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Nicola Sturgeon: don't rule out new independence referendum indefinitely Nicola Sturgeon: no shortcuts to Scottish independence
(about 1 hour later)
Nicola Sturgeon has welcomed the UK government’s promise to enshrine the Scottish parliament in law, but said it would be wrong to rule out another referendum on independence. Nicola Sturgeon has told Scottish National party activists “there are no shortcuts” to independence as they would still face a tough challenge to win a second referendum.
In a speech on Friday to mark a year since the referendum, Sturgeon said she respected the result but told David Cameron he was “living on borrowed time”. In a speech to mark the anniversary of last year’s independence vote, the first minister said that yes campaigners might be energetic and determined but they could only win by “patiently and carefully” winning over Scotland’s no voters.
Related: 'Folk have become bolder': optimism for independent Scotland undented a year onRelated: 'Folk have become bolder': optimism for independent Scotland undented a year on
“It would be wrong to propose another referendum without a fundamental change of circumstances or a strong indication that a significant number of those who voted no last year had changed their minds,” Sturgeon told an audience in Edinburgh. With about 120 SNP MPs, MSPs and MEPs gathered in Edinburgh to hear her speak, Sturgeon said a majority of Scots remained unconvinced about the case for leaving the UK, despite some new opinion polls showing a slight lead for a yes vote.
“If we are to win independence, we must convince a majority of Scots that it represents the best future for Scotland. That was true last year, it is true now and it will be true at all times in the future. There are no shortcuts,” she said.
Sturgeon announced that she had “fired the starting gun” for next May’s Scottish parliamentary elections, a clear signal to SNP activists to focus their energy on winning a third SNP term at Holyrood to give the party a second successive majority government.
Impatience among the 45% who voted yes last September was not enough, she said. “That means we must persuade the people we failed to persuade last year. That means understanding why they voted no. And it means addressing those concerns patiently, carefully and comprehensively. That is our challenge.”
She said, however, that the UK parties also faced a tough challenge to persuade Scotland that it was worth remaining in the union. Cutting welfare and public spending, renewing Trident, taking the UK out of the European Union against the will of Scottish voters, could build that majority for independence.
Sturgeon told David Cameron he was “living on borrowed time”.
Every opinion poll since 18 September last year has shown support for independence above the 45% yes vote, she said, but indicated there would be a high bar to meet before another referendum could be held.
“It would be wrong to propose another referendum without a fundamental change of circumstances or a strong indication that a significant number of those who voted no last year had changed their minds.
“But it would also be wrong – in the face of a clear and material shift in circumstances or in public opinion – for any one politician or party to rule out another referendum indefinitely.”“But it would also be wrong – in the face of a clear and material shift in circumstances or in public opinion – for any one politician or party to rule out another referendum indefinitely.”
In a radio interview earlier on Friday, the first minister said “a whole host” of issues needed to be addressed in the Scotland bill now going through Westminster before it would meet “the vow” made by UK leaders just before last year’s referendum. She said Labour under Jeremy Corbyn needed to convince Scotland it was able to effectively oppose the Tories at Westminster by uniting his party, and to ally Labour with the SNP in opposing spending cuts and renewing Trident.
The prime minister’s announcement on Friday that he would be making Holyrood permanent, with a new requirement that it could be abolished only after a referendum in Scotland, was “one step in a long road which has to be travelled”, Sturgeon said. In a challenge to Corbyn which is certain to be rejected by Labour, Sturgeon urged him to back the SNP’s demands for trade union and employment law to be devolved to the Scottish parliament given the UK government’s attack on union rights.
Related: Sturgeon: scrap cuts and Trident or face another vote on independenceRelated: Sturgeon: scrap cuts and Trident or face another vote on independence
She said Corbyn must reverse Labour’s opposition to the devolution of those powers in the face of a Tory majority in the Commons. “The Scottish parliament should not be left in the position of protesting in vain over the erosion of rights in Scotland. We must have the powers to prevent it.”
In a radio interview earlier on Friday, the first minister said a whole host of issues needed to be addressed in the Scotland bill now going through Westminster before it would meet “the vow” made by UK leaders just before last year’s referendum.
The prime minister’s announcement on Friday that he would be making Holyrood permanent, with a new requirement that it could be abolished only after a referendum in Scotland, was “one step in a long road which has to be travelled”, Sturgeon said.
