Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has launched a major new survey on independence, arguing that the Brexit vote had change the conditions that existed when Scotland voted against secession two years ago.
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“And while we will pursue all options to protect our interests, the debate must include an examination of independence in what are profoundly changed circumstances”. “That is why. I believe it is right that our party does lead a new conversation on independence”.
Ms Sturgeon said her “ambitious” legislative programme, based on the SNP’s manifesto for the Holyrood elections, would “deliver the very best for Scotland”.
Ms Davidson said her party wanted to see more opportunities for Scottish firms to export overseas, major new investment in home-energy efficiency, a “genuinely ambitious” housebuilding programme and cuts to business rates.
The Scottish government would like to gain additional powers to keep European Union ties to help the country’s companies and universities.
In the days following June’s vote to leave the EU, Ms Sturgeon said she had tasked Scottish Government officials with drafting fresh referendum legislation for Holyrood, which Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Tories have said they will oppose.
The prospect of a long period of Conservative rule in Westminster – the main opposition Labour Party is now embroiled in a bitter leadership battle and well behind the governing Conservatives in opinion polls – meant a new debate on Scotland’s future was needed.
“Labour this week outlined an alternative programme for government with an education bill as a priority, and using the tax powers of the Scottish Parliament to invest in our economy and stop the cuts to public services”.
She went on to accuse the Conservatives of making “high handed, arrogant comments. that Scotland should know her place, that Westminster is boss, we’ll simply have to like it or lump it, whatever is decided”.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has made clear her party will oppose another vote on leaving the United Kingdom in the current five year Holyrood term. It is utterly unjustified and unnecessary. She will find no support on these benches for a second independence referendum.
“More than that, my party will demand that this increasingly arrogant nationalist government gets back to the day job it was elected to do – to improve our schools, our hospitals and to create jobs”.
For the Conservatives, Sturgeon said, the Government was “accidentally” triggering Brexit without a proper plan of what to do next. We still have to make the case and win the argument.
Nicola Sturgeon was addressing her party faithful today, attacking the “disgraceful” and “reckless” Tories for inflicting Brexit on an unwilling Scotland.
The Scottish First Minister, who is childless, conceived at the age of 40 but lost her baby in the early stages of her pregnancy.
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The party has also urged ministers to address what it called the housing “crisis”, saying official figures show the budget for housing and community amenities has been cut by £338 million since Ms Sturgeon became First Minister.
