Election blamed for delay over next referendum step

Nicola Sturgeon is likely to delay a statement on the “next steps” towards a second Scottish independence referendum until after the general election.

The First Minister has still to give an update to MSPs at Holyrood on plans to hold a fresh ballot on leaving the UK.

A spokesman for Ms Sturgeon said she initially proposed doing it after the Scottish local authority elections on May 4 but that was before Prime Minister Theresa May decided to hold a snap general election on June 8.

He said: “It would be reasonable to expect it to be some time after the UK election.”

It comes after Ms Sturgeon was attacked by her rivals for saying the general election was not about independence

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: “For the last few months, everyone in Scotland has seen her do nothing else but campaign for an unwanted second independence referendum.

“Yet now there’s an election on, she suddenly tells people independence isn’t the issue for her and orders her troops – don’t mention the ‘i’ word.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie added: “Nicola Sturgeon has lost the plot.”