Unlikely alliance agrees over second independence vote Pro-UK politicians and former SNP leader share views

A second independence referendum is unlikely to, and should not, take place anytime soon, an unlikely alliance of proUK politicians and a former SNP leader have said.

Alistair Darling, who led the Better Together campaign, said he does not believe that Nicola Sturgeon will hold a second independence referendum “any time soon” because she does not think she would win.

One of her predecessors as boss of the Nationalists, Dundee-based Gordon Wilson, argued that a quick vote could be a miscalculation by the First Minister.

Their views came as the Conservatives’ constitution spokesman, Adam Tomkins, suggested the UK Government may delay a return to the polls until after its Brexit deal is agreed and Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale claimed “the idea that independence is going to bring any security to Scotland is just farcical”.

Former Labour Chancellor Lord Darling said talking about the constitution was a “smokescreen” distracting from domestic challenges for the SNP.

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on a new draft Referendum Bill, with Ms Sturgeon insisting voters north of the border should be given the chance to consider the issue afresh after the Brexit vote.

The SNP leader has said Scots should have the ability to reconsider independence in light of the Brexit vote, and to do so before the UK leaves the EU.

But Lord Darling told Scotland on Sunday: “I think everybody knows that if she thought she could win now she would hold a referendum tomorrow.”

And Mr Wilson, who led the party from 1979 to 1990, said the Yes movement needs to be better prepared before the country votes again.

He told BBC’s Good Morning Scotland: “My own view is that a second independence referendum isn’t really on.”

Arguing that another referendum must be fair, clear, legal and decisive, Mr Tomkins told the Sunday Times: “To put no more than the outline of a Brexit deal still under negotiation to a vote against an independence offer would not be fair or clear.”

SNP depute leader Angus Robertson MP hit back: “It is clear that Alistair Darling is out of step with the majority of Scottish people as support for the SNP is at historically high levels and every opinion poll since the independence referendum in 2014 shows support for independence higher than the Yes vote.”

I think everybody knows that if she thought she could win now she would hold a referendum tomorrow