The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Sturgeon vows to keep up independence pressure
First minister tells of concerns over Boris Johnson’s ‘views and track record’ while pledging with other party chiefs to oppose no-deal Brexit for UK
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to keep up preparations for a second independence referendum as she congratulated Boris Johnson on his election as Conservative Party leader.
She was backed by Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie, while Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard criticised Mr Johnson’s “dangerous form” of English nationalism.
Mr Johnson is expected to become prime minister this afternoon, following the resignation of Theresa May.
The first minister said it would be “hypocritical” if she did not point out “profound concerns” she has regarding Mr Johnson and his ensuing premiership and tweeted that she was continuing “to advance the preparations to give Scotland the right to choose our own future through independence”.
Ms Sturgeon said: “These are concerns that I am certain will be shared by the vast majority of people in Scotland who, had they been given any say, would not have chosen to hand the keys of Number 10 to someone with his views and track record.
“Mr Johnson should be in no doubt about the gravity of the situation he is about to inherit as prime minister nor, in particular, about the strength with which I and others will oppose his threat of a no-deal Brexit.”
She said a no-deal Brexit would do huge damage to jobs, investment and living standards as well as posing serious and totally unnecessary questions on critical issues such as medical supplies.
“Scotland did not vote for Brexit, or for the current Tory government – and certainly not for Boris Johnson as prime minister,” she said. “All of this underlines the need for Scotland to have the right to determine our own future, in line with the democratic wishes of all those who live here.”
Ms Sturgeon also said the Scottish secretary of state’s dignity had “gone out the window” after David Mundell – who at one time said he would not serve in a Boris Johnson Cabinet – tweeted his congratulations to Mr Johnson and called for party unity.
The secretary of state made no comment regarding his future in the Scotland Office.
However, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson – who backed Jeremy Hunt for party leader — offered her congratulations to Mr Johnson and said the Tories can be proud of the manner in which the contest was conducted.
“Mr Johnson takes over the leadership at an incredibly challenging time for our country, and he has an enormous task ahead of him,” she said.
“My priority as Scottish Conservative leader is to ensure that he will deliver for Scotland within the UK, stop Nicola Sturgeon’s efforts to take us back to a second independence referendum, and prevent Jeremy Corbyn from getting to Number 10.”
Mr Leonard, meanwhile, said Mr Johnson represented a threat to the Union.
He said: “A no-deal Brexit led by Boris Johnson spells disaster for our country, and it is unforgivable for the Scottish Tories to back him.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “When faced with a choice of Boris Johnson or Jeremy Corbyn it’s pretty obvious that Jo Swinson should be in charge.”
Mr Harvie supported calls for a second referendum.
He said: “Scotland needs a route out of Boris’s Brexit Britain, and while we already have a firm mandate to hold a referendum, Johnson’s elevation to the office of prime minister on the back of bluff and bluster is hugely concerning and reinforces the need to hold this vote urgently.”
Scotland did not vote for Brexit, or for the current Tory government