“Of course I welcome anything which strengthens the Scotland bill but what David Cameron has indicated today is actually an admission that the Scotland bill doesn’t live up to the proposals in the Smith commission and doesn’t implement the vow that was made in the closing days of the referendum campaign,” she told BBC Radio Scotland.“Of course I welcome anything which strengthens the Scotland bill but what David Cameron has indicated today is actually an admission that the Scotland bill doesn’t live up to the proposals in the Smith commission and doesn’t implement the vow that was made in the closing days of the referendum campaign,” she told BBC Radio Scotland.
A YouGov opinion poll this week suggested that only 9% of Scottish voters believed the Scotland bill lived up to the vow – the declaration signed by Cameron, the then Labour leader Ed Miliband and then Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg pledging substantial devolution of new powers to Holyrood.
Sturgeon pointed out that even Miliband’s predecessor, Gordon Brown, had criticised the Scotland bill, saying it did not live up to the UK parties’ pledge. “I think they have to go a lot further before they can get anywhere near to the position of saying that they’re delivering on the promises that they made,” she said.
As @AlexSalmond watches from door, @NicolaSturgeon tells @theSNP parliamentarians party membership now at 112,208 pic.twitter.com/4JQkGrb4iOAs @AlexSalmond watches from door, @NicolaSturgeon tells @theSNP parliamentarians party membership now at 112,208 pic.twitter.com/4JQkGrb4iO
The bill was “riddled with vetoes” on welfare, so Westminster could block measures at Holyrood; it failed to allow Holyrood to introduce new welfare benefits – despite the recommendation by the Smith commission that MSPs could do so; and issues remained on Holyrood’s powers over land and assets owned by the crown. She said the bill was “riddled with vetoes” on welfare, so Westminster could block measures at Holyrood; it failed to allow Holyrood to introduce new welfare benefits – despite the recommendation by the Smith commission that MSPs could do so; and issues remained on Holyrood’s powers over land and assets owned by the crown.
Sturgeon insisted she did not feel under any pressure to publish a firm policy on a second referendum because the SNP was at 50% in the polls, but she would set out the conditions for one in next May’s Scottish parliament election. Speaking on Good Morning Scotland, David Mundell, the Scotland secretary, refused to state clearly whether the UK government would veto a formal request for a second referendum as Cameron has previously stated.
Triggers could be deeper UK spending cuts; renewing Trident against popular wishes; or taking Scotland out of the European Union against its wishes if the rest of the UK voted to leave at the EU referendum.
Speaking earlier on Friday on Good Morning Scotland, David Mundell, the Scotland secretary, refused to state clearly whether the UK government would veto a formal request for a second referendum as Cameron has previously stated.
“I don’t want to get into these minutiae arguments about other referendums, I want Scotland to move on, I want the debate to be about tax, welfare, how we use the powers we’ve got in the Scottish parliament for the best interests of the people of Scotland,” Mundell said.“I don’t want to get into these minutiae arguments about other referendums, I want Scotland to move on, I want the debate to be about tax, welfare, how we use the powers we’ve got in the Scottish parliament for the best interests of the people of Scotland,” Mundell said.
The cabinet minister accused Sturgeon and other critics of the Scotland bill of misrepresenting the parliamentary process. It was normal for ministers to look carefully at amendment proposals and then change the bill at a later stage. He would now do that in October, with a series of amendments to reflect the criticisms which had been made. He accused Sturgeon and other critics of the Scotland bill of misrepresenting the parliamentary process. It was normal for ministers to look carefully at amendment proposals and then change the bill at a later stage. He would now do that in October, with a series of amendments to reflect the criticisms which had been made.
Alistair Darling, the former Labour chancellor who led the campaign for Scotland to remain in the UK, said the vote was decisive and there was no appetite from the Scottish public for another referendum any time soon.Alistair Darling, the former Labour chancellor who led the campaign for Scotland to remain in the UK, said the vote was decisive and there was no appetite from the Scottish public for another referendum any time soon.
“Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, is in no hurry either because she will not call a referendum until she thinks she can win it,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday. However, he said there were many risks ahead because the SNP were in a strong position, aided by the UK government’s poor handling of devolution legislation. “Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, is in no hurry either because she will not call a referendum until she thinks she can win it,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. However, he said there were many risks ahead because the SNP were in a strong position, aided by the UK government’s poor handling of devolution legislation.