(STIRLING, SCOTLAND) The Scottish National Party is to send out thousands of its faithful to measure the appetite for independence, leader Nicola Sturgeon announced on Friday, raising the political stakes further as Britain decides how it will leave the European Union.
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Only two years ago Scottish voters rejected the chance to break from the United Kingdom, but after the result the SNP went from strength to strength, nearly wiping out Labour in Scotland in the last election.
The Sunday Times has been criticised for a news article focusing on “childless politicians” that only included women. “That is why. I believe it is right that our party does lead a new conversation on independence”.
Ms Sturgeon has previously asked to be judged on her record on education over the new parliamentary term.
The bill would then be ready for “immediate” introduction if it becomes clear that there was voter support for Scottish independence, Sturgeon said, without giving a timeframe.
But if “Brexit” goes badly and the Scottish economy suffers (more) as a result, the mood could very well shift in favor of independence.
The Scottish government would like to gain additional powers to keep European Union ties to help the country’s companies and universities.
The first minster is also expected to make reference to Scotland’s place in Europe, with her government examining its options following the UK’s vote to leave the EU.
Ms Sturgeon’s speech comes almost two years on from the September 2014 referendum which saw Scots vote by 55% to 45% in favour or remaining in the UK.
Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, the second largest party in the devolved parliament in Edinburgh, accused Sturgeon of pursuing “her own narrow nationalist agenda”.
The SNP administration is already drawing up legislation for a fresh independence ballot, but Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have all vowed to oppose it.
“People don’t want to hear more tub-thumping on independence, they want to know she is focused on the day job the SNP has neglected for so long”. It is utterly unjustified and unnecessary.
The Tories are calling on Sturgeon to adopt their manifesto pledge to ensure all homes in Scotland meet energy efficiency standards before 2021 by increasing government spending in the area.
“Once that idea is out there, it is very hard to reel it back”, said one senior SNP member, who requested anonymity.
“My view is absolutely clear, I think Kezia is a fantastic, young, strong, woman leader of the Labour Party in Scotland and she is doing a fantastic job in hard circumstances, having inherited a set of circumstances where Scottish Labour is at a very low ebb, and she’s got Jeremy Corbyn hanging around her neck like a millstone”, he said.
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The first minister said in the aftermath of the Brexit vote that the decision should pave the way for a new Scottish referendum. The commission will examine the prospects for Scotland’s finances as an independent country, and consider policies to both boost growth and reduce the deficit to a sustainable level.
