Why the Conservatives block a second Scottish referendum at their peril

Any sense that Scotland is being denied the right to self-determination by English Tories will alienate voters.

Protesters with Scottish Saltire flags attend a march organised by the grassroots organistaion All Under One Banner calling for Scottish independence in Glasgow on January 11, 2020. - Thousands of independence supporters were expected the march through the streets of Glasgow, despite a rally that was planned to conclude the event being cancelled after Met Office warnings of high winds. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

As far as England’s Tories are concerned, there won’t be a second Scottish independence referendum. David Cameron – who, with the paperback edition of his memoir to flog, has temporarily abandoned his post-power reticence – said yesterday that Boris Johnson should simply refuse to allow one.

As a somewhat daredevil prime minister, Cameron licensed three referendums, only two of which ripped the country apart. He at least managed to win the Scottish one, if by a narrower margin than expected.