Sturgeon urged to ‘give the UK some certainty’
Leader told to drop talk of new Scottish referendum
SCOTTISH FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon is facing calls to offer the country “some certainty” after refusing to take her threat of a second independence vote off the table.
Addressing the Scottish Parliament yesterday, the SNP leader revealed her plans for a referendum have been put on hold until Brexit talks are complete so she can focus on securing the best possible deal for the Scottish people.
However, she stated it was still her intention to offer voters “a choice over the country’s future” once the impact of Britain’s exit from the EU becomes clear.
And despite losing 21 seats at the General Election, she claimed the party’s mandate for a referendum was “beyond doubt”, suggesting it was purely a matter of deciding “when”.
The announcement met with criticism from the Scottish Conservative, Labour and Lib Dem leaders, who accused Ms Sturgeon of ignoring the message sent by voters on June 9 and adding to the uncertainty permeating British politics.
Labour’s Kezia Dugdale claimed any real threat of a second referendum was “dead”, while Tory MSP Ruth Davidson urged Ms Sturgeon to take the option “off the table” for the remainder of the Parliament.
“She should just give the country some certainty... most people simply don’t want this brought back any time soon,” Ms Davidson said. “None of the questions that are raised by Brexit are answered by ripping Scotland out of our own union of nations, our biggest market and our closest friends.
“She appears to be in denial about her mistakes over this last year. And as a result, [she] is leaking credibility and confidence in her leadership by the hour.”
The SNP won the Scottish Assembly’s backing for a second independence vote just weeks before Theresa May called an early election. At the time, Ms Sturgeon made it clear she would only hold the referendum once “the nature of the changes... made inevitable by Brexit become clear”.
Speaking on Tuesday, she indicated these plans had not changed, but in the meantime, she will “redouble” her efforts to secure the best possible Brexit deal for Scotland.
She added that she intends to build “maximum support” for the proposals her party set out at the end of 2016 – which argued for both the UK and Scotland to remain part of the European single market with “substantial new powers” for Holyrood. “There is no doubt that the Scottish Government has a mandate to offer the people of Scotland that choice within this term of Parliament,” she said. “The mandate we have is beyond doubt, but deciding exactly how and when to exercise it is a matter of judgment.”
Responding to the news, the Prime Minister echoed Ms Davidson’s calls for the plans to be dropped. “We have always been clear that now is not the time for a second independence referendum and that remains our position,” her spokesman added.
THERESA MAY has been urged not to forget the needs of Yorkshire as she defended her £1bn deal with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party to shore up her government.
West Yorkshire council leaders have written to the Prime Minister calling for progress on major transport schemes and devolution for the region.
The letter also includes a warning that important support for local businesses could end in the next two years unless more funding is made available.
Mrs May’s decision to make £1bn available to Northern Ireland in return for DUP support in the Commons triggered calls for similar treatment for other parts of the UK yesterday.
In their letter, sent while negotiations between the Conservatives and DUP were still ongoing, West Yorkshire’s council leaders said they were “concerned about the risk that Government’s focus will be on other parts of the United Kingdom and Brexit negotiations”.
The letter continued: “This would have the effect of further stalling progress in giving Yorkshire the tools it needs to prosper which will have direct economic effects, compounding the delays already caused by the General Election and complex local discussions.”
A ‘city deal’ struck with the Government three years ago paved the way for a range of programmes to help business including creating apprenticeships and improving skills.
The letter warns that those programmes will have to end by 2019 unless the Government provides the necessary funding.
It also demands progress on the delayed electrification of the trans-Pennine rail line connecting Leeds and Manchester and a timetable for the proposed upgrade of the Calder Valley line.
Doubts continue to hang over the Sheffield City Region devolution deal and no agreement has been reached covering the rest of Yorkshire, while other parts of the country have already elected new metro-mayors to wield powers previously held by the Government.
The council leaders ask Mrs May to commit to “do all that Government can to successfully conclude in 2017 discussions for devolution”.
The letter says: “We hope you will respond positively to this request so Yorkshire starts to be treated the same as the rest of the United Kingdom.”
In addition to the £1bn for health and infrastructure in Northern Ireland there will also be more flexibility over how £500m of previously allocated cash can be spent.
Commitments to drop Conservative manifesto plans to means test the winter fuel allowance and scrap the pensions triple lock will also have costs for the Treasury to bear.
Mrs May insisted all parts of the UK were benefiting from the Government’s approach to investment in the economy.
She said: “The Government recognises the importance of investing in all parts of the country.
“That’s what I want to ensure – a country that works for everyone and ensuring that we are seeing growth and prosperity spread across the whole country.”
The agreement with the DUP ensures its 10 MPs will vote with the Government on crucial measures including the Queen’s Speech and the Budget.
Labour claimed if the normal Government spending formula were applied to the deal it would mean an extra £68bn for the rest of the UK.
The Government has insisted the Barnett formula does not apply to this spending and that similar exemptions have previously been applied to deals with English regions.
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said: “We need to see an end to austerity throughout the UK, not just in Northern Ireland, and not just to prop up Theresa May and her failed Government.”
He added: “Labour’s fully-costed alternative programme of government stands ready to provide Britain with the leadership that will truly end austerity, and unite all nations and regions in our country.”
The Liberal Democrats produced figures suggesting £1bn would pay for an extra teacher in every school in the UK.
Lib Dem health spokeswoman Layla Moran said: “When it comes to the Tories clinging to power, it seems the magic money tree does exist after all.”