Sturgeon patience plea to the faithful

Party leader sets out the case for waiting for ‘fog of Brexit’ to clear

Nicola Sturgeon has pleaded with the SNP faithful to be patient on independence while the “fog of Brexit” clears.

The First Minister used her conference speech to lay out a longer-term strategy to securing a breakaway that involves gently persuading No voters and waiting for the “disastrous” impact of the UK leaving the EU to hit home.

But critics accused her of dwelling on the constitution in yesterday’s speech and barely mentioning education, which she has stated as the defining mission of her premiership.

The SNP leader said independence is “clearly in sight”, while at the same time lowering expectations that a secession poll would happen in the short term.

“To those who say there is no demand for Scotland to have a choice over our future, I say the polls and the people are telling a different story,” she said.

“Our job is to take that passion and blend it with pragmatism, perseverance and patience to persuade those not yet persuaded.

“If we do that then, believe me, the momentum for independence will be unstoppable.”

Acknowledging rank-and-file

The last two years have shown why Scotland needs to be independent. NICOLA STURGEON

restlessness on Indyref2, she added: “As we wait – impatiently, at times, I know – for this phase of negotiations to conclude and for the fog of Brexit to clear, be in no doubt about this: the last two years have shown why Scotland needs to be independent, and I am more confident than ever that Scotland will be independent.”

Ms Sturgeon, who earlier this week described a referendum before 2021 as “still possible”, has said she will update the country on her independence plans when the terms of Brexit are clearer, which was originally expected to be this month.

The Glasgow gathering has been marked by suggestions from senior SNP figures for the party to consider ways of achieving independence other than the 2014 Westminster-sanctioned model.

Ms Sturgeon appeared to bolster those calls by telling UK parties they cannot refuse a vote on independence, although her official spokesman played down those suggestions after her address.

The Glasgow MSP told delegates: “You can oppose independence, that is your democratic right, but you cannot – and you will not – deny Scotland’s right to choose.”

Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells said: “Nicola Sturgeon asked her supporters to stay patient; the truth is that most people lost patience with the SNP a long time ago.

“Astonishingly, in a speech littered with references to independence, there was just a glancing reference to education. It was a staggering omission and it tells you all you need to know.”

Independence is in “clear sight”, Nicola Sturgeon told cheering SNP supporters. It was a clever turn of phrase. Telescopes allow you to observe other planets in clear sight but, much like an independence referendum, they are far away.

That was the message laid before party members in Glasgow as the First Minister tried to snuff out expectations of an early referendum, while at the same time winning their applause with triumphant declarations that independence is inevitable.

For every sentence in which she delivered a dose of reality on Indyref2 timing, one soon followed that gave her restless supporters an injection of hope that the breakaway is coming.

Any tension in the room from being told to hang back was soon overridden by an outburst of impending joy at being free from the shackles of Westminster.

Clearly, this SNP conference came too soon after the last one and too far from whatever Brexit clarity the SNP leader is waiting for.

There was not much new for the party to say on independence or even on dayto-day policy.

In their last conference in June, the plea to the Yes movement was for patience.

Just a few months later the message has not changed.

The next conference, which normally happens in the spring, comes just before the Brexit departure date.

Ms Sturgeon really will be testing the patience of her rank-and-file if they are made to sit tight again.

GARETH McPHERSON ANALYSIS