Sturgeon’s indyref bid hit as Salmond fallout takes its toll
NICOLA STURGEON would lose a referendum on Scottish independence, two new polls reveal, as more details emerged of her government’s botched court battle against Alex Salmond.
Support for independence has slipped below 50 per cent for the first time since last year amid the bitter war between the first minister and her predecessor.
A poll for The Sunday Times found a 51/49 per cent majority for ‘no’, while a Scotland On Sunday survey put the margin at 52/48.
It came as legal papers revealed Ms Sturgeon’s government continued to pursue the case against her former mentor, which it lost at a cost of more than £600,000, despite being warned it was unlikely to succeed.
The new documents, released to the Holyrood inquiry into the handling of sexual harassment complaints against Mr Salmond, show the legal advice was given on December 17, 2018 – several weeks before the government conceded in the judicial review of the process.
Scottish Conservatives warned Ms Sturgeon she faces a vote of no confidence after accusing her of knowingly wasting public money.
‘She must resign or we will seek to force her out,’ leader Douglas Ross said.
‘The disastrous decision to continue with this case after lawyers said it would lose has cost Scottish taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds.
‘Nicola Sturgeon charged on, knowing the case was doomed, and that is a clear breach of the ministerial code.’
Scottish parliamentary elections take place in May and Ms Sturgeon’s SNP has promised to hold an independence referendum if they win another majority.
The SNP said it was looking forward to the campaign and the latest polls should be ‘treated with caution’.