Time for a change of tune from Sturgeon

A NEW Year – but sadly no change from Nicola Sturgeon, still droning on about independence and Brexit.

While she sees all this as a handy distraction from her party’s woeful performance at Holyrood and Westminster, Scots are growing increasingly tired of the First Minister’s one-note bleating.

Her latest claim is that she has a mandate to call another independence referendum. Not so.

The matter was settled in 2014 and, despite her unwillingness to accept the No result, the fact is independence was rejected and that is a result that must be respected.

Similarly, Miss Sturgeon is in denial over Brexit, falsely claiming that Scotland voted Remain. In reality, the UK voted Leave and attempts to undermine that result are dangerously undemocratic.

And let’s not forget Miss Sturgeon’s ludicrous claim that Brexit is driving Scots into her separatist camp.

As Pamela Nash, chief executive of the Scotland in Union campaign group, said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon couldn’t be more wrong. Brexit has weakened the case for independence, not strengthened it. The process has proved how incredibly difficult it is to leave a union between nations.’

Far from rushing headlong towards independence and a return to rule from Brussels, Scots are in no hurry to accept Miss Sturgeon’s claims that independence is a panacea for all Scotland’s ills. We heard it all in 2014 and didn’t believe a word then.

Hard-working Scots and the businesses that employ them have no stomach for more destructive and unsettling independence agitation.

Miss Sturgeon’s record is stuck and change is long overdue.