Sturgeon vows SNP won’t ‘sugar-coat’ independence

Politics: First minister expects policy report to be ‘frank but positive’

The SNP will not “sugar-coat” independence when it sets out its new economic case for separation this week, Nicola Sturgeon says.

The first minister insisted yesterday they will be “frank about the challenges” of a Scottish breakaway, on the day some of the UK’s most senior politicians gathered in London to champion the Union.

Michael Gove, the environment secretary, claimed Brexit has strengthened the bond between the home nations, during a policy exchange conference.

Ms Sturgeon said on Sunday she will “restart the debate” on independence, ahead of the publication of the longawaited Growth Commission report on Friday.

The commission is to make recommendations on the monetary policy for an independent Scotland, as well as the transitional costs and benefits associated with independence.

Speaking in Glasgow ahead of a cabinet meeting yesterday, the first minister said: “I expect it to be a very positive report, not sugar-coated.

“It will, I hope, be frank about the challenges we face as a country, but also very positive about how independence can equip us to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of the future, and I think that will be quite refreshing in Scotland because the last couple of years have been very much focused on how we limit the damage of Brexit.” Meanwhile, major players from 2014’s No campaign spoke at a pro-Union conference in London.

They included Better Together chief Lord Darling, former Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy and Ruth Davidson.

The Scottish Conservative leader said some UK ministerial visits have taken on “the appearance of state visits to a foreign nation”, with London politicians seeing Scotland as “other to the UK”.

“All the evidence shows most Scots don’t want to go back to yet more constitutional division,” she said.

“They just want the UK state to act in a manner which respects their interests and seeks to make life better for us all.”

Mr Gove told the conference: “Brexit has, certainly so far, strengthened unionist currency in our politics, not weakened it.

“Since the vote to leave the European Union in 2016, support for Scotland leaving the UK has diminished.”

Picture: PA. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with Brody Downs, left, and Darci Kerr from Bridgeton family centre visiting the Cuningar Loop as she announced new investment for the Clyde Gateway regeneration programme.