THE First Minister has accused Theresa May of a “complete lack of self-awareness” after the Prime Minister repeated her demand that the Scottish Government “get on with the day job”.
Drawing attention to the Prime Minister’s remarks in the Commons yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said it was the Tory leader who was struggling to get on with her administration’s duties.
“Just back from launching a new export plan for Scotland to hear the latest evidence of the PM’s complete lack of self-awareness. As @scotgov gets on with the job, she has no legislation, no policies, no sign of a Queen’s Speech, and no clue on how to solve #Brexit,” Sturgeon tweeted.
Just back from launching a new export plan for Scotland to hear the latest evidence of the PM’s complete lack of self awareness. As @scotgov gets on with the job, she has no legislation, no policies, no sign of a Queen’s speech, and no clue on how to solve #Brexit. https://t.co/GHh64ZSg1Q
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 1, 2019
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Scottish Tory MP John Lamont drew May’s attention to yesterday’s anniversary of the Act of Union and asked her if she agreed it has served “our country well”.
He said: “On this day in 1707, Scotland and England came together to form the United Kingdom. Does the Prime Minister agree that this Union has served our country well? Most people in Scotland agree with that.
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“Does she further agree that, rather than obsessing over independence, Nicola Sturgeon should get on with her day job and end her neglect of Scotland’s NHS, schools and economy?”
May thanked him for highlighting the anniversary, saying she was sure “all members across the House will want to join me in marking it”.
She continued: “He is absolutely right to say that under the Scottish National Party in government in Scotland, we are seeing public services getting worse because the SNP is focusing on holding another independence referendum.
“As my honourable Friend says, it is time the SNP stopped ignoring those millions of Scots who do not want another independence referendum and got on with the day job of focusing on the issues that matter to people, such as schools and the economy.”
The exchange came a week after the First Minister announced plans to introduce a bill setting out the framework for a second independence referendum and to request the necessary powers from the UK Government to hold the vote before the next Scottish Parliament election in May 2021.
Coinciding with the SNP’s Spring conference in Edinburgh at the weekend, an opinion poll found rising support for independence, with 49% of voters in Scotland backing the proposition – up 4% since the 2014 referendum.
The SNP manifesto for the 2016 Holyrood election, after which the party was returned to government and formed a pro-independence alliance with the Greens, said another referendum should be held if there was a “material change in circumstances”.
It cited Britain leaving the EU while Scotland voted to remain.
The UK government has said it will reject any attempt by the SNP to hold another referendum. Last week, David Lidington, the de facto deputy prime minister, and David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, ruled out agreeing to transfer powers for a vote to take place.
The First Minister has argued that such statements mean little, given May has said she will be leaving Downing Street in the coming months.
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