Independence set to dominatecampaign
Political Correspondent INDEPENDENCE and a second referendum is set to dominate the coming General Election campaign.
As reported in home delivery editions of the Evening Times yesterday, Prime Minister Theresa May will ask MPs at Westminster to vote to approve an early election.
The election campaign is shaping up to be a battle of mandates as the deadlock between Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May shows no sign of being broken.
Nicola Sturgeon however accused the Prime Minister of a “huge miscalculation” in the ongoing row over mandates to hold or block a second referendum.
While Ms May is looking to increase her mandate for the Brexit negotiations, the First Minister said the election is an opportunity to bolster support for a second referendum and strengthen her mandate as First Minister to hold one.
Ms Sturgeon said: “This announcement is one of the most extraordinary U-turns in recent political history, and it shows that Theresa May is once again putting the interests of her party ahead of those of the country.
“She is clearly betting that the Tories can win a bigger majority in England given the utter disarray in the Labour Party.”
She said: “At this election, the choice again will be clear: a Tory Party intent on a hard and damaging Brexit; or a Labour Party that will oppose a second independence referendum and fight for a better future for everybody.”
The Scottish Tories said they were ready for a campaign and will campaign against a second referendum hoping to dent the SNP claim it has the support of the Scottish people for a second referendum.
Party leader Ruth Davidson, said: “We are organised, and we are optimistic about the prospect of increasing our number of seats.
“In Scotland, we will have a clear election message, only a vote for the Scottish Conservatives will ensure we get the strong leadership we need to get the best Brexit deal for the whole country.
“And only a vote for the Scottish Conservatives will send a strong message that we oppose SNP’s divisive plan for a second referendum.”
LibDem leader Willie Rennie said: “Our optimistic agenda is pro-UK, pro-EU and progressive.
“We stand with the majority opinion in this country.
“At this election we will stand proud for a United Kingdom within the European single market.
“We will avoid a disastrous hard Brexit and keep Britain united.”