SNP election win would be ‘instruction’ for indyref2, says Sturgeon
An SNP victory in Scotland at the general election will send a “clear instruction” to Westminster demanding a second vote on independence, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister unveiled the party’s manifesto in Glasgow yesterday with a warning that a “hard” no deal Brexit remained a possibility and would be disastrous for Scotland.
The SNP is demanding the right to hold a repeat of the 2014 referendum on independence next year, but this has been rejected by Boris Johnson, while Jeremy Corbyn has ruled out such a vote in the early years of a Labour Government.
But ms sturgeons aid: “i think people are becoming increasingly sick of hearing Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson talking about not allowing Scottish people to choose our own future.
“Well I’ve got news for them it’s not up to you. It’s a decision for the people of Scotland and for the Scottish Parliament.
“The democratically elected Scottish Parliament has agreed that the people of Scotland should be given a choice over their own future.
“An unelected Tory Westminster government has not right to overturn that decision.
“So, an SNP victory at this election would be a clear instruction from the people of Scotland to respect Scottish democracy.”
Ms Sturgeon described this as the “most fundamental of democratic principles” and warned that the SNP would not support a Labour-led administration after a hung Parliament without Mr Corbyn granting a section 30 order which would give Holyrood the power to stage a referendum on leaving the UK.
She added that Scotland now stands at a “crossroads” as the prospect of an “extreme Brexit” looms under Boris Johnson.
“People in Scotland have the right to consider an alternative future, one in which Scotland’s future is in Scotland’s hands, not in Boris Johnson’s hands,” Ms Sturgeon added.
The First Minister has made it clear she is open to forming a “progressive alliance” with other parties following the election in order to keep the Tories out of office.
The UK’S Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis launched a coruscating attack on the prospect of Corbyn-led Government over antisemitism within Labour “sanctioned from the top”. Ms Sturgeon revealed the SNP would demand guarantees on the issue before striking any post-election agreement.
“We would be very clear in our expectations to any party leader who wanted to support the SNP to make clear it’s zero tolerance approach to antisemitism, to Islamophobia, to any form of prejudice and racism,” she added.
She demanded more UK government investment in the
NHS and a “real end to austerity”.
She said: “A potential UK government that wants our support must reverse that cut to our budget and ensure realterms growth thereafter.”
But Scottish Tory interim leader Jackson Carlaw said: “It could not be clearer that every voter who wants to stop Nicola Sturgeon taking us back to another referendum, perhaps within a year, needs to lend their vote to the Scottish Conservatives. That is the only realistic option.”
Liberal Democrat general election chair Alex Cole-hamilton added: “Nicola Sturgeon has learned nothing from Brexit.
“Breaking up is hard to do. This manifesto is a recipe for chaos and uncertainty.”
First Minister plays the classics for a packed crowd at Glasgow’s trendiest venue Sketch Chris Mccall
The venue chosen by a party for its manifesto launch usually tells you something about how it views itself. Or more accurately, how the party wants to be viewed on that night’s news bulletins.
The Scottish Greens held a low-key affair in the recently refurbished boardroom in the former head office of the Fairfield shipyard in Govan. The days of heavy industry may be all but over, the party seemed to say, but we can still look forward to a brighter future while respecting the past.
There is nothing low-key about modern SNP events. The days of booking halls in Dunoon are long gone.
For its 2019 manifesto, the party hired a former warehouse at SWG3 – a sprawling arts complex near the River Clyde. The queue for the free
bacon rolls alone seemed bigger than the entire attendance at the Greens’ event.
Since the closure of the Arches venue in the city centre, this is Glasgow’s bestloved destination for alternative music fans. Big events don’t normally kick off until 10pm, rather than 10am. This is not somewhere you usually see so many middle-aged men in M&S suits.
Back when it was a tough dockside district, the area around SWG3 was known as Kelvinhaugh. But, like everything else west of Charing Cross, the venue is now lumped in as part of trendy Finnieston. The SNP – which knows a thing or two about rebranding – must surely approve.
Was the party hierarchy hoping to impress the large student population in the city by choosing such a hip venue? Only a cynic would suggest so. The morning’s headline act received a standing ovation when she took to the stage at 11.09am – two minutes later than the slot she was advertised to appear at.
Like all seasoned performers, Nicola Sturgeon knows the best way to keep a crowd happy is to play the hits. Say no to Brexit. Say yes to indyref2. More powers for the Scottish Parliament.
The First Minister gave a list of demands her party would make of any future minority government. A substantial increase in NHS spending. An end to austerity. Scrapping Trident. And the old favourite – the right to hold a second referendum on independence. These are all policies which will prove popular with the party faithful. But do they stand any chance of being implemented? That depends entirely on who takes power.
If a minority Labour government thinks it will get an easy time from SNP MPS, it could be in for a shock. Ms Sturgeon spared no punches when it came to Jeremy Corbyn, who she accused of a “woeful lack of leadership” on Brexit.
But it was Boris Johnson who took the heaviest blows. She branded the PM “dangerous and unfit for office” as she declared: “Unlike the Liberal Democrats, the SNP will never, ever help the Tories into government, but we will be prepared to talk to other parties.”
It was the kind of big moment all headline acts need. But are voters happy to still sing along?