SNP accused of planning new vote on independence

THE SNP has been accused of laying the groundwork for a second referendum less than a year after Scots rejected independence.

Margaret Ferrier, the Nationalist MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, tabled two parliamentary questions asking the Government how it would respond if a party that wants a second referendum wins a majority in next May’s Scottish Parliament election.

This month an opinion poll put support for the SNP at 60 per cent in the constituency vote for the Holyrood election, 40 points ahead of Labour.

It is widely expected that Nicola Sturgeon’s manifesto for next year’s elections will include a pledge to hold another referendum if there is a “material change” in circumstances.

However, David Cameron would have to agree to another vote being staged as constitutional matters are reserved to Westminster and the Prime Minister believes that last year’s vote settled the issue.

Ms Sturgeon and Alex Salmond have promised that last year’s vote would settle the issue for a generation.

John Lamont, the Scottish Conservative Chief Whip, said: “People don’t want to be put through another twoyear campaign on this matter.”

An SNP spokesman said: “The First Minister has made clear we are not planning another referendum, but equally has made it clear that it is not in the gift of any politician and party to rule it out indefinitely.”

Alex Salmond has been accused of ignoring the Scottish Parliament after it emerged he has spoken there only once since being elected as an MP in May’s general election. By contrast he was spoken 180 times in the Commons since then, and the Tories said this suggested he preferred Westminster.