Johnson changes tune over SNP IndyRef2 bid
Party conference told SNP ‘not invincible’
BORIS Johnson yesterday changed his tune on IndyRef2 – stepping back from ruling it out but insisting it was “the last thing” Scots want.
The Tory Prime Minister was speaking during his Scottish Party’s virtual spring conference, where he also said the SNP is “not invincible”. During the 2019 general election campaign, Johnson “ruled out” a second referendum and said he would not risk “destroying” the UK. But yesterday he did not definitely rule one out but said that for Scots to go through another campaign in the midst of rebuilding after Covid was “the last thing they need right now”. He called on Tory activists to make the SNP listen to voters’ priorities. He said: “They are intent on pushing for a referendum, regardless of the cost to Scotland and the whole of the UK. So that means it falls to the Scottish Conservatives to make them listen.”
Johnson has been buoyed by UK-wide polling showing that he is enjoying a vaccine bounce and a 10-point lead over Labour.
In Scotland, a run of polls giving a majority for independence have been overtaken by figures showing a slim majority for the Union.
There are also signs of SNP support slipping against the backdrop of infighting over the Alex Salmond inquiry and claims of a cover-up of sexual harassment complaints against two SNP MPs at Westminster. Johnson weighed his speech with the achievements of the UK vaccine rollout and the billions of pounds of support that has been given to Scotland during lockdown through furlough wages and direct support to the Scottish Government.
He added: “I just find it incredible then that the SNP would choose this moment to again push their campaign for separation.
“Just when everything is beginning to reopen again, when we will soon be reunited with our friends and family, the SNP think that this is the time to turn us against one another.”
Responding to the speech, Labour’s Anas Sarwar said: “Boris Johnson’s Conservatives want to take us back to the old divisive arguments.
“They want us to argue with each other rather than focus on the priorities of the Scottish people – creating jobs, a comeback plan for education and rebuilding our NHS.
“Only Scottish Labour is going into this election with a focus on national recovery and uniting our country.”