The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Nicola Sturgeon puts Indyref2 plans on hold.
Opposition parties claim nothing much has changed
Nicola Sturgeon dumped her bid for an independence referendum before Brexit as the SNP sought to mobilise support for leaving the UK.
The First Minister dropped the demand she made in March for a ballot between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, in a move she described as a “reset”.
She told MSPs she is backing down from introducing legislation laying the groundwork for referendum in the wake of the general election result.
But she kept independence firmly on the table by vowing to return to Holyrood in the latter part of next year to set out her Indyref2 plans once the terms of Brexit are clearer.
Senior allies said this would make it almost impossible to hold another vote within her original timeframe.
Opposition parties rounded on Ms Sturgeon for refusing to remove the threat of a referendum for at least five years.
As she delivered her ministerial statement, an SNP website dedicated to building support for independence was launched.
Ms Sturgeon said she believed that the implications for the economy and jobs from leaving the EU means Scots “will increasingly demand” a referendum.
She told Holyrood that “having listened and reflected, the Scottish Government will reset the plan I set out on March 13.
“We will not seek to introduce the legislation for an independence referendum immediately,” she said.
“Instead, we will – in good faith – redouble our efforts and put our shoulder to the wheel in seeking to influence the Brexit talks in a way that protects Scotland’s interests.”
She added: “At the end of this period of negotiation with the EU – likely to be around next autumn – when the terms of Brexit will be clearer, we will come back to parliament to set out our judgment on the best way forward at that time, including our view on the precise timescale for offering people a choice over the country’s future.”
Her long-awaited announcement comes after the SNP lost 21 seats in the general election.
Ms Sturgeon had called for a period of reflection on the result after she linked the disappointing June 8 performance with her government’s referendum bid.
Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader, said Ms Sturgeon was telling parliament she is resetting her plans while her party launches a new referendum campaign.”
She added: “Nicola Sturgeon could
NICOLA STURGEON
have used today to show she had listened to people across Scotland.
“Instead, she has shown she is determined to press ahead with her referendum no matter what people say.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: “Nicola Sturgeon claims she has heard the views of the people and that she’s reflected on the result of the general election.
“And her incredulous conclusion is to double down and continue with her campaign for independence.”
Patrick Harvie, co-convener of the Scottish Greens, said: “With this announcement the people of Scotland face being denied the right to make their own choice until long after we leave the EU.”
Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said Ms Sturgeon has not “budged an inch from the position she set out in a March”.
Wewillnot seek to introducethe legislation foran independence referendum immediately.