Scottish nationalist leader Nicola Sturgeon will include triggers for a second independence referendum in the party’s manifesto for the 2016 Scottish election, the Sunday Herald reported.
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He said last year’s independence referendum failed to deliver a decisive outcome, leaving the SNP room to manoeuvre for a re-match but a potential headache over timing.
Since the independence result, the SNP has gained thousands of new members and won a landslide 56 of Scotland’s 59 seats in May’s general election.
The same poll put support for the SNP in the constituency vote at next year’s Scottish Parliament election at 55 per cent, compared to Labour’s 21 per cent.
“But the party will also be aware that if it were to lose a second referendum then that certainly would prove to be “decisive“, and holding such a referendum on the back of polls that suggest the outcome would be something close to a 50:50 split would certainly constitute a considerable risk”.
The SNP’s position is expected to be revealed following the SNP’s annual conference in Aberdeen next month.
The First Minister has previously said a material change in circumstances, such as Scotland being taken out of the European Union against its will in the forthcoming in-out referendum on United Kingdom membership, could act as a trigger for a second referendum on independence.
“So to have this recognition is something that means a great deal to me”.
“We will be taking absolutely nothing for granted however, and will be working hard every day from now to next year’s election to retain the support of the people of Scotland – just as we have done everyday since 2007″.
The First Minister also tweeting on Saturday, said that unless Jeremy Corbyn can demonstrate “quickly” he has popular support, “many will conclude that Indy (is the) only alternative to Tory gov”. “We must create more and better jobs in our economy, and support Scotland’s small businesses”.
Party leaders used to describe this as a “once in a generation” or even a “once in a lifetime” event.
“With the police in crisis, the NHS in difficulty and educational standards slipping, we need a government focused on the challenges in our daily lives rather than their own political ideology”.
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Speaking on Sky News’ Murnaghan programme, he added: “If the public had determined that there was going to be one and there was a mandate for a referendum, I think any UK Prime Minister who tried to stand in the way of the Scottish people would be very, very foolish indeed”.
