The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
SNP to unveil Indyref2 plans as Westminster group reshuffles pack Dundee MP dropped from frontbench Commons team
Nicola Sturgeon will “likely” outline her plans for a second independence referendum within the next fortnight.
It came as her former SNP depute leader Stewart Hosie was axed from the party’s Commons frontbench team.
The Dundee East MP was one of just four Nationalist MPs not to get a spokesperson job as new Westminster leader Ian Blackford reshuffled his team, but it is understood there is no animosity between the pair and there may be other parliamentary opportunities for Mr Hosie in the future.
He said: “This is a fresh start and I very much look forward to working with the team in the weeks and months ahead.”
North East Fife’s Stephen Gethins was promoted to foreign affairs, with Glenrothes representative Peter Grant taking his place as Europe spokesman.
Dunfermline and West Fife’s Douglas Chapman is the spokesman on defence procurement.
Perth and North Perthshire’s Pete Wishart retained his role as shadow leader of the House and will be the constitution spokesman, meaning one of the ministers he shadows will be Ian Duncan, who he defeated in the election but The Courier revealed is being made a lord and installed in the Scotland Office.
Earlier, the First Minister discussed another referendum with her Cabinet.
The topic had been off the table at last week’s meeting following the general election, where the SNP lost 21 Westminster seats and the party’s share of the vote tumbled by 13%.
She admitted the issue was “undoubtedly” a factor in the election result.
A spokesman for Ms Sturgeon said: “There was a discussion led by the First Minister on an independence referendum and related issues.
“That forms part of the process she laid out after the election and she will continue to consult with Government and party colleagues and will lay out her views on the way forward in due course.”
When asked if this would be before Holyrood breaks up for the summer recess on June 29, he stated: “I think it is likely before then.”
Ms Sturgeon declared in March that the Scottish Government wanted to hold another vote at some point between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, when details of the Brexit deal are known.
However, Scottish Secretary David Mundell has ruled out another vote until after the 2021 Holyrood election.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: “Nicola Sturgeon... now has to tell Scots what they want and need to hear – that plans for a second referendum on independence are unequivocally off the table.”