Some supporters say privately that Sturgeon’s assessment that Brexit makes a new Scottish referendum “highly likely” could force her hand early.
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Speaking after extracts of the book were published in The Sunday Times, Ms Sturgeon said: “This was obviously a painful experience for Peter and I and while Mandy has known about it for some time, she has always respected our decision not to talk about it publicly”.
With new tax and welfare powers coming to Holyrood, the Scottish Government will introduce legislation that will see a new charge created to replace air passenger duty from April 2018.
Her spokesman said that the programme for government would be about domestic issues, but that Europe would be a “common theme running through everything we do” going forward.
The vote, known as Brexit, wiped $2.1 trillion from global equity markets Friday as traders feared a new potential threat to the global economy.
In the most significant mass mobilisation of the party’s hugely expanded membership since September 2014, Sturgeon said each one of the SNP’s 120,000 members would be sent a pack of survey cards, and would be asked to commit to completing the survey with at least five people each month for the next three months.
Ms Sturgeon said all polls since then had shown increased support for independence and added: “I suspect support for independence will be even higher if it becomes clear it is the best or only way to protect our interests”.
That’s why Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s recent revelation of her miscarriage is so important.
Sturgeon says she will only hold a second independence referendum when she knows it has the backing of Scottish voters, but Britain’s decision to leave the European Union has reshaped the political landscape and questions about Scotland’s future are being asked again.
The SNP leader told STV News to expect a “nuts and bolts” approach to governing the country with a focus on closing the attainment gap in education and improving the health service.
But in a nod to her critics, Sturgeon vowed not to skirt the hard economic questions and said a specially commissioned SNP group would consider an independence policy program aimed at expanding the economy, cutting fiscal deficit and deciding a monetary strategy.
Mrs May has spoken out against Scottish independence and promised to involve Scotland in negotiations on Britain’s future relationship with the EU.
She said: “Instead of a detailed negotiating plan there is just a meaningless soundbite”.
Some doubt Scotland would now opt for independence given that it rachets up economic uncertainty during an already clouded outlook due to Brexit.
In response to Sturgeon’s announcement, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the first minister was ignoring the job of governing in Scotland in order to “pursue her own narrow nationalist agenda”.
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“Once that idea is out there, it is very hard to reel it back”, said one senior SNP member, who requested anonymity. Two recent YouGov polls have even shown a narrow majority in favor of staying in the United Kingdom.
