PM’S BLAST AT ‘OUT OF TOUCH’ SNP
May’s attack on party over new independence vote bid
THERESA May has accused the SNP of being ‘out of touch’ with Scots.
Her attack came after nicola Sturgeon said the SnP’s conference ‘marks the start of a new chapter’ in her bid to break up Britain.
The Prime minister yesterday indicated she would not accept any new request by the SnP leader for a rerun of the 2014 referendum, when Scots decisively backed staying in the UK.
She said her view remains ‘now is not the time’ for another vote on Scotland’s future. It is the first time she has addressed the issue since miss Sturgeon said she intends to ‘restart’ the debate on separation.
mrs may’s comments came just hours after it emerged the SnP leader had written to members attending the SnP conference – which begins tomorrow in Aberdeen – to claim it ‘marks the start of a new chapter in Scotland’s road to independence’.
She was asked by Tory mP Bill Grant
during Prime Minister’s Questions if she agreed with the majority of Scots who think ‘this is not the time to drag us back’ to another referendum debate.
Mrs May replied: ‘The people of Scotland voted in a legal and fair referendum to remain part of the United Kingdom, and it is SNP members who are completely out of touch with the people of Scotland who are continuing to press the issue of independence.
‘Now is not the time for a second independence referendum.
‘Now is the time for the United Kingdom to be pulling together, to get the right deal for the United Kingdom and the right deal for Scotland in our negotiations.
‘As I indicated earlier, and as is recognised by many people across Scotland, the most important thing for the future of Scotland is to continue to be part of the UK’s internal market.’
Miss Sturgeon first demanded another independence referendum last year – only for this to be rejected by the Prime Minister.
The Conservatives have been galvanised by that decision which led to the party winning 13 seats in Scotland, at the same time as the SNP vote collapsed and it lost 21 of its MPs.
The First Minister said last month that she intended to use the publication of the SNP’s Growth Commission to ‘restart’ the debate about independence.
In an introduction published in the handbook sent to SNP conference delegates ahead of the event, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘Our conference this weekend also marks the start of a new chapter in Scotland’s road to independence. With our opponents stuck quibbling grievances of the past, we’ve moved on to a debate about how we fulfil the potential of our country.
‘The Growth Commission report is packed full of new ideas for Scotland’s future.
‘It shows that small, independent nations can be successful, and often more successful than larger nations.
‘The fact is Scotland is well placed to join our European neighbours as amongst the fairest, wealthiest, healthiest and happiest countries in the world.’ However, it also emerged that the Growth Commission report – which was widely criticised by opponents and many on the Left of the SNP – is not currently scheduled to be debated on the main stage at the conference.
A fringe event will be held tomorrow where former MP George Kerevan – who has criticised the plan for Scotland to keep using the pound if it becomes independent – the SNP’s deputy leader Kirsty Blackman and MSP Joan McAlpine will discuss the report.
During Scottish Questions in the House of Commons yesterday, Nationalist MP Patrick Grady asked Scottish Secretary David Mundell why he is ‘prepared to see this Westminster Parliament override the ruling of the Holyrood parliament’, which opposed the EU Withdrawal Bill.
Mr Mundell replied: ‘I am not going to take any lectures on devolution from the SNP.
‘Only today, Nicola Sturgeon has written, ahead of the SNP conference, that this weekend “marks the start of a new chapter in Scotland’s road to independence”. That does not sound very much like standing up for devolution to me.’
Comment – Page 16