SNP on EU ‘pitiful’

those who voted No – would help Sturgeon stay on this track.

A victory for Sheppard, on the other hand, would make that job much harder.

He wants a referendum sooner rather than later and would not be shy about coming forwards if he secures the number two post.

A rush to Indyref II would be a high-risk strategy for the party – Sturgeon does not want another vote before she knows she can win it.

Let’s be honest, a second failed attempt would really hammer the nails into the coffin, stagnating the cause, perhaps truly – as Alex Salmond indicated in 2014 – for a generation.

Additionally, there’s the dimension of a possible pact with Labour.

Over the summer, Corbyn ally Dave Anderson said his party “may well” have to consider some sort of arrangement with the SNP in order to form a government at Westminster.

The comments angered Scottish Labour and the newly re-elected UK leader has subsequently talked down the idea.

But a poll this week found one in three Labour voters in Scotland favour a deal if it keeps the Conservatives out of power.

So a win for Sheppard – whose historical ties with Labour are well-documented – would fuel speculation once again. THE Lib Dems have branded the SNP’s approach to EU talks “pitiful”.

Scottish Lib Dem business manager Mike Rumbles said Freedom of Information requests showed Mike Russell, the SNP’s Brexit Minister, had two dedicated members of staff and no guidance had yet been issued to civil servants.

Mr Rumbles said: “This is a pitiful response. The First Minister has told us that independence is a final option but she does not seem to be seriously pursuing any other goal.”