Sturgeon: Court ‘galvanised’ drive for independence
The Supreme Court’s judgment has “galvanised” the Scottish independence movement, Nicola Sturgeon will say as she accuses opposition parties of making a “catastrophic miscalculation”.
The court ruled this week that the Scottish Parliament cannot legally legislate to stage a second referendum without the approval of Westminster.
First Minister Ms Sturgeon has since set out plans to use the next general election, to be held no later than January 2025, as a de facto referendum on the constitutional question.
In her capacity as leader of the SNP, Ms Sturgeon is expected to tell party members that the independence campaign has been “strengthened” by the judgment – despite her political rivals insisting the ruling should mean issues like the NHS and the cost-of-living crisis should now be her priority.
Addressing the SNP’S annual St Andrew’s dinner in Glasgow on Friday evening, she was expected to say: “Wednesday’s judgment from the Supreme Court has galvanised the Yes movement right across Scotland.
“Thousands of people took to the streets – in freezing Scottish winter weather – to demonstrate their support for Scottish democracy.”