Sturgeon refuses to rule out wildcat independence vote

Yesterday (16 March) the UK Prime Minister Theresa May told the Scottish Government that “now is not the time” for a second referendum on independence. Getting into bed with the Tories had a disastrous effect on their popularity, so they will more than likely opt for their own pro-union campaigns.

“I am determined that I will have one on my timescale because the will of the Scottish Parliament will be respected”, Ms Sturgeon told BBC Scotland on Thursday.

“I think most people across Scotland, whether they would vote “yes” or “no” to independence will be appalled at the idea of a Conservative Government with no mandate in Scotland seeking to stand in the way of a democratically elected Scottish Government with a clear mandate”.

Monday night’s forward movement for Ms May gets neutralised by her immediate criticism of the fresh initiative of the Scottish National Party (SNP) ~ “The party had a tunnel vision on breaking away from the UK”.

“Most people would say if there was a referendum today, the result would probably be similar to last time” – in 2014 when an independence vote was defeated 55 percent to 45 percent – said Martin Davis, chief executive officer of Dutch insurer Aegon NV’s Kames Capital. She pointed out that the SNP government was re-elected previous year with a manifesto stating that it could call a second vote if there was a significant change in the country’s circumstances-such as Brexit.

Her intervention, at the Conservative spring forum in Cardiff, came as SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson insisted there was “no doubt” that a second referendum would take place – even though Mrs May has ruled out a vote on independence before Brexit has been finalised.

“We reject conclusively the timetable for a referendum set out by the Scottish government”, she said.

DESPITE Theresa May’s opposition to a second independence referendum, options remain open to the Scottish Government.

Sturgeon said it is the Scottish Government’s “intention” to hold “a referendum on the same basis we had as the one in 2014”. The British government hopes to seal a new free-trade deal between the United Kingdom and the bloc in that time.

The move comes at a time when European Union nationals face having their voting rights curtailed after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union and completes the Brexit process, after which European Union law and entitlements would no longer be in force.

Scotland has a 300 year history in a British state which, for all its faults, has learned to accommodate Scottish interests. She added that it would be a distraction at a time the U.K.’s efforts should be focused on the upcoming Brexit negotiations.

She is to say: “The coming negotiations with the European Union will be vital for everyone in the United Kingdom”. While it may not prove necessary to shore up Hadrian’s Wall along the Scotland-England border, there would still have to be customs barriers between the two independent countries.

“We are four nations, but at heart we are one people”, May will say, according to a speech leaked to the Telegraph.