Second independence referendum could happen if support becomes 'overwhelming', Michael Gove says

A second independence referendum could happen if support becomes “overwhelming”, Michael Gove has said.

The former Tory minister insisted he didn’t think another referendum was necessary, but suggested the UK Government may have to change its approach if support for a second vote grew.

Appearing on the BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Mr Gove also defended the decision by then-Scottish Secretary Alister Jack to block Scotland's gender reforms.

He said: "I think if there's an overwhelming desire on the part of the Scottish people for one then we'd have to review the situation then.

"It's not for me, ultimately it's for the Westminster Government to decide that.

"They've got the daily responsibilities."

Mr Gove denied that this was anti-democratic and insisted that Scotland had "more important" issues to deal with. He argued any second independence vote was now linked to the SNP's ability to improve public services.

He said: "If, for the sake of argument, the SNP make all of those decisions in government in a way that gives people confidence in them then we might be in a different position [on a second referendum]".

Mr Gove also discussed the decision by the UK Government to use a Section 35 order to block the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, the bill that aimed to simplify the process for transgender people in Scotland to change their legal gender.

Soon to join the House of Lords as Lord Gove of Torry, Mr Gove had chaired the Cabinet sub-committee that took the decision to block the Holyrood Bill.

Former Scotland secretary Alister Jack was praised by Michael Gove

He said: "Alister Jack was ultimately the individual who had to take that decision and give effect to it.

"I think it was absolutely the right decision, and I think it's been vindicated by subsequent events."

“Defending women's rights, and defending the principle that biological sex is the basis on deciding who is a man and who is a woman, I think that was absolutely the right thing to do.

"It's there in the Scotland Act because at the time that devolution was legislated for it was clear that there needed to be a failsafe power in order to ensure that the overall rights of everyone in the United Kingdom could be protected."

Mr Gove stressed that the Section 35 provision must remain a "fail safe power" that is "used sparingly".

Responding, SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown MSP claimed denying Scotland a second vote cannot go on “forever”.

He said: “After denying a referendum to Scotland in the face of multiple pro-independence majorities while in Government, I welcome that Michael Gove has at long last seen sense and is now backing the right of the Scottish people to determine their own future.

“After the broken promises of 2014, Brexit, Boris, Labour’s disastrous term in Government, and now the rise of Farage, people want the real change that only independence can bring.

“This comment shows that even former ministers like Michael Gove know that the current unionist plan - of denying Scotland the right to decide on independence regardless of the circumstances - cannot go on forever.”