New deputy leader: party is ready for indyref2
THE SNP is “poised” to fight a second independence referendum, according to its deputy leader Angus Robertson. In the event of a snap vote being called the party would be in a strong enough position whenever that came, he claimed.
Robertson issued the rallying cry to independence supporters in an interview with the Sunday Herald after he was overwhelmingly elected as the SNP’s deputy leader at the party’s annual conference in Glasgow.
He said the SNP’s campaign HQ was “gearing up for all eventualities” in the coming months as the Brexit process continues.
Robertson, who is also the SNP leader at Westminster, is one of the party’s most influential figures and ran its successful Holyrood election campaigns in 2007 and 2011.
The Moray MP has been widely tipped as a likely candidate to be placed in charge of “indyref2”, although Robertson said he was “not aware of any decisions having been made” by Nicola Sturgeon about this.
However, Robertson hinted he would be prepared to take up the role on top of his position as deputy leader.
He said: “I will be happy to contribute and support all our campaigning efforts. I do have significant experience having been campaign director for the Scottish Parliament election in 2007, 2011 and the independence referendum, and will be happy to contribute again.”