“Importantly, before dragging Scotland into another referendum, we need to hear from those proposing Scottish independence how we would deal with Scotland’s £15bn deficit”.
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“The people of Scotland were repeatedly told by the No campaign that only by voting against Scottish independence could Scotland remain in the European Union and now that we face the prospect of being dragged out of the European Union against our will, it’s little surprise that recent polls have consistently shown a majority in favour of independence”.
THE SNP must “protect Scottish jobs and the Scottish economy” after last month’s vote to leave the EU, Labour said yesterday.
Mr Robertson, the SNP leader at Westminster, hit out at Mrs May after she said on a visit to Edinburgh that Scots have “had their vote” on independence in 2014.
Earlier this week, she set out her demands for a bespoke deal for Scotland to maintain links with the bloc.
According to the survey, 53 percent of Scots want to remain part of the United Kingdom, while 47 percent favour independence.
While the report claimed Scotland is unlikely to suffer a “sustained recession” as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union (EU), it warned economic growth between now and 2018 “will be perilously close to zero in individual quarters” and that a short “technical recession” – two consecutive quarters of negative growth – is now “highly possible”.
“The top priority has to be retaining access to the single market which will help mitigate some of the most damaging effects on investment, trade, productivity and jobs”.
However, the first YouGov poll to ask Scots about their views on independence showed no surge in support for separation despite Brexit.
She said it was “vital” that the SNP had a plan in place and called on it to “establish a Brexit support fund for industries most at risk” and use the new “tax powers of the Scottish Parliament to stop the cuts to public services”.
“Inevitably, some will suggest that the high-water mark of Scottish independence has now passed, especially as it was thought that leaving the EU might persuade No voters to change their minds and vote against the Union”, said Joe Twyman, YouGov’s head of political and social research.
‘However, the situation is, naturally, more complicated than that’.
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Leader Kezia Dugdale said Labour supported the Scottish government’s “efforts to secure Scotland’s relationship with the EU”, but underlined their “moral duty” to protect jobs and the economy.
