SNP ‘rolling out red carpet for indyref2’

Nicola Sturgeon was yesterday accused of “rolling out the red carpet” for Jeremy Corbyn to get a second independence referendum.

Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw said the first minister was aiming for a “Sturgeon/ Corbyn alliance” that would divide Scotland “all over again”.

At first minister’s questions, Mr Carlaw raised the prospect of the SNP and Mr Corbyn working together for another poll after Labour Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said his party was “not going to stand in the way” of an independence vote.

Mr Carlaw said Labour had “given in” to SNP demands for another independence referendum as he argued that only Tories would stand up against a second vote.

“The choice is clear,” Mr Carlaw said.

“Either Scotland moves forward together and puts the constitutional division of the last few years behind us, or we choose more division, more uncertainty and the prospect of a Corbyn/Sturgeon alliance dividing us all over again.

“A vote for the Scottish Conservatives is a vote to end the division, get Brexit sorted and say no to another independence referendum.”

Ms Sturgeon argued that Scotland should be independent because Mr Corbyn and Prime Minister Boris Johnston were “completely and utterly useless”.

But she indicated her approval of Mr McDonald’s recent remarks, saying: “UK Labour’s position on an independence referendum is a lot more democratic than Scottish Labour’s position.

“They oppose independence. They don’t want another referendum, but they recognise it is down to the people of Scotland to decide that question. That is a basic issue of democracy.”

Ms Sturgeon argued voting SNP would deliver a referendum and combat Brexit.

“The choice for the people of Scotland this election is clear – it is Brexit and a bad Brexit at that with the Tories, or it is stopping Brexit with the SNP and putting the right to choose Scotland’s future, the right to choose independence, into the hands of the people of Scotland.”

She insisted “the Westminster system is broken and that is why the people of Scotland need the choice of independence”.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon during first minister’s questions at Holyrood