STIRLING, Scotland Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon launched a new independence drive on Friday, urging supporters to join the country’s “biggest ever political listening exercise” to gauge public appetite for a new referendum.
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“However, she has also been clear that the option of independence should be on the table if it becomes clear that it is the best or only way of safeguarding our interests”.
After this year’s Brexit vote Ms Sturgeon warned that a second independence referendum was “highly likely” and she has tasked the Scottish Government to draw up legislation to pave the way for another ballot.
The SNP leader announced her plan to reach more than two million Scots in 90 days through online surveys, doorstep discussions and town hall meetings, as she launched “the biggest listening exercise in our party’s history”, which will run from now until St Andrew’s Day, on 30 November.
“We want to understand in detail how people feel about Europe, Brexit and independence”.
“She should listen to the two million Scots who voted No in 2014, and the majority of people who now say they don’t want a second referendum”.
Sturgeon added that the “chaos” within the Labour party would increase support for independence, claiming its “decision to press the self destruct button” could result in United Kingdom having a Conservative government for the forseeable future.
May has spoken out against Scottish independence and promised to involve Scotland in negotiations on Britain’s future relationship with the EU.
“This summer, we witnessed seismic changes, which will have a deep impact on our ambition for this country”, Ms Sturgeon told an SNP gathering in Stirling.
The book describes how Sturgeon, who is married to the Scottish National party’s chief executive, Peter Murrell, was in the early stages of pregnancy and preparing to share her news with friends and family when she had a miscarriage. It is utterly unjustified and unnecessary.
“People who support independence are pragmatic”, said McAngus in Aberdeen.
She added: “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”.
Before the referendum, the Scottish society was polarized regarding the vote – 54 percent were against independence and 46 percent in favor and in the very 2014 referendum, 55 percent voted against and 45 percent in favor.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland account for about 65 percent of Scotland’s exports, while the rest of the European Union makes up only about 15 percent, so fighting to remain in the bloc without the rest of Britain has its dangers.
The programme lays out the Bills that are to be brought before the Scottish Parliament between now and the end of June next year, with Ms Sturgeon saying it represents the “hard graft” of turning the SNP’s manifesto from the May Holyrood elections into reality.
“Nicola Sturgeon has shown time and again that she is prepared to ignore the priorities of the people of Scotland to pursue her narrow minded agenda”.
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While most Scots still do not back independence, opinion polls have narrowed and another Scottish vote could prove tough to manage as Britain grapples with its European Union exit.
