NEW REFERENDUM DEADLOCK
Party chiefs may look at Catalonia-style bid for independence if Indyref 2 demands fail
‘Damaging obsession’
NICOLA Sturgeon yesterday claimed a second independence referendum could be held before 2021 – despite Theresa May refusing to allow it to go ahead.
The First Minister said another vote was ‘possible’ before the next Holyrood election, as senior SNP figures suggested it will happen even if Mrs May does not give consent.
The SNP leader yesterday insisted she still has a mandate to hold a referendum.
But a series of polls published in recent days suggests there has been no significant upturn in support for her bid to break up Britain.
Mrs May’s official spokesman yesterday reasserted that the Prime Minister will not allow a rerun of the 2014 vote.
But a series of SNP figures – including the party’s Brexit Secretary – yesterday suggested that alternative ways to bring about independence are being considered.
The First Minister will address the issue in her keynote address to the SNP conference in Glasgow today.
She is under growing pressure from within the party to speed up her timetable for another referendum.
Asked by STV News yesterday if another independence vote could happen in this parliamentary term, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘By definition, because I haven’t taken the decision, anything – including that – is still possible.’
Pressed on whether it could take place before 2021, she said: ‘Of course that’s still possible. Of course, the other point that should be made is that there is a mandate for that within this parliament.’
In her speech today, Miss Sturgeon will reiterate that she believes Scotland will one day become independent.
She will say: ‘The Westminster Government stumbles from day to day and disaster to disaster. It’s hard to watch that unfolding calamity and feel anything other than despair. So it is up to us – now more than ever – to offer optimism and hope.
‘Just think how much more hope will be possible when we take Scotland’s future into Scotland’s hands and become an independent country. An independent Scotland, just as Scotland is now, will be a beacon for progressive values – equality, opportunity, diversity and fairness.
‘Indeed those values feel more important today than ever before in my lifetime.’
When Miss Sturgeon last year called for another referendum, Mrs May refused to give her the power to hold one – and the SNP’s vote then slumped at the general election.
Yesterday, Mrs May’s spokesman said: ‘Scotland already had an independence referendum just four years ago and voted decisively to remain in the UK. This should be respected.
‘As the Prime Minister has said, now is not the time for a second independence referendum, now is the time for the United Kingdom to be pulling together to get the right deal for the United Kingdom and the right deal for Scotland in our [Brexit] negotiations.’
However, senior SNP figures claimed they would not accept another refusal from Downing Street.
It opens up the prospect of the party considering alternatives such as a Catalonia-style illegal referendum or declaring independence if the party wins a majority in a general election following a manifesto commitment on the issue.
At a conference fringe event yesterday, Brexit Secretary Michael Russell was asked about the latter scenario.
He said: ‘The SNP’s view of this is there should be a referendum. That’s been our policy for a long time. But if the Unionist parties then say, “You can’t have a referendum”... then there has to be discussions about what happens next.’
Pamela Nash, chief executive of the Scotland in Union campaign group, said: ‘This is yet more evidence that the SNP is determined to ignore the views of Scotland in its relentless pursuit of independence.
‘People don’t want a divisive and unnecessary second independence referendum, so senior SNP figures are desperately trying to find a dangerous alternative route to Scottish independence.
‘Their obsession is incredibly damaging for the country and it’s time the SNP got back to the day job.’
Scottish Conservative chief whip Maurice Golden said: ‘When it comes to Scotland’s future, everyone in the SNP has an opinion but nobody has a plan. All the while, Scotland’s schools are going backwards, waiting times are being missed, and the economy is in the slow lane.
‘Nicola Sturgeon can show leadership today by doing the right thing, and taking a second referendum off the table.’
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