Call for Scottish Labour to back indyref2

Nicola Sturgeon has challenged Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard to “see the light” and change his position on a second independence referendum.

Mr Leonard yesterday criticised the Scottish Government for “watering down” commitments to eradicating fuel poverty which would hit Scottish pensioners. He also called for her to sign a joint letter to Theresa May asking her to ensure the over 75s would still get a free TV licence. He said: “The way we treat our elderly citizens is a mark of the kind of society we are. These are people, who have contributed all of their working lives. Yet too many of them are forced to choose between heating and eating. “First Minister, your target date to end fuel poverty was 2016. Now it is 2040. Does the First Minister appreciate the anger that will be felt by pensioners when they realise not just what the Tories are doing this week but what this government has done this week?”

But Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Labour leader was raising “reserved matters” and as such should back independence to allow the Scottish Government to “serve our pensioners”.

She said: “If Richard Leonard wants this government to have responsibility for all of these matters he will find I am the first to agree with him. Having reversed his position on a second EU referendum at the weekend, maybe he will now see the light and reverse his position on a second independence referendum.”