Corbyn won’t rule out second EU referendum

Nicola Sturgeon will decide whether to call a second independence referendum by the end of the year, the First Minister has confirmed.

She said that enough detail will be known about the terms of the UK’S Brexit deal by the autumn, allowing her to make a recommendation to the Scottish Parliament on whether to hold indyref2.

Speaking on the BBC’S Andrew Marr programme, she said: “At that point, what I’ve said is that we will look at that and determine at that stage if Scotland should then have the right to choose between whatever that new relationship with the UK is going to be or choosing to be an independent country.”

Asked if a decision would be made between October, when ratification of the UK’S ‘divorce deal’ from the EU is due to begin, and the end of 2018, Ms Sturgeon said: “That’s when I will be able to look at that and make a judgment

about what the next appropriate steps are for Scotland, and I will then report that to the Scottish Parliament and to the people of Scotland.”

Scottish Conservative MP John Lamont said: “Yet again, Nicola Sturgeon would rather focus on indyref2 than deal with the crises she has created in both health and education.

“Nicola Sturgeon has no interest in securing a successful Brexit deal, all she cares about is a second independence referendum.

“She has created a damaging distraction when her priority should be working with the UK government to get the right deal for Scotland and the whole of the UK.

“She should take the threat of a second independence referendum off the table... it is the last thing Scots want or need.”

Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn stopped short of ruling out a second referendum on EU membership once the Brexit terms are known. He insisted he was not calling for a new poll on withdrawal, but sidestepped questions on whether he could change his stance in the future.

The Labour leader told ITV’S Peston On Sunday: “We are not supporting or calling for a second referendum. What we have called for is a meaningful vote in Parliament.”

When it was put to Mr Corbyn that he was not saying he would never support another referendum, the Labour leader said: “We are not calling for one either.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: “It is instructive that leading Labour figures are keeping their options open on a vote on the final deal.”