SNP are not dodging talk of Indyref2, says Sturgeon

Election: Rivals accuse first minister

Nicola Sturgeon says opposition claims that she is avoiding talking about independence during the general election campaign are “ridiculous”.

The SNP leader said June 8 is about electing “strong voices” to fight Scotland’s corner at Westminster.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has said Ms Sturgeon risks becoming a “laughing stock” by distancing her campaign from a drive for a second vote on leaving the UK.

The first minister’s spokesman has said it is unlikely Ms Sturgeon would outline her next steps towards another referendum by the spring of 2019 before the general election.

She had planned to update Holyrood on her plans after Easter, following the rejection by the UK Government of her request for powers to hold a vote.

Ms Davidson accused the first minister of seeking to “play down” the issue of independence.

“The reason is obvious: as always with the SNP, they desperately try to play down independence in an election campaign because they know it’s unpopular,” she said.

“Her claim earlier this week that her campaign isn’t about independence is a joke. But her refusal to set out her position clearly before

“Her refusal to set out her position is deadly serious”

we vote is deadly serious.”

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said it was a sign the SNP leader was aware a second referendum was “absolutely tanking” with the public.

Speaking at a campaign event in Stirling for the local elections on May 4, Ms Sturgeon dismissed claims she was avoiding the topic of independence.

“My opponents are ridiculous. They go from accusing me of talking about independence too much to accusing me of not talking about it enough,” she said. “The issue at this election campaign is quite clear – how do we make sure we have strong voices arguing Scotland’s corner at Westminster and also backing our Scottish Parliament.

“On independence, the mandate that we sought and won last year in the Scottish election is there, the Scottish Parliament has now voted to back that mandate, so the question in this election is do we allow the Tories to determine who chooses Scotland’s future or do we send a clear message that it should be our parliament and the people of Scotland who determine Scotland’s future?”

Ms Sturgeon, who has identified the general election as a “two-horse race” between the SNP and the Tories in Scotland, also moved to frame the vote as a choice between Theresa May’s party at Westminster and the Scottish Parliament.

“If you vote Tory, you are voting to strengthen the hand of Theresa May, to impose more austerity, more cuts,” she said.

“We need to back our own parliament as well.

“This election, in many ways, is a choice between the kind of country we want Scotland to be.

“Is it one determined by an increasingly right-wing Tory party or is it one determined and shaped by our democratically-elected parliament here in Scotland?

“That’s the choice.”

LIP SERVICE? Nicola Sturgeon, on the campaign trail in Stirling, denies she is avoiding the referendum issue