This article appears as part of the Lessons to Learn newsletter.

“I simply want Scotland to have a choice when the time is right. So, I hope that the UK government will respect the will of this Parliament.” – Nicola Sturgeon, 2017

“The Conservatives are isolated and out of touch with the people of Scotland. Will the Prime Minister respect the will of the Scottish Parliament and work the Scottish Government to amend the Withdrawal Bill?” – Ian Blackford, 2018

“The UK Government today had a duty to amend the bill to respect the will of the Scottish Parliament.” – Mike Russell, 2018

“No ifs, no buts, no maybes. The will of the Scottish people and our Parliament must be respected.” – Humza Yousaf, 2023

“What is now needed is the UK Government to respect the voice of the Scottish people and Parliament and transfer the necessary powers.” – John Swinney, 2026

Over and over again, for at least the last ten years, the SNP has demanded that their opponents, especially those in Westminster, “respect the will” of the Scottish Parliament.

The principle here is simple: if Holyrood votes in favour of something, then this should be taken as a legitimate expression of the desires of the sovereign Scottish people.

But is that position really one based on principle, or is it the case that party members only invoke........

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