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Referendum Settled Scottish Question, Cameron Says, a Year On

He said the so called “vow” announced the day before last year’s vote, that promised vast devolution of powers from London to Edinburgh, had not been delivered.

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But Prime Minister David Cameron has insisted that the issue of independence was settled previous year. “So now it is time to move on”.

Recent opinion polls suggest support for independence may have risen since the referendum.

“But let me say this”. Politicians can propose and campaign.

“Only the people can decide if we will have another referendum”. The question: Should Scotland be an independent country?

In a major speech in Edinburgh, she will say her judgment on whether to hold another referendum will be driven “not by the interest of the SNP, but by the interests of the people of Scotland as a whole”.

“Our manifesto will set out what we think around the circumstances in which, and the possible timescales in which, a second referendum might be appropriate”, Sturgeon told the Herald Scotland newspaper.

However, Nicola Sturgeon – while welcoming the move – today warned that Mr Cameron was living on “borrowed time” and could force a second vote if he did not back down over austerity and Trident nuclear weapons.

She said: “Right now, what people see at Westminster is a Tory government failing to fully deliver on the vow it made on more powers for our parliament”.

The First Minister will argue: “I t is all of that, more than anything, that explains what we now see happening in the polls”.

The SNP leader said: ” In the last twelve months, there have been 24 polls on independence.

He will say: ‘One year ago, Scotland’s majority spoke.

“What happens to support for independence in the months and years to come will depend as much on what you do as it will on what we do”, Sturgeon will warn Cameron in a speech later, according to extracts released by her office.

She also said that David Cameron was “living on borrowed time” as he sought to defend the Union.

“When will the Prime Minister deliver on the promises made to the people of Scotland?”

Ms Sturgeon will conclude: “So, it is your choice Prime Minister – but know that Scotland is watching”.

Ms Sturgeon hit out at a “Tory government, with just one MP in Scotland, imposing deep cuts on working people, jeopardising our place in Europe and threatening to rip up hard-won and long-valued trade union and human rights”.

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“I congratulate Jeremy Corbyn on his election, but as the new Labour leader he faces some early tests – not least to demonstrate that he can unite his party to take on and defeat the Tories. But I am focused on delivering devolution so that the debate can move on from what powers the Scottish Parliament should have, to how they are used to better the lives of the people of Scotland”.

Nicola Sturgeon