More than 16,500 people have signed an online petition calling for a referendum on abolishing the Scottish Parliament, passing the threshold that requires an official UK Government response.
The petition, created by Georgina Sparrow and posted on the Petitions Parliament website, asks for a referendum in Scotland to decide whether the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government should be abolished. It passed the 10,000-signature threshold earlier this month, triggering a written response from the UK Government.
Petition argues nationalist parties over-represented
The petition states: “We call on the UK Government to legislate on holding a referendum in Scotland to decide whether the Scottish Parliament & Government should be abolished.”
It argues that the make-up of the Scottish Parliament does not accurately represent voters’ views following the most recent Holyrood election, noting that the SNP and Scottish Greens secured 57 per cent of seats despite receiving 41 per cent of votes cast.
The petition adds: “We feel the over-representation of nationalist parties in Holyrood has been to the detriment of public services and the wellbeing of the population. We believe there is a growing voice for the dismantling of devolution in Scotland and the return of local, more accountable democracy.”
Petition timeline and thresholds
The petition was published on June 12 and passed the 10,000-signature milestone on September 24. Under the UK Parliament petitions system, the UK Government responds in writing to petitions that attract 10,000 signatures. At 100,000 signatures, the proposals would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament.
Passing either threshold does not mean the proposal has been accepted or endorsed by the UK Government.
The Scottish Parliament was established following the 1997 devolution referendum, when voters in Scotland backed its creation with tax-varying powers. Holyrood held its first election in May 1999, with the Parliament formally reconvening later that year. The new petition calls for the UK Government to legislate for another referendum on whether the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government should continue to exist.
