Swinney: Indyref is ‘priority’

NICOLA Sturgeon’s deputy has been branded ‘grossly irresponsible’ after he claimed another independence referendum is an ‘essential priority’.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney insisted that the battle against the coronavirus pandemic should not stop plans for another vote on Scotland’s place in the UK.

But Pamela Nash, of Scotland in Union, said: ‘These are grossly irresponsible remarks and an insult to all those working to bring people together in the face of this pandemic.

Polls show that people do not think another divisive referendum is a priority, with only 11 per cent of Scots choosing it among the most important issues facing Scotland. No responsible politician would even contemplate a second referendum when the entire focus should be on rebuilding our economy and public services.’

Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Dean Lockhart said: ‘It beggars belief that John Swinney feels another divisive independence referendum is a priority for Scotland while we are continuing to deal with a global pandemic.

‘The SNP Government must be fully focused on ensuring the vaccine programme is successfully rolled out as it is what is giving people hope right now.

‘That’s where the Deputy First Minister’s priorities for Scotland should be rather than dragging the country back to the divisions of the past.’

Miss Sturgeon has said a clear commitment to an independence referendum will be within the SNP’s manifesto for May’s election.

Speaking on the BBC’s Politics Scotland programme yesterday, Mr Swinney said: ‘An independence referendum is an essential priority for the people of Scotland, because it gives us the opportunity to choose how we rebuild as a country from Covid.

‘It would give us an opportunity to decide on our constitutional future and to determine the nature of our economy... it’s a critical response to Covid.’