NICOLA Sturgeon is expected to make a statement on plans for a second independence referendum before Holyrood breaks up for the summer at the end of next week. The First Minister led discussions on a new plebiscite when her cabinet team met in Edinburgh yesterday morning, almost two weeks on from the election.
She has previously said she will reflect on Scottish Government proposals for a fresh ballot in the wake of the June 8 result, which saw the SNP win the election north of the Border but lose 21 of its 56 seats including those of Alex Salmond and Angus Robertson.
After yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, a spokesman for the First Minister said: “There was a discussion led by the First Minister on an independence referendum and related issues. That forms part of the process she laid out after the election and she will continue to consult with Government and party colleagues, and will lay out her views on the way forward in due course.”
When asked if this would be before Holyrood breaks up for the summer recess at the close of business on Thursday June 29, he stated: “I think it is likely before then.”
The spokesman added there was not “an exact timetable” for when any announcement would be made nor whether Sturgeon would give the statement to the Scottish Parliament or at her official residence Bute House, where she announced plans for a new referendum.
The First Minister announced in March that the Scottish Government wanted to hold another ballot on independence some time between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, when the results of the Brexit deal are known but before the UK leaves the EU. She believes such a vote is necessary to give Scots an alternative to a “hard Brexit” after nearly two-thirds of people north of the Border voted to stay part of the EU.
Both during and after the election Unionist politicians have called for any plans for another referendum to be put on hold.
Following the election, Sturgeon said she would reflect on her plans.
The SNP’s General Election manifesto stated that a victory in the June ballot, in addition to a win in last year’s Holyrood elections and a vote in the Scottish Parliament in favour of seeking a referendum, would “complete a triple lock, further reinforcing the democratic mandate which already exists”.
But responding to questions from journalists, she indicated the vote may be delayed past the period she originally proposed in line with any shifts in the Brexit timetable.
“It is important that people have clarity about Brexit and what that means, and they then have clarity about the options,” she said.
“I’ve said autumn 2018 to spring 2019 for a reason – because that’s when Theresa May is saying the Brexit process will end, so I have taken her at her word. If that changes, and I said this on the day I set out these plans, if that changes, then of course we’ll have to consider our timing in light of that.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Greens’ said: “Our position on independence remains unchanged. Greens MSPs voted, along with a majority in the Scottish Parliament, for Holyrood’s right to hold an independence referendum given the timing and nature of Brexit.”
Labour MSP James Kelly yesterday repeated calls for the Scottish Government to take the referendum off the table.
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