They work for you

I feel like we have arrived on the set of the film Groundhog Day.

Here we go again. All aboard the independence referendum merry go round.

Nicola Sturgeon has now announced that her government will consult on a bill proposing a second independence referendum.

We don’t need another independence referendum.

People in Scotland can’t get GP appointments, parents are seeing teachers numbers cut in schools and passengers are standing at railway stations where the trains do not turn up on time.

Even some within Ms Sturgeon’s own party have counselled against holding a referendum now.

This was the view put across at the weekend by former SNP leader Gordon Wilson.

Former cabinet ministers Alex Neil and Kenny McAskill have also urged caution.

Nicola Sturgeon clearly feels the pressure by some of the fervent yes supporters in the SNP camp who have never been able to accept the result of the 2014 vote.

This could prove to be a high risk strategy.

We saw what happened to David Cameron when he pursued an EU referendum to appease some within his party ranks.

Nicola Sturgeon could end up paying the same price.

The reality is that Scotland spends £15bn more than we take in on taxes.

The idea that we can build a better health service, get more young people into colleges and support local bus services with a £15bn black hole in our finances is just not on.

The trigger for this latest push for indyref2 has been the implications of Brexit.

I want a strong deal for Scotland within the EU protecting workers rights and the EU funding that is so much needed in local communities across Scotland.

However, you cannot argue that we need the protection of the EU to pool and share resources but then think it is of benefit to rip Scotland out of the UK.

This would only make the position worse and place Scotland in a more vulnerable position.

The Scottish Parliament is soon to discuss the draft budget for next year.

This will be the most significant budget in the history of the Scottish Parliament given the range of new financial powers.

This should be occupying the government’s mind.

It is time for the SNP to concentrate on the day job instead of the diversion of an independence referendum.