Labour at war over new poll position
towards IndyRef2 – but the party still officially opposes the move in 2020.
Sturgeon also promised to use what powers Holyrood has to fix problems developing on her own watch. She said: “Independence is not an end in itself.
“It is all about building a fairer and more prosperous country and so we will do everything we can to achieve that with the powers we have.
“We must tackle child poverty, protect our NHS and help it overcome the challenges of rising demand – and we must support an open, innovative and export orientated economy.”
Unionist figures claim the 45 per cent vote share and clear majority of seats in Scotland does not give the SNP the right to ask for another vote.
The Tory vote share across the UK was 44 per cent, which Johnson is using to push ahead with Brexit.
Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw said: “What this election has confirmed beyond doubt or debate is that the whole of the United Kingdom together will be leaving the European Union at the end of next month.
“The campaign to stop it happening has failed, our departure is going ahead and the result of the 2016 UK referendum will be respected.”
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie questioned whether all SNP voters wanted IndyRef2 in an election on Johnson and Brexit.
He said: “Surely the First Minister must see that the country has had enough of the division, that we need to learn the lessons of Brexit, not repeat them with independence. She failed to persuade even half of those who voted that there should be another referendum.”
Greens leader Patrick Harvie backed the SNP’s call for another vote.
BY PAUL HUTCHEON
SCOTTISH Labour has renewed its opposition to IndyRef2, amid growing splits on whether the party should back a second referendum.
They will line up against SNP Government legislation tomorrow, which sets out the rules for another independence vote.
Richard Leonard’s party softened its stance on IndyRef2 during the General Election by saying a Labour Government would not block a referendum.
The switch was an attempt to woo left-wing Yes supporters but Labour ended up losing six of its seven seats.
The reverse led to some senior party figures arguing the party should move even closer to backing IndyRef2.
Health Secretary Monica Lennon insisted it should be Holyrood, not the UK Government, that should have the final say on a referendum, a view backed up by ex-MP Ged Killen.
Senior councillor Alison Evison went further, saying IndyRef2 should happen.
The calls sparked a backlash among other Labour MSPs, including Anas Sarwar, Colin Smyth and Daniel Johnson, who believe their party should robustly oppose IndyRef2.
Sarwar said: “Rather than making rash pronouncements on IndyRef2, I think we need a genuine period of reflection and some humility from those who led us to our worst EU election result and worst General Election result in living memory.”
At a meeting yesterday, Labour MSPs agreed to oppose a referendum framework bill.
A spokesman said: “Scottish Labour will oppose the Referendums bill. We opposed it at stage one and continue to do so.”