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SNP's autumn conference to open in Glasgow Sturgeon: SNP MPs would vote for new Brexit referendum
(about 2 hours later)
The SNP's conference will open in Glasgow later, with Nicola Sturgeon due to address the event on Tuesday. SNP MPs would "undoubtedly" vote for a new Brexit referendum if it were put to them at Westminster, the party's leader Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The party's Ian Blackford said any discussion on Scotland's constitutional future had to be informed by the outcome of the Brexit process. Campaigners have been pressing for a fresh vote on the exit plans which result from talks with EU leaders.
Ms Sturgeon had been expected to set out this month whether she would press ahead with plans for a second independence referendum. The Scottish first minister said the UK was heading for a "cobbled together" exit agreement, which would be "almost as unacceptable as no deal at all".
But she said uncertainty over Brexit meant she was still unable to do so. She said MPs would come together to avoid a "fire or frying pan" situation.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Mr Blackford, SNP leader at Westminster, repeated the party's stance that they would only back a Brexit deal that "keep us in the single market and the customs union". Prime Minister Theresa May has rejected the idea of a "people's vote", saying that "we had the people's vote, and the people voted to leave".
He added: "If that doesn't happen, then we'll be going through the lobbies and voting against any proposal that the prime minister puts forward. However Labour's Brexit spokesman said his party could back another referendum, which could offer voters the chance to stay in the EU.
"Now, any discussion on Scottish independence, of course, is going to be informed as to what happens through that Brexit process." The SNP's conference will open in Glasgow later, with Ms Sturgeon due to address the event on Tuesday.
Thousands of delegates will gather at the Scottish Event Campus for the conference, which will include motions on reusable plastic, compulsory CPR training in schools and the devolution of migration policy. The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019, but negotiations on an exit agreement have been bogged down over the future of the Irish border and the future financial relationship.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf will use his speech to announce a dedicated "victims task force" which will aim to ensure victims' voices are heard and they are adequately supported within the justice system. Both sides had hoped to finalise the so-called divorce agreement and agree a statement on future economic co-operation by an EU summit on 17 October, but EU officials say it may be November before a deal can be reached.
The establishment of a new Scottish government infrastructure commission was also confirmed ahead of conference. This would then be put to MPs in a vote at Westminster, as well as being ratified by the remaining EU member states.
Final Brexit terms Ms Sturgeon told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme that any deal brought back from Brussels would be a "fudge", which would be almost as bad as no deal at all.
There will be no discussion of independence or a second referendum in the main conference hall - although both will feature at fringe events and in speeches from party figures including deputy leader Keith Brown and Mr Blackford. She said the "Article 50" deadline of the UK leaving the EU in March 2019 should be extended if necessary, to allow more time for talks.
She said: "The House of Commons and the country as a whole doesn't allow itself to get into the position of fire or frying pan, where Theresa May says 'well the deal I've brought back is as good as I can do', nobody really knows what the future relationship is going to be like - its outside the single market and customs union, but you've got to accept that or no deal.
"If we're in that situation our MPs will bring forward proposals to stay in the single market and customs union, we will push for the extension of Article 50.
"If people start to face the reality of that precipice of a no deal, then I think sensible options have to come back on the table."
And the SNP leader said her MPs would get behind the proposal of a new referendum on Brexit if the talks end without a satisfactory deal.
She said: "I think in those circumstances, sensible MPs of all parties should come together to look at the alternative. No doubt calls for a second referendum would grow in those circumstances, and I've said before we wouldn't stand in the way of a second referendum. I think SNP MPs would undoubtedly vote for that proposition."
"We would want to talk to people to ensure that Scotland doesn't end up in the same position all over again, where we vote to remain in the EU but find ourselves facing exit completely against our will.
"But the important point here is that the country cannot find itself in the situation where its a really bad outcome or a worse outcome. there has to be space for common sense and calm consideration of the best outcome."
'Faith in democracy'
Ms Sturgeon also repeated that she would set out her views on the prospect of a second Scottish independence referendum once there is clarity about Brexit.
