Sturgeon to outline plans for Indyref 2 ‘within days’

NICOLA Sturgeon is set to disclose her plans for a second independence referendum in ‘the next few days’.

The First Minister yesterday accelerated her plans to break up Britain.

Miss Sturgeon has repeatedly claimed she would reveal her preferred timing only once the UK was clear on its future relationship with the EU following Brexit. But she has now committed to make her move even if there is ‘no clarity’.

As things stand, the UK will leave the EU on March 29, but Theresa May has written to negotiators in the hope of receiving an extension until June 30. The Prime Minister believes this will give her time to secure support for her Brexit deal and make all the necessary legislative changes before Brexit.

But the UK’s delayed departure will not influence the timing of Miss Sturgeon’s statement on a future independence referendum.

At First Minister’s Questions Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie asked Miss Sturgeon why she had not yet told the people of Scotland about her plans for a new vote on independence. He said: ‘The First Minister told us she would say something about her preferred timing within weeks. That was two months ago. I ask again, when?’

Miss Sturgeon said Scots are frustrated their future is ‘being determined by the DUP and a cabal of Right-wing Tories’, adding: ‘I said I would wait until the end of this phase of Brexit negotiations before setting out my views on the way forward for Scotland.

‘Having done so this long, I think it is reasonable to wait to see what clarity emerges in the next few days, even if I suspect that it will just be clarity that there will be no clarity. I will then set out my views on the path forward.’

Later, Scotland in Union chief executive Pamela Nash, said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon is behaving irresponsibly. Whatever your views on Brexit, independence is not the answer.

‘That’s why a majority of people in Scotland know we are stronger together and want Nicola Sturgeon to take the reckless threat of a divisive and unwanted second independence referendum off the table.’

Miss Sturgeon’s official spokesman said she was ‘keen’ to give an update on her plans for another independence referendum.

He added: ‘We are not going to have absolute clarity on everything but I would hope in the next week, ten days or so, we would have a bit more clarity than we have at the moment.

‘I think it’s fair to say the First Minister is keen to get on with things in terms of updating people on her thinking on the issue.

‘Ideally, that would have happened before now.’