Now is not the time
Nicola Sturgeon ‘resets’ indyref2 timetabl following general election losses First Minister will look again at referendu once Brexit negotations conclude Vote on independence still ‘likely’ before 2021 and she insists SNP still has a mandate Tories dem
Nicola Sturgeon yesterday delayed her plans for an independence referendum but remained confident of holding a second vote before 2021.
The First Minister underlined her commitment to indyref2 but conceded the timetable should slip following the SNP’S poor general election.
Addressing Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said she would not introduce her Referendumbill“immediately” following the loss of 21 SNP seats. Instead she would take stock in autumn next year on how and when to proceed.
The “reset” of her referendum timescale means her original plan to hold a vote between autumn next year and spring 2019 will not be met. Ms Sturgeon’s revised timetable will not see a vote held until
after Brexit negotiations are concluded. But the revision is still in line with her ambition to hold indyref2 in this parliament, although the vote would require permission from the UK government through a Section 30 order.
Last night Ms Sturgeon told STV News that Brexit would probably “come to a conclusion” before the 2021 Scottish election, adding that “common sense” would say it was “likely” a vote would be held before then.
Inthemeantime,shepledged to work to grow the independence movement and influence the Brexit process to protect Scotland’s interests.
As Ms Sturgeon informed Holyrood of her plans, the SNP infuriated the pro-union parties by launching a new campaigning website – mobilise. scot – seeking funds and support for the independence movement.
At Holyrood, the SNP leader said: “It remains my view and the position of this government that at the end of the Brexit process the people of Scotland should have a choice about our future direction as a country.
“Indeed the implications of Brexit are so potentially far reaching that as they become clearer I think people will increasingly demand that choice.”
The First Minister added that she wanted to “reassure” people that her proposal was “not for a referendum now” but was to give them a choice at the end of the Brexit process when there was “clarity” about the options.
She said she would “reset” proposals laid out in March when she said a vote should be held between autumn next year and spring 2019.
“We will not seek to introduce the legislation for an independence referendum immediately,” Ms Sturgeon said. “Instead, we will – in good faith – redouble our efforts and put our shoulder to the wheel in seeking to influence the Brexit talks in a way that protects Scotland’s interests.
“Then at the end of this period of negotiation with the EU – likely to be around next autumn – when the terms of Brexit will be clearer, we will come back to Parliament to set out our judgment on the best way forward at that time, including the time-scale for offering people a choice over the country’s future.”
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said Ms Sturgeon should rule out a referendum for this parliament “at least”.
“The issue we have had this last year has been with a First Minister who tried to use the UK’S decision to leave the EU to impose another referendum on Scotland at the earliest opportunity,” Ms Davidson said. “No once in a generation, no Edinburgh Agreement of respecting the result, just a single-visioned drive to the line for Nicola Sturgeon to try to secure her place in history.
“Today’s statement fails to give people any assurance that the First Minister has been listening. Instead, she appears to be in denial about her mistakes over this last year and, as a result, is leaking credibility and confidence in her leadership by the hour. Her response hasn’t been to reflect. It’s been simply to lash out at the UK at every opportunity and to sing the same old songs in the same old tune.
“She now claims to be putting the referendum to one side. She should just give the country some certainty and take it off the table for the rest of this parliament at least.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale claimed indyref2 was “dead”.
“Nicola Sturgeon claims she has heard the views of the people and that she’s reflected on the result of the general election and her incredulous conclusion is to double down and continue with her campaign for independence,” said Ms Dugdale.
“But the truth is the threat of an unwanted second independence referendum is dead. And this didn’t happen because Nicola Sturgeon wanted it to; the people of Scotland have taken that decision for her.”
Ms Sturgeon was criticised from a different direction by her fellow independence supporter–thegreenmsppatrick Harvie. Mr Harvie claimed the delay would see the Scottish people “denied the right to make their own choice until long after we leave the EU”.
Both Ms Davidson and Ms Dugdale expressed alarm when the SNP’S mobilise.scot fund-raising website was drawn to their attention
Ms Dugdale said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s brazen attempt to deceive the Scottish people over her plans for a second independence referendum has been exposed within hours.”