NICOLA Sturgeon has said she will set out her plans on the timing of a new vote on independence in the coming “weeks”.
The First Minister made the comments as she was pressed on the matter at Westminster after she met with SNP MPs yesterday following Theresa May’s historic defeat on her Brexit deal on Tuesday.
“I’ll say more about the timing of a referendum in the next matter of weeks,” she told reporters.
READ MORE: Inside the First Minister’s meeting with her SNP MPs
“I want to see the UK stay in the EU, I think that would be best for the whole of the UK ... even when Scotland is independent, that serves our interests best as well. That’s why we’re backing the people’s vote, the second EU referendum.
“But if that’s not possible, in terms of our wider interests, the chaos and the fiasco of the last couple of years have shown that the worst thing for Scotland is to be thirled to Westminster when it’s making such a mess of things. We’d be far better off in charge of our own affairs.”
She added: “This is the biggest crisis the UK has faced in our lifetimes ... I think it makes people in Scotland think that if we were in charge of our own affairs we would perhaps be steering a better course right now. We are in this position right now because we are not independent and that is becoming clearer to people.”
Her remarks come as number of SNP figures and independence supporters urged the First Minister not to delay unveiling her timeframe for a new plebiscite. Some have questioned her strategy on arguing for a second EU referendum.
Angus MacNeil, the SNP MP, urged Sturgeon to confirm a second independence vote would take place and to give a timeframe.
“Now in play ... @NicolaSturgeon has 3 things to think of ... 1) confirm referendum in play and general time window, 2) which process, 3) finally in a few months the specific date within the general window but get campaign going now,” he tweeted.
Former SNP MP George Kerevan asked Yes activist to call on SNP leaders to make progress on a new vote.
“Calling all Yes groups, SNP branches: we need max pressure NOW on SNP leaders to call indyref2. UK state in crisis. Our job NOT to save it but declare independence,” he tweeted.
Independence supporters will gather outside the Scottish Parliament today to call for a second referendum.
Meanwhile, the First Minister said the Scottish Government will be “intensifying” its calls for a second EU referendum in the wake of the Commons Brexit vote.
In a letter to the PM she challenged her to convene “urgent” talks with the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales in a bid to resolve the Brexit impasse.
The SNP leader said May had “clearly failed to bring the country together” in support of her proposed deal, and she demanded the PM must now “change course” and “genuinely involve” all regions of the UK in her Brexit plans.
She called for a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) – which brings together the heads of the devolved administrations with the UK Government – to take place, insisting such talks “must be more than window dressing”.
Sturgeon said: “Urgent and meaningful discussions are needed in the next days to agree a way forward which can command a majority in the House of Commons, and which has the confidence and support of the devolved administrations.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel