Westminster would not block IndyRef2 if Holyrood in favour, says Sturgeon
April 9, 2021, 10:25 am

Westminster would not block IndyRef2 if Holyrood in favour, says Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon campaigning in Glasgow for next month’s Scottish parliamentary elections.

SNP leader says government accepts it cannot stop referendum if there is majority for independence in Scottish elections

The UK government accepts that if there is a majority for independence in May’s Holyrood elections it cannot continue to stand in the way of a second independence referendum, Nicola Sturgeon has suggested.

Speaking to members of the Scottish Parliamentary Journalists’ Association, the SNP leader and first minister said: “I strongly suspect, based on some of what I hear that is under discussion in the depths of the Tory party and Whitehall at the moment, that they know an independence referendum is coming.”

Boris Johnson has consistently said he will refuse any request for the transfer of powers necessary to hold a second referendum to Holyrood, regardless of whether the SNP wins an overall majority or forms a government with the pro-independence Greens on 6 May.

Sturgeon added: “That’s why a lot of the talk coming out of those quarters right now is about how they would start to think about rigging the question or rigging the franchises, if there’s a majority for an independence referendum.”

Asked what her position would be if Johnson refused the requisite powers again, she said: “We would take the legislation through Holyrood and if Boris Johnson wanted to stop that he would presumably have to try to legally challenge that, in which case we would vigorously defend our position. But that would be an absurd position for a prime minister to get himself into in the face of a democratic majority.”

Sturgeon has already ruled out any post-election arrangement with Alex Salmond’s newly-formed Alba party, which he claims could help secure a pro-independence “super-majority” by picking up votes on the regional lists from SNP supporters.

Describing the term as “daft rhetoric”, Sturgeon said: “Can we knock on the head this idea for some requirement for a ‘super-majority’. What is needed is a simple majority of MSPs who back a referendum.”

Dismissing Salmond’s recently suggested tactics of legal action, mass demonstrations or unauthorised plebiscites as “not credible”, she went on: “The way we overcome Westminster opposition to a referendum, helpfully, is also the way we win the referendum, which is continuing to persuade people, to win people’s confidence and trust, and build that majority support for independence.”

“That’s what the SNP under my leadership has actually been doing over the past couple of years. We now have a situation where a bad poll for yes is one that shows yes support at or slightly above 50%. That’s a pretty good sign of progress.”

She added that, while she understood the appeal of alternative routes to those who wanted independence as quickly as possible, “my job and my duty as SNP leader and as first minister is not just to tell people the easy things that they want to hear”.

source: Libby Brooks

Levant

People in England told they can ‘start to think’ about summer holidays Woman rejected for settled status despite living in UK for 17 years

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.