Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, appeared at a University of Cambridge event at the City Chambers in Edinburgh on what the next five years might hold for the UK and the Union.
The MSP previously served as social security minister under Nicola Sturgeon and said that talk of a once in a generation opportunity was meant as a “call to action” rather than a promise or vow.
Macpherson appeared at the event alongside Tory MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Murdo Fraser (below).
(Image: NQ)
The senior Scottish Tory told the event: “I think we’ll have another referendum when it is clear that independence is the settled will of the people of Scotland, in exactly the same way as back in 1997 when we had a referendum effectively to confirm what we already knew, which was that everybody in Scotland wanted devolution and it was indeed the settled will.
“That referendum was held in effect to confirm what we already knew, that’s where Scotland wanted to go.
“And I think we will have another referendum if and when we get to that point and it’s clear a very large and lasting majority of people in Scotland want that to happen.”
The phrase “once in a generation” has sparked debate since the referendum campaign, with opponents of Scottish independence using it to argue another vote should not take place any time soon.
READ MORE: John Swinney: Scottish independence referendum will happen soon
Former prime minister Boris Johnson used the language to reject Sturgeon’s previous call for a second referendum.
He said: “You and your predecessor made a personal promise that the 2014 independence referendum was a ‘once in a generation’ vote.”
In his foreword to the independence white paper, Alex Salmond said the referendum was a “rare and precious moment in the history of Scotland – a once in a generation opportunity to chart a better way”.
Macpherson said he agreed with Fraser’s comments and, addressing a point raised by an audience member, said: “Just on the term ‘once in a generation,’ to me when that was said by the then-first minister and others during the 2014 referendum campaign, it was a kind of call to action.
“It wasn’t a literal statement. It was a ‘this is a once in generation opportunity’. It’s a turn of phrase.”
The MSP added that he believed another referendum would take place “when there’s a significant polling majority that’s consistent, and it will be a confirmatory referendum”.
In December, it was revealed through polling from Norstat that support for Scottish independence was at its highest for four years, sitting at 54% when undecided voters were removed.
Polling for The National also found support for Scottish independence is four points stronger than support for the Union and that it would increase were Nigel Farage to become prime minister.