ALEX Salmond has warned Theresa May not to underestimate Nicola Sturgeon’s willingness to hold a second referendum on independence.
During his LBC radio show, when the ex-SNP leader said he thought Scots go back to the polls in autumn next year, and that another vote was almost undoubtedly going to happen.
Any vote would have to take place during the two-year Brexit negotiating period, which will begin in March when the Government triggers Article 50, Salmond said.
“It has to be within the two-year negotiating period, so we would be talking about a year come the autumn, or something like that.
“You would have to have it within the two years, you would want to have the Scottish referendum before the Brexit process had been completed.”
Speaking to The National, the former First Minister said the UK Government would be “foolish” to reject the Scottish Government’s Brexit proposals, being discussed this afternoon at the Joint Ministerial Committee.
“Theresa May would be extremely foolish to underestimate Miss Sturgeon’s determination on these matters,” Salmond said. “If Theresa May wants to fling down the gauntlet she’ll find Nicola Sturgeon will pick it up.
“The Scottish Government plan could work,” he added, pointing to the example of Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
“Switzerland has the sort of deal, broadly speaking, with the EU that Theresa May is looking for. Lichtenstein is a full member of the EEA, but is in a currency and has a passport union with Switzerland,” the Gordon MP added.
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