Roz Foyer: Scotland’s future must be decided by Holyrood, not Westminster

Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) general secretary Roz Foyer is set to make the comments at the SNP conference in Aberdeen on Saturday.

The STUC’s current policy is that Scotland has the right to self-determination, maintaining that the right to hold an independence referendum should lie with the Scottish Parliament.

STUC general secretary Roz Foyer(Image: free)

Foyer will address SNP delegates at the party’s conference on Saturday afternoon.

She is expected to say: “We know Scotland needs the powers to do better. We need stronger powers over borrowing, over migration, over employment, over further taxation and more.

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“There are differing views across our movement – and yes, even across yours – on how such powers are best delivered. But I have no hesitation in saying this: Whatever the constitutional future of Scotland may hold, it must be the people of Scotland who decide.

“And if the question of self-determination arises again – if there is a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament – then it is for our Parliament, Scotland’s Parliament, to hold that referendum if it so chooses.

“Because that is democracy. And if that is the will of the people of Scotland, then no Westminster Government should deny that wish.”

Foyer is also set to call on the Scottish Government to take action on tax, spending and public services, saying “people can’t afford to wait any longer”.

An STUC spokesperson said: “It’s abundantly clear that the Scottish Government can do more, in the here and now, within the powers of devolution to raise revenue and provide support for people in need.

“However, the STUC has been clear: it’s for the people of Scotland to decide their constitutional future. It’s fundamentally dangerous to block all roads to constitutional change should that be the desire of the people.

“If that is the will of the electorate, then it is an obligation on all to respect that mandate and to respect the function of the Scottish Parliament to deliver on that desire.”