In addition, she observed that ―the EU itself has not been giving out clear 11 messages.‖ With regard to whether the result of the referendum constituted a trigger, she expressed the view that, ―I think that we are all clear that the referendum is advisory, and that if Parliament chose not to act on it, it would not 12 have to.‖ 7 European and External Relations Committee The EU referendum result and its implications for Scotland: Initial Evidence, 1st Report, 2016 (Session 5) 26.