Sturgeon ‘shamelessly flogging’ self-rule to EU

NICOLA STURGEON was yesterday accused of trying to “shamelessly flog Scottish independence” to the EU after wooing the bloc in a German newspaper article.

Writing in Die Welt, the First Minister argued there was no contradiction between her “stated desire for solidarity” with the European Union and her dream of leaving the UK.

She said the UK Government was “determined to turn its back on cooperation, consensus and solidarity” but the EU was a “partnership of equals where decisions require consent and often unanimity from members”. She also launched an attack on the Government’s Brexit negotiating stance, accusing ito fan“utterly reckless” determination to leave with no deal.

She said its approach ran “entirely counter to the Scottish Government’s vision for our country” and her government had concluded that “the best future for our country is as an independent nation within the EU”. Her article appeared the day after an opinion poll showed support for independence at a record 58 per cent, prompting the SNP to claim that separation was Scots’ “settled will”.

Although she emphasised she did not want a border in Ireland, Ms Sturgeon did not address warnings that a separate Scotland in the EU with the UK outside would require a border with England.

The article also did not mention Scotland’s public spending deficit even before the pandemic. It was 8.6 per cent of GDP last year – nearly three times the 3 per cent limit for EU membership.

Dean Lockhart, the Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman, said: “In the middle of a global pandemic, Scottish people will be downright furious that Nicola Sturgeon thinks it’s a good use of her time to shamelessly flog Scottish independence in Germany.”