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Nicola Sturgeon to update MSPs on indyref2 plans | Nicola Sturgeon to update MSPs on indyref2 plans |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Nicola Sturgeon is to update MSPs on Brexit and her plans for a possible Scottish independence referendum in a long-awaited speech at Holyrood. | Nicola Sturgeon is to update MSPs on Brexit and her plans for a possible Scottish independence referendum in a long-awaited speech at Holyrood. |
The Scottish first minister will make a statement on "Brexit and Scotland's future" at Holyrood from 13:30. | The Scottish first minister will make a statement on "Brexit and Scotland's future" at Holyrood from 13:30. |
BBC Scotland understands that she will not announce a specific date for a further vote on independence. | |
Her spokesman said she would "strike an inclusive tone" while "setting out a path forward for Scotland". | Her spokesman said she would "strike an inclusive tone" while "setting out a path forward for Scotland". |
But the Scottish Conservatives said Ms Sturgeon was "obsessed" by independence and was neglecting other issues. | But the Scottish Conservatives said Ms Sturgeon was "obsessed" by independence and was neglecting other issues. |
Labour and the Lib Dems also hit out in advance of the statement, while the Greens urged Ms Sturgeon to "fire the starting gun" on a new independence vote as an "escape route from Brexit". | Labour and the Lib Dems also hit out in advance of the statement, while the Greens urged Ms Sturgeon to "fire the starting gun" on a new independence vote as an "escape route from Brexit". |
The statement comes days before the SNP conference, which is set to be dominated by discussion of the party's "growth commission" paper of plans for independence. | The statement comes days before the SNP conference, which is set to be dominated by discussion of the party's "growth commission" paper of plans for independence. |
Ms Sturgeon called for a second referendum on Scotland's relationship with the EU immediately after the Brexit vote in 2016, but put her plans on hold after the snap general election the following year. | Ms Sturgeon called for a second referendum on Scotland's relationship with the EU immediately after the Brexit vote in 2016, but put her plans on hold after the snap general election the following year. |
At that point, she said she would come back and update MSPs on the "precise timescale" for the new vote - known as "indyref2" - once there was more clarity about the outcome of Brexit negotiations. | At that point, she said she would come back and update MSPs on the "precise timescale" for the new vote - known as "indyref2" - once there was more clarity about the outcome of Brexit negotiations. |
But BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor understands she will not set out a specific referendum date in her latest statement. | |
"Instead, she'll set out steps to protect her existing referendum mandate, leaving open the prospect of a ballot before the next Holyrood elections in 2021," he said. | |
"The first minister hopes her statement will content SNP activists ahead of the party conference this coming weekend." | |
The first minister's official spokesman said Wednesday's 30 minute statement would "explore some of the issues that have arisen as a result of the ongoing Brexit situation and Scotland's constitutional future". | The first minister's official spokesman said Wednesday's 30 minute statement would "explore some of the issues that have arisen as a result of the ongoing Brexit situation and Scotland's constitutional future". |
He said: "It will be a detailed and substantive statement setting out a path forward for Scotland amid the ongoing Brexit confusion at Westminster. | He said: "It will be a detailed and substantive statement setting out a path forward for Scotland amid the ongoing Brexit confusion at Westminster. |
"The first minister will take time to set out her thoughts on that front and in doing so she will seek to strike an inclusive tone." | "The first minister will take time to set out her thoughts on that front and in doing so she will seek to strike an inclusive tone." |
There is a pro-independence majority at Holyrood, between the Greens and the SNP, which saw the parliament back calls for a new referendum in March 2017. | There is a pro-independence majority at Holyrood, between the Greens and the SNP, which saw the parliament back calls for a new referendum in March 2017. |
Green co-convener Patrick Harvie said it would be "hugely disappointing" if the SNP let the mandate to hold a second referendum within the current Holyrood term expire "in the face of Tory obstructionism". | Green co-convener Patrick Harvie said it would be "hugely disappointing" if the SNP let the mandate to hold a second referendum within the current Holyrood term expire "in the face of Tory obstructionism". |
He added: "Scotland needs an escape route from a Brexit it didn't vote for and the Scottish Greens stand ready to campaign hard for an independent Scotland in the EU." | He added: "Scotland needs an escape route from a Brexit it didn't vote for and the Scottish Greens stand ready to campaign hard for an independent Scotland in the EU." |
The UK government has said it would not give its backing to a new referendum via a "section 30 order" like the one which underpinned the 2014 vote. | The UK government has said it would not give its backing to a new referendum via a "section 30 order" like the one which underpinned the 2014 vote. |
Ms Sturgeon told MSPs in March that "the legal basis of any future referendum should be the same as the referendum in 2014, which is the transfer of power under a section 30 order", but said the "anti-democratic" Conservatives were "running scared of the will of the Scottish people". | Ms Sturgeon told MSPs in March that "the legal basis of any future referendum should be the same as the referendum in 2014, which is the transfer of power under a section 30 order", but said the "anti-democratic" Conservatives were "running scared of the will of the Scottish people". |
Holyrood's other parties all oppose independence, and spoke out ahead of the first minister's statement. | Holyrood's other parties all oppose independence, and spoke out ahead of the first minister's statement. |
Scottish Conservative interim leader Jackson Carlaw said Ms Sturgeon was "passing up the opportunity" to talk about topics such as education to instead focus on "her real priority - her plan for a divisive second referendum on independence". | Scottish Conservative interim leader Jackson Carlaw said Ms Sturgeon was "passing up the opportunity" to talk about topics such as education to instead focus on "her real priority - her plan for a divisive second referendum on independence". |
He said: "The only reason this statement is happening at all is because Nicola Sturgeon put a second independence referendum back on the table following the EU vote - and she has obsessed about it ever since. | He said: "The only reason this statement is happening at all is because Nicola Sturgeon put a second independence referendum back on the table following the EU vote - and she has obsessed about it ever since. |
"All this keeps open the divisions from the 2014 referendum - and leaves us with less time spent focusing on getting Scotland's economy growing again." | "All this keeps open the divisions from the 2014 referendum - and leaves us with less time spent focusing on getting Scotland's economy growing again." |
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said there was "no evidence that the people of Scotland want another independence referendum". | Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said there was "no evidence that the people of Scotland want another independence referendum". |
He added: "The mess of Brexit throws into sharp relief the challenges of leaving a political and economic union. The answer to challenges of the UK leaving the EU is not and never will be Scotland leaving the UK." | He added: "The mess of Brexit throws into sharp relief the challenges of leaving a political and economic union. The answer to challenges of the UK leaving the EU is not and never will be Scotland leaving the UK." |
And Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie urged Ms Sturgeon to "tell parliament she has learned the lesson of Brexit, that breaking up long-term economic partnerships is damaging and divisive and that she does not want to inflict that on Scotland with independence". | And Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie urged Ms Sturgeon to "tell parliament she has learned the lesson of Brexit, that breaking up long-term economic partnerships is damaging and divisive and that she does not want to inflict that on Scotland with independence". |