Chief Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, her Deputy, John Swinney and Secretary of Finance, Derek Mackay.
It was sent shortly after Ms Sturgeon’s announcement of her desire to push for a second independence referendum.
The advice from Ms Evans, Scotland’s most senior PS employee, contains a warning about the impact a new vote would have on the everyday working of the Scottish Government
Ms Evans said that delivering another vote on the Constitution would lead to the “de-prioritisation of activity” in other areas.
Sent at the end of March 2017, its contents were made public only after a 13-month battle between Ministers and the Scottish Conservatives.
The Scottish Government provided a heavily redacted version.
Ms Evans wrote that PS staff would continue to offer “evidence and analysis” on holding a referendum.
“That analysis will include offering a view about the impact that delivering the referendum and preparing for its outcome might have on the Government’s wider program of activity to deliver your program for Government commitments,” Ms Evans said.
Interim Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Jackson Carlaw said the Scottish National Party Government had tried to keep the document under wraps.
“It shows that delivering Nicola Sturgeon’s referendum on independence won’t just divide our country all over again, it will push your school, your local hospital and your high street to the back of the queue,” Mr Carlaw said.
He said that instead of focusing on delivery, the Government would be focused on division.
The memo also outlined the need for the Public Service to begin planning for the outcome of the referendum, including “transitional planning for moving to an independent Scotland”.
Ms Evans said any policy devised should be done in a way that complied with the Ministerial and Public Service codes.
Edinburgh, 27 September 2019
