SNP ready to break its vow on a second referendum

A NATIONALIST MSP has said the party will break its ‘once in a generation’ promise and hold a second independence referendum if it wins the Scottish election next year.

The claim, in leaflets issued by Colin Keir, clashes with repeated assurances by Nicola Sturgeon that she is not plotting another separation bid.

But Scottish Secretary David Mundell has now demanded the First Minister come clean on her plans and warned the UK Government could block a referendum if she does not include an explicit commitment in her Scottish parliament manifesto.

Although polls have found the SNP has surged as high as 60 per cent for

‘It’s time to be honest about it’

next year’s Scottish election, they have also shown support for another referendum is low.

Before last year’s vote, Miss Sturgeon said it would be a once in a generation event, adding that meant about 15 years. But she has since hinted that a change in circumstances – such as the UK voting to leave the EU, while Scotland backs staying in – could trigger another poll.

Edinburgh Western MSP Mr Keir’s leaflet said: ‘ We need the maximum number of MSPs elected in 2016 to win a second independence referendum. To do this we need to re-elect Colin. He has a track record of fighting for the SNP and winning.’

But Mr Mundell urged the First Minister to be honest with voters before they go to the polls, saying: ‘ Using wording that allows maximum flexibility would hardly be capable of being held out as a mandate for a second referendum.

‘If you want a second referendum, be upfront and be honest with the people of Scotland that that is your priority ahead of how much tax they pay, what welfare benefits they get, what happens in our schools or hospitals. It’s time to be honest about it.’

He also said voters would judge the party if it breaks its word, especially after playing down talk of a referendum during the General Election campaign.

Scottish Tory l eader Ruth Davidson said: ‘It seems the once in a generation message has changed to holding a second referendum as soon as possible. People in Scotland voted decisively in September to stay in the UK – it’s time the SNP respected that result.’

An SNP spokesman said: ‘The timing of any future referendum is entirely a matter for the people of Scotland to decide – the people, not politicians, are in charge at every stage of the process.

‘The First Minister has made clear we are not planning another referendum, but equally has made it clear that it is not in the gift of any politician and party to rule it out indefinitely.

‘It is David Mundell who has not been honest. In the last, desperate days of the referendum, the No campaign prom- ised the people of Scotland powers for the Scottish parliament near to federalism but the Scotland Bill falls far short of that.’

David Cameron has insisted the independence question has been ‘settled’. ‘There isn’t going to be another referendum,’ he said after the General Election.

But Alex Salmond claimed the SNP could hold an unsanctioned vote if it is blocked by Westminster.