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Nicola Sturgeon challenges May with second referendum bill Nicola Sturgeon challenges May with second referendum bill
(about 1 hour later)
Nicola Sturgeon is to publish a draft bill next week calling for a second Scottish independence referendum in a direct challenge to Theresa May’s hardline stance on Britain leaving the EU. Nicola Sturgeon warned that she is prepared to stage a second Scottish independence referendum before the UK quits the European Union as she attacked the Tories for their “xenophobic” rhetoric on the EU.
The first minister told the Scottish National party conference in Glasgow she had a powerful political mandate to defend Scotland’s vote in favour of remaining in the EU in June’s vote. In a clear challenge to Theresa May’s government in London, the first minister told the Scottish National party conference in Glasgow she would unveil draft legislation next week to prepare for a rerun of the 2014 referendum within the next two years.
But, she said, the UK government’s recent rhetoric and policies on immigration and remaining within the EU single market made it clear the Tory party had now been taken over by its “rampant” and xenophobic right wing. Sturgeon said the UK government’s recent rhetoric on capping immigration and on quitting the EU single market made it clear that the Tory party had been taken over by its “rampant and xenophobic” right wing. To applause from delegates, Sturgeon singled out the prime minister and declared: “Hear this: if you think for one single second that I’m not serious about doing what it takes to protect Scotland’s interests, then think again.”
To applause, Sturgeon told the prime minister: “Hear this: if you think for one single second that I’m not serious about doing what it takes to protect Scotland’s interests, then think again.” Her official spokesman cautioned that this was designed to give the Scottish government the full range of options. Sturgeon had a dual-track strategy and her immediate goal was to get the strongest powers possible for Holyrood in the Brexit deal.
Sturgeon then won a standing ovation when she announced that the draft Scottish independence referendum bill would be published next week – earlier than her officials had previously signalled. Sturgeon said a decision on triggering a second referendum was dependent on the strength of the new powers that would pass to Holyrood after Brexit, including powers that the Tories are unlikely to offer, on allowing separate policies on immigration and foreign affairs.
The first minister said she wanted the legislation in place to trigger a second independence vote before the UK is expected to formally leave the EU in March 2019 – a stance she had recently backed away from. “It’s clear that beyond hardline rhetoric, the UK government has no detailed plan. So the Scottish government will set out a plan for Scotland,” she said. “It will require substantial additional powers for the Scottish parliament.”
She said: “I am determined that Scotland will have the ability to reconsider the question of independence – and to do so before the UK leaves the EU – if that is necessary to protect our country’s interests.” But Sturgeon simultaneously stepped up her anti-Brexit rhetoric by confirming that the SNP at Westminster would work with other opposition parties and pro-EU Tory MPs to vote against the government bill to enable Brexit to take place, regardless of how significant Holyrood’s new powers became.
Her official spokesman cautioned that this was designed to give the Scottish government a full range of options: its immediate goal was to get the strongest powers possible for Holyrood in the Brexit deal. A UK government source said that strategy was “bizarre” because the Brexit bill was designed to protect Holyrood’s existing powers by embedding all existing EU legislation into UK law. It may also weaken Sturgeon’s hand in future Brexit talks: negotiations are due to start in late October, when the prime minister meets Sturgeon and the leaders of the Welsh and Northern Irish governments to agree on joint plans to prepare for Brexit.
He said Sturgeon needed to see exactly what was on the table, and that the Tories were fighting a “blue on blue civil war on what they think Brexit will be. We need the UK government to give much needed clarity on what they have in mind before we can be reasonably expected to come up with a package for Scotland.” “There are serious contradictions” in Sturgeon’s two-pronged strategy, the Cabinet source said. It was also premature to threaten a second vote: the UK would be seeking a unique deal with the EU which could meet many of Sturgeon’s conditions, he said.
Speeding up the referendum bill process opens up an increasingly significant political divide between the Scottish and UK governments, showing Sturgeon’s increasing confidence that the Tories’ shift to a harder line on Brexit has strengthened her hand. But Sturgeon’s advisers say that speeding up the referendum bill process highlights an increasingly significant political divide between the Scottish and UK governments, showing Sturgeon’s increasing confidence that the Tory shift to a harder line on Brexit has strengthened her hand.
Sturgeon faces clear short-term obstacles to staging a second vote on leaving the UK. Scottish voters are still not convinced of the case for a fast second referendum and Holyrood requires Westminster’s legal authority to stage one. Sturgeon faces substantial obstacles to staging a second independence vote before the UK leaves the EU in March 2019. Scottish voters are still not convinced of the case for a fast second referendum, and Holyrood requires Westminster’s legal authority to stage one.
The latest poll, by BMG, published on Thursday by the Herald, found there is no majority for independence and that only 12% of those voters who do not want independence would switch to support leaving the UK if there were a hard Brexit. It found 47% were against independence, 38% in favour and 12% undecided. The latest poll, by BMG, published on Thursday by the Herald, found that there is no popular majority in favour of a second referendum. It found that only 12% of those voters who do not want independence would switch to support leaving the UK if there were a hard Brexit. It found 47% were against a new independence vote, 38% in favour and 12% undecided.
