The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Scots ‘have right to consider Brexit alternatives’
People in Scotland “have the right” to consider independence as an alternative to Prime Minister Theresa May’s worsening Brexit “crisis”, a senior member of Nicola Sturgeon’s cabinet has said.
Mike Russell, Scottish constitutional relations secretary, added that while “everybody will have an opinion” on the timing of another Scottish referendum, he trusts the first minister on the issue.
He spoke out after the SNP leader accused Mrs May of “running scared” of a second vote on independence.
Speaking after talks with the PM in Downing Street on Wednesday, Ms Sturgeon said: “I think the prime minister fears that she would lose another Scottish independence referendum so she’s running scared of the verdict of the people.
“It’s probably the reason she doesn’t want another EU referendum, because she thinks she might lose that. People that are confident in their arguments don’t run away from the verdict of the people.”
But Mrs May insisted it is the SNP that is “out of touch” with the people of Scotland, who she said do not want “another divisive Scottish independence referendum”.
The two leaders clashed as Ms Sturgeon faced growing calls within her own party to call for a fresh vote on Scotland’s future place within the UK.
Former first minister Alex Salmond has argued that there is “not likely to be a better time to force the issue” following the PM’s Brexit deal defeat.
Similarly, SNP Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil has argued that it is time for calls for a fresh independence vote “to come to fore”, urging Ms Sturgeon to prioritise this over demands for a second European referendum.
However, SNP MEP Alyn Smith said supporters of holding another independence vote in the near future should “ca’canny” as uncertainty over what will happen with Brexit means practical questions over independence remain unanswered.