Labour, the Lib Dems, and the Conservatives joined forces in the last referendum to campaign as Better Together – but it now seems unlikely there would be a repeat of that campaign in the event of another referendum, with the Conservatives being the only main party which is prepared to hold a firm anti-independence party line.
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Sturgeon goaded her opponents by highlighting opinion polls showing growing support for independence in the year since 55 per cent of Scots said No.
Since that time, SNP has been pushing for a follow up secession vote.
But she argued they had to take their concession to its “logical conclusion”, adding: “It’s not going to cut much ice with supporters of independence in their own parties to say in one breath to them “if there’s another referendum you can stand up for what you believe in” but in the next breath say “but we think a referendum should be ruled out forever and a day”.
“The total confusion over Labour party policy has spread from Jeremy Corbyn to Kezia Dugdale”.
A Scottish Labour spokesman said: “Nicola Sturgeon could have talked about anything when she appeared before Scotland’s journalists – for example the fact that under the SNP Government more than 6,000 children in Scotland leave primary school unable to read properly”.
The SNP leader made the call after both Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale and her Liberal Democrat counterpart Willie Rennie declared members of their parties could campaign in favour of independence if another referendum is held.
HUNDREDS of Yes Scotland supporters turned out on Friday, September 18 to mark one year since the Scottish independence referendum, with campaigners in Dumbarton and the Vale – one of four areas to vote Yes in last year’s vote – hailing a lasting change in the area.
The Scottish leader had previously said the election of Mr Corbyn could leave Labour “carping on the sidelines” for years.
“But you will find people with different opinion, sometimes I’m a bit internally conflicted by it”.
“I don’t think Labour are going to lure away any voters who have gone to the pro-independence SNP by being silent on the issue of the constitution”, said Ailsa Henderson, head of politics and worldwide relations at Edinburgh University.
Ms Sturgeon branded that a “curious tactic” by her opponents. Sipping coffee in a cafe, 43-year-old Michael Roy said Corbyn was probably a plus for Scottish Labour but he doubted the new leader could revive the party’s fortunes.
Sturgeon has also urged Corbyn to show his party will put workers’ rights in Scotland first and drop opposition to moves to devolve powers over trade union and employment law.
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“That is profoundly depressing for me, that everyone begins to define themselves [territorially], and if we want to do that in Scotland then we shouldn’t be surprised that people begin to do it in the rest of the United Kingdom”.