The economics of Scottish independence are still extremely difficult: the latest GDP data showed Scotland’s economy still growing at a third of the pace of the UK’s as a whole and government data showed a £15bn Scottish spending deficit last year – 21% of overall government spending in Scotland. The economics of Scottish independence are still extremely difficult: the latest GDP data showed Scotland’s economy still growing at a third of the pace of the UK’s as a whole, and government data showed a £15bn Scottish spending deficit last year – 21% of all government spending in Scotland.
The SNP leader told delegates her first objective was to win far more power for the Scottish parliament – a proposal many senior party figures, including the former health secretary Alex Neil, now back.
Sturgeon made clear for the first time she would press May to strengthen Holyrood’s autonomy over policies currently overseen by the EU but devolved within the UK to Scotland, such as fisheries and agriculture.
But Sturgeon expanded that list of demands to include the right for Scotland to have special access to the single market, the freedom to have distinctive immigration policies, and the right to strike separate foreign deals, without specifying what those deals might be.
However, Sturgeon risks losing any goodwill with May’s government by also promising on Thursday to vote against the UK government’s bill to leave the EU – regardless of the powers on offer to Holyrood. That stance is likely to entrench opposition to increased powers for Scotland among UK cabinet ministers.
Sturgeon will meet May in late October at a joint ministerial committee meeting between the prime minister and leaders of the UK’s three devolved governments, where a formal deal on involving the devolved administrations will also be signed.
Signalling her agenda at that meeting, Sturgeon said: “Over the next few weeks we will table specific proposals to protect Scotland’s interests in Europe and keep us in the single market – even if the rest of the UK decides to leave.
“It’s clear that beyond hardline rhetoric the UK government has no detailed plan. So the Scottish government will set out a plan for Scotland. We will seek to make this plan a key element of the UK’s article 50 negotiation. “It will require substantial additional powers for the Scottish parliament.”
Opposition leaders said Sturgeon could have offered a far more constructive vision for reform of Scottish domestic policies but instead had increased the divisions and conflicts with the rest of the UK.Opposition leaders said Sturgeon could have offered a far more constructive vision for reform of Scottish domestic policies but instead had increased the divisions and conflicts with the rest of the UK.
Sturgeon made clear she planned to set out new policies in her main conference address on Saturday, but Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, responded: “Her comments show she has given up on speaking for Scotland and is now solely playing to the SNP gallery. “This isn’t the action of a first minister of Scotland but an SNP fundamentalist who puts independence first, last and always.” Sturgeon made clear that she planned to set out new policies in her main conference address on Saturday, but Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, responded: “Her comments show she has given up on speaking for Scotland and is now solely playing to the SNP gallery. This isn’t the action of a first minister of Scotland, but an SNP fundamentalist who puts independence first, last and always.”
Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s top priority is to divide our nation once again. But our country is already divided following the Tories’ reckless Brexit gamble and we should not be seeking further divisions. While the SNP does not have an overall majority in Holyrood, with 62 of 129 MSPs, the six Scottish Green MSPs could be expected to back a second referendum, giving Sturgeon a narrow majority.
“Our economy is in trouble, and the last thing we need is the uncertainty of another independence referendum.” Ian Murray, Scottish Labour’s only MP, said Labour in Westminster would not oppose measures to allow Holyrood to stage a new referendum if it was carried by a majority of MSPs because that would fuel Scottish resentment. However, Murray said it was extremely risky for Sturgeon to discuss staging a second referendum before the UK’s Brexit deal was agreed.
Responding to Sturgeon’s speech, Downing Street said the government would continue to engage with Sturgeon and the people of Scotland but would not support another referendum. “Nobody quite knows what Brexit means, and to have a discussion on a second independence referendum is a dereliction of duty,” Murray said. “The country is completely divided [by Brexit]. We don’t need to see any more division layered on top of that.”
“We believe this issue was addressed in 2014. We want to engage different stakeholders around the UK but we will be delivering on the will of the British people and that is to leave the EU,” a spokesperson for Theresa May said. Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s top priority is to divide our nation once again. But our country is already divided following the Tories’ reckless Brexit gamble and we should not be seeking further divisions. Our economy is in trouble, and the last thing we need is the uncertainty of another independence referendum.”
Responding to Sturgeon’s speech, Downing Street said the government would continue to engage with Sturgeon and the people of Scotland but would not support another referendum. “We believe this issue was addressed in 2014. We want to engage different stakeholders around the UK, but we will be delivering on the will of the British people, and that is to leave the EU,” a spokesperson for Theresa May said.
“The prime minister is approaching both the relationship between the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom and our relationship with the European Union as we leave in a constructive and engaged spirit that is focused on getting the best interests for the people of the UK.“The prime minister is approaching both the relationship between the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom and our relationship with the European Union as we leave in a constructive and engaged spirit that is focused on getting the best interests for the people of the UK.
“You only need to look at what she said when she took office on the steps of Downing Street about the importance of the union, the fact that her first visit she made out of Westminster was to see the first minister to let her know that we want to engage Scotland in this process and involve them in these consultations.” she added. “You only need to look at what she said when she took office on the steps of Downing Street about the importance of the union – the fact that her first visit she made out of Westminster was to see the first minister to let her know that we want to engage Scotland in this process and involve them in these consultations.” she added.