Sturgeon fires starting gun on indyref2 drive

First Minister mobilises SNP faithful to help convert No voters

Nicola Sturgeon has fired the starting gun for a second independence referendum by ordering a mass mobilisation of SNP politicians and activists to champion secession from the UK.

The First Minister leapt on Theresa May’s decision to effectively rule out the UK remaining in the EU’s single market as she pitched independence at the forefront of a campaign to save Scotland’s links with Brussels.

Branded the “biggest listening exercise” in the party’s history, the long-awaited push to win over No voters aims to connect with two million people in Scotland within three months – on the streets, in town hall events and online.

Speaking to her party colleagues in Stirling, she said: “Today, we are launching – as the first phase in our new independence initiative – the biggest listening exercise in our party’s history. It will run from now until St Andrew’s Day.

“We want to understand in detail how people feel now about Europe, Brexit and independence.

“We want to know the concerns that people have and the questions they want answered. We want to build, if we can, a consensus, on the way ahead.”

Ms Sturgeon has previously said indyref2 is “highly likely” – but not the starting point for her government’s efforts to save Scotland’s links with Brussels.

But she upped the ante for a re-run of the constitutional vote after Theresa May this week advocated a “hard” Brexit.

Ms Sturgeon said it is clear that “hardline Brexiteers really are running the show” in the UK Government.

She said she would not allow Scotland to be taken out of the single market “without a battle”, but predicted that support for independence will be “even higher if it becomes clear that it is the best or only way to protect our interests”.

Ms Sturgeon has previously admitted that there were flaws in the 2014 economic arguments, particularly around currency. She said the debate she starts today will be a new one in radically changed circumstances.

In Tayside and Fife, there will be a minimum of 19 public meetings as she called on every SNP parliamentarian to hold at least one live event to hear what concerns Scots have.

The SNP’s stated aim of the drive is to gather “a wealth of information and insight” so as to “inform the next stage of the campaign”.

As well as public events and the online national survey, the project includes sending all SNP members a pack of survey cards and asking them to interview at least 15 people about their thoughts on independence and Brexit.

A spokesman for the First Minister refused to say whether any data from the campaign would be published.

The First Minister also sought to prepare the Scottish economy for independence and to enable it to withstand the shocks from Brexit by setting up a new party growth commission, chaired by former MSP Andrew Wilson.

Part of its remit will be to consider how to “grow the economy and reduce Scotland’s deficit to a sustainable level”.

Picture: PA. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during her address to party colleagues in Stirling yesterday.