‘Time beyond time’ for Scotland to be independent, Russell claims

It is “time beyond time” for Scotland to choose independence, the Scottish Government’s lead minister on Brexit has claimed.

Constitutional relations secretary Michael Russell insisted the SNP had a “cast-iron mandate” to hold a second vote on Scottish independence, with the UK government deadlocked on Brexit.

Speaking at a conference organised by the Institute for Government think tank, Mr Russell dismissed Theresa May’s rejection of calls for another independence vote, saying: “The people of Scot- 0 Michael Russell: ‘Castiron mandate for a vote’

land are mature enough to be able to choose whether we do something or not.”

Mr Russell added: “No matter what the Prime Minister thinks, we have a cast-iron mandate for a further independence ref- erendum on those grounds alone.”

He said the Scottish Government will propose a series of reforms to devolution shortly, arguing that it was “imperative” to implement “constructive proposals” for “improving the governance of the United Kingdom” in key areas such as future trading relations and migration.

Scottish Conservative chief whip Maurice Golden said: “This is more proof that the SNP is abusing the Brexit process in the hope of engineering another independence referendum. They need to drop the separation agitating and get on with the job voters want them to do.”