Salmond: ‘Sturgeon will now look for second referendum’
Former First Minister says Brexit means indyref2 now on horizon
NICOLA Sturgeon will begin moves to stage a second independence referendum, Alex Salmond has said, as the UK headed for the EU exit door.
Scots backed Remain by a margin of nearly two to one as every part of the country voted to stay in the EU.
But as the UK as a whole headed for a Leave vote Mr Salmond said he was “quite certain” the First Minister would begin moves for a re-run of the 2014 independence referendum in the event of Brexit.
“Scotland looks like it is gong to vote solidly Remain,” he said. “If there was a Leave vote in England, dragging us out the EU, I’m quite certain Nicola Sturgeon would implement the SNP manifesto.”
The party’s manifesto for May’s Scottish Parliament election said Holyrood should have the right to hold a second independence vote if there was a “significant and material” change in circumstances from 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against its wishes.
During the campaign, Ms Sturgeon confirmed a second referendum would be “on the table” in that scenario. However, she has also said she would not risk another vote unless polls showed a clear majority in favour of independence.
Her position has led to speculation she would begin by challenging the UK Government to give guarantees about the legality of a future independence vote. The tactic would avoid Ms Sturgeon having to take a snap decision.
Mr Salmond has said it would take place within the two-year negotiating period between a Brexit vote and the UK’s formal withdrawal from the EU, allowing Scotland to remain a member.
Ms Sturgeon said: “The vote here makes clear that the people of Scotland see their future as part of the European Union. Scotland has contributed significantly to the Remain vote across the UK. That reflects the positive campaign the SNP fought, which highlighted the gains and benefits of our EU membership, and people across Scotland have responded to that positive message.
“Scotland has spoken – and spoken decisively.”
Patrick Harvie, leader of the pro-independence Greens, offered encouragement for a second referendum, saying: “Scotland must keep every option open for protecting ourselves from this threat.”
Orkney was the first local authority area in Scotland to declare its result, a win for Remain with 63 per cent of the vote.
Other early results also showed clear victories for the In camp: Clackmannanshire by 58 per cent; Shetland by 57 per cent; West Dunbartonshire by 62 per cent; and Dundee by 60 per cent.
Glasgow voted Remain by 67 per cent on a relatively low turn-out in thecityof56percent.
By 2.20am, when the city declared, turn-out across the country was 65 per cent but, after a low key campaign, it was lower than the rest of the UK. Moray – an area predicted to vote Leave – backed Remain by just 50.1 per cent. Edinburgh overwhelmingly voted in favour of staying in the EU by 74 per cent.
Mr Salmond dismissed suggestions the SNP had undermined the Remain vote by criticising the Prime Minister’s economic case for the staying in the EU.
He said: “On the contrary. I think it was really important for someone to say the style of the Remain campaign led by the Prime Minister and George Osborne was wrong.
“Scotland conducted a totally different campaign.”
Rejecting complaints from pro-Remain Labour figures in England of low turn-out in Scotland, he said: “Our campaign in Scotland has yielded a very positive result.
“They should look to themselves.”
The former First Minister said “another constitutional conundrum” remained possible: that Remain votes from Scotland and Northern Ireland could keep the UK in the EU despite a majority for Leave in England.
But David Davis, the Conservative MP and Brexit campaigner, said such an outcome would not cause a constitutional crisis.
He said: “Almost every pro-Leave MP is a strong Unionist. We accept the judgement of the whole Kingdom. If you believe in the Kingdom, you have to believe in the result across the whole Kingdom.”