The UK government has set itself in opposition to a second referendum either on Brexit or independence.
Mrs May told the Conservative conference that the June 2016 referendum had been the real 'people's vote', adding: "A second referendum would be a 'politicians' vote' - politicians telling people they got it wrong the first time and should try again.
"Think for a moment what it would do to faith in our democracy if - having asked the people of this country to take this decision - politicians tried to overturn it."
Thousands of delegates will gather at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow for the SNP conference, which will include motions on reusable plastic, compulsory CPR training in schools and the devolution of migration policy.
There will be no discussion of independence or a second referendum in the main conference hall - although both will feature at fringe events and in speeches from party figures including deputy leader Keith Brown and Westminster group leader Ian Blackford.
Ms Sturgeon had called for another vote on independence immediately after the EU referendum in 2016, but her plan was temporarily shelved after the SNP lost 21 seats in last year's general election.Ms Sturgeon had called for another vote on independence immediately after the EU referendum in 2016, but her plan was temporarily shelved after the SNP lost 21 seats in last year's general election.
Speaking at an event in Edinburgh last week, Ms Sturgeon - who is also Scotland's first minister - said continuing uncertainty over the UK government's Brexit negotiations meant she was still unable to make a judgement on another independence referendum.
She said: "The end of this period of negotiation, I previously thought that would be October. It is now looking like that is more likely to be November, perhaps with a vote in the House of Commons in December.
"So I will take a judgment depending on where we get to, set out some views on where I think we're heading if we don't change course, and have more to say at that point."
Ms Sturgeon has also faced calls to formally back the so-called People's Vote campaign for a referendum on the final Brexit terms but has so far refused to do so - although she has stressed that her party would not stand in the way of one being held.
'Not the way to go'
Most opinion polls have suggested support for independence remains broadly similar to 2014, when Scotland voted to remain in the UK by 55% to 45%.
In a BBC Scotland interview on Friday, SNP deputy leader Keith Brown urged the party's 125,000 members to be patient over a second referendum, because "we have to have a situation where the people of Scotland themselves are wanting to move forward to independence".
Mr Brown added: "I think the idea of putting a further constitutional question in front of the people of Scotland as they are wrestling with, and anxious about, Brexit is not the right way to go.
"We want to continue to build that appetite for independence, because we believe that represents the best and most hopeful future for Scotland.
"But we have to take the people of Scotland with us, and we have to know what the shape of Brexit is first."
The conference is being held against the backdrop of former SNP leader Alex Salmond taking the Scottish government to court over its handling of sexual harassment allegations that have been made against him by two former staff members.
The allegations, which Mr Salmond has firmly denied, relate to incidents that are said to have happened in 2013, while he was serving as first minister.
Last week, Mr Salmond used his show on the controversial RT television channel to contrast the SNP leadership's "cautious" approach to a second referendum with the "urgency" of the wider pro-independence movement.
SNP MSP Alex Neil and MP Angus MacNeil appeared on the programme, as did Tricia Marwick - a former SNP MSP and Scottish Parliament presiding officer.
Ramping up pressure
Tens of thousands of independence supporters - including Mr Brown - marched through Edinburgh on Saturday in the latest in a series of rallies aimed at ramping up pressure for a second referendum to be held.Tens of thousands of independence supporters - including Mr Brown - marched through Edinburgh on Saturday in the latest in a series of rallies aimed at ramping up pressure for a second referendum to be held.
Writing in the conference guide, Ms Sturgeon said that she and her party "want Scotland to join other small, independent European nations as amongst the fairest, wealthiest, healthiest and happiest countries in the world."
She said she was "incredibly proud" of the party's record during its 11 years in government in Scotland, but said it was now "time to refocus our efforts and refresh our agenda to meet the changing needs of our people and the unprecedented challenges of our times."
Ms Sturgeon added: "It's time to aim high, look resolutely outwards and never accept second best.
"Above all, it's time to believe that we can. Together we can and will make Scotland the country we all know it can be."