Sturgeon: ‘Must do better on education’
● Independent Scotland would need ‘phased’ Euro approach ● Central argument for indyref2 is lost, opponents claim
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has admitted Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence is not focusing enough on reading and writing and needs reform.
Ms Sturgeon insisted yesterday that she still wanted to be judged on her record on education and promised that standards would rise by the next election.
But opposition parties said the SNP were presiding over a “lost generation” who could not wait five years for the government to bring up standards.
Ms Sturgeon said: “I’m focused on improving these areas that we need to improve.”
Nicola Sturgeon has admitted an independent Scotland may need to join the European Free Trade Association (Efta) as part of a “phased” approach to rejoining the EU, prompting claims she had fatally undermined the case for a second independence referendum.
The First Minister said Scotland might have to pursue membership of the free trade bloc “by necessity” before reapplying for full membership of the EU.
The SNP leader told the BBC’S Andrew Marr Show that she remained in favour of full EU membership but suggested the Nationalists will not set out clear positions on key questions affecting an independent Scotland, such as Europe and the currency, in their general election manifesto.
Critics said Ms Sturgeon was asking voters to back calls for indyref2 in response to Brexit without knowing what it would mean and accused her of watering down the SNP’S stance on Europe out of fear the party could lose seats to the Tories in pro-brexit constituencies.
She said: “If Scotland is independent our position always has been, as long as I’ve been in the SNP and continues to be, that we want Scotland to be a full member of the European Union.
“We don’t want to go into the euro and no member of the EU can be forced into the euro.”
But she added: “Now we have to set out, if we’re in an independence referendum – and we’re not in that right now – the process for regaining or retaining, depending on where we are in the Brexit process, EU membership.
“Now it may be that we have a phased approach to that by necessity.”
Last year the Scottish Government put forward proposals to allow Scotland as part of the UK to join Efta and the European Economic Area and stay in the single market after Brexit, but UK Brexit Secretary David Davis said the proposals would “not be deliverable”.
Ms Sturgeon will today tell voters that an SNP victory will force Theresa May to give the Scottish Government a seat in Brexit talks. She is expected to argue the election is about “strengthening Scotland’s hand in Brexit negotiations and strengthening our right to take our own decisions.”
Jackson Carlaw, Scottish Conservative deputy leader, said Ms Sturgeon’s position on Europe had “descended into complete chaos”.
He said: “She claims we must have a referendum on independence because we’re leaving the EU. Now, in a cynical attempt to win back Leave voters who have deserted the SNP, she refuses to say whether an independent Scotland would go back in.
“And her flirtation with Efta would leave us with all the obligations but no voice in decision-making.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: “Nicola Sturgeon claims Scotland must leave the UK because of Brexit but won’t even commit to rejoining the EU straight away.
“People in Scotland can see through Nicola Sturgeon’s contortions on Europe, which is why a majority don’t want another divisive referendum.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said Ms Sturgeon was “selling out pro-europeans to win back Brexit supporters”.