Sturgeon’s Indyref2 gamble

Sir, – As the final attempt to reach a postBrexit Scottish deal most likely fails in the House of Lords, events are progressing as Nicola Sturgeon had always hoped.

Since David Cameron announced the EU referendum, the prospect, then the reality of Brexit has been Ms Sturgeon’s most cherished Indyref2 trigger.

She ignores that Brexit means 134 new powers come to Holyrood for the first time. Ms Sturgeon’s focus is division so she concentrates on the additional 24 powers to be transferred gradually to preserve the integrity of the UK single market a market of no interest to the SNP politically yet vital to Scottish jobs.

As the SNP orchestrated drama moves to the Supreme Court, it seems likely the questionable Holyrood Continuity Bill will be deemed illegal, denying Holyrood authority over the contested powers.

Yet undeterred Ms Sturgeon will persist in using Brexit as a justification for Indyref2. Theresa May will of course repeat her ‘now is not the time’ mantra and bingo! Cue much SNP establishment faux outrage. Then, with opinion polls persistently against her, Ms Sturgeon achieves her goal – a grievance which she hopes will grant her a majority in the 2021 Holyrood election and Indyref2 by 2023. By then she hopes to persuade a few hundred thousand more of us that separating Scotland from our largest trading partner is sound economic sense. Martin Redfern. Woodcroft Road, Edinburgh.