Sturgeon hints at new poll in autumn 2018

‘No mandate for a referendum’

NICOLA Sturgeon has claimed autumn 2018 would be the ‘common- sense time’ to stage a second Scottish independence referendum.

The First Minister yesterday refused to rule out holding another divisive vote on breaking up the Union within the next 18 months.

And Miss Sturgeon insisted she is not and never has been bluffing about forcing voters to return to the polls on the issue which was ruled a ‘once in a generation’ vote in 2014.

The SNP leader has continued to issue threats over a second referendum following the UK-wide decision to leave the EU last year. She has claimed a Deputy Scottish Political Editor vote on separation is ‘highly likely’ and has now given her clearest hint yet that Scotland could be just 18 months away from another vote.

Miss Sturgeon has repeatedly claimed time is running out for the UK Government to present a Brexit deal which would let Scotland stay within the single market, even if the rest of the country leaves.

In an interview to appear on BBC Two’s Brexit: Britain’s Biggest Deal tonight, Miss Sturgeon was asked if autumn 2018 was a likely time to hold another referendum.

She said: ‘Within that window, when the, the sort of outline of a UK deal, becomes clear on the UK exiting the EU, I think would be the commonsense time for Scotland to have that choice, if that is the road we choose to go down.’

Asked if she was not ruling out a referendum next year, Miss Sturgeon added: ‘I’m not ruling anything out.’ If Miss Sturgeon is to consider holding a referendum next autumn she would have to announce that at least nine months before it could be held.

This comes after the Electoral Commission ruled legislation for the vote should be passed six months before a three-month period of referendum campaigning begins.

Miss Sturgeon was also quizzed by the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg on whether or not she was bluffing about holding another referendum. She said: ‘I’m not and I never have been.’

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: ‘People in Scotland don’t want a second referendum, and the SNP doesn’t have a mandate for one.

‘Nicola Sturgeon needs to provide some certainty for Scotland, and rule it out.’

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: ‘This is another attempt by Nicola Sturgeon to sow division, at a time when the country needs to pull together more than ever.’