Boris lets rip at SNP! Johnson lashes out at latest IndyRef2 plot – ‘Focus on Covid’
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The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said that now was not the time for a new referendum on the matter.
His comments came after Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, said this morning that plans for a new vote could move forward due to the “improved situation” in the fight against Covid.
The SNP won re-election in May last year with the pledge to hold a new vote on breaking up the United Kingdom.
Reiterating the party’s intentions to go ahead the ballot, Mr Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland: “What we’ve said all along is that when we get out of the intensity of Covid, we will start the preparations for the independence referendum.
“We took the sensible decision back in March 2020 to pause all preparations for an independence referendum – despite having a mandate to do so.
“We’ve watched carefully the passage of the virus and we now find ourselves in a much, much improved situation.”
He added: “The First Minister has made clear that she would set out the timetable for the preparations for a referendum that will take place before the end of 2023.
“Obviously there’s a variety of protocols that we have to follow to enable the passing of legislation to take place in sufficient time for it to be understood by the public.”
Taking aim at the drive for independence, the No10 spokesman said the Scottish public expected Nicola Sturgeon and her Government to prioritise the recovery from Covid.
He said: “People in Scotland rightly want and expect both their governments to be placing their full focus and energy on recovering from the effects of the pandemic and working together to achieve that.
“And being focused on issues that make a real difference to them and their families, whether that’s dealing with the issues facing the health service or on catching up on education.”
Rejecting Mr Swinney’s suggestion that the UK is almost freed from the effects of Covid, he added: “What we know is there are going to be longstanding challenges caused by and as a result of this global pandemic.”
The fallout from Covid has seen inflation surge and national debt hit historic highs.
Ministers are grappling with how to boost the economy while also dealing with the level of debt.
The UK’s GDP remains below the level it was before the pandemic with national growth stalling in recent months.
At the same time, while most Covid restrictions in England are set to lift later this week, Scotland continues to impose extra measures such as compulsory face coverings in indoor crowded places.
Yesterday Ms Sturgeon said that she would announce her timetable for legislation for a new referendum in the “coming weeks”.
“The preparatory work is underway right now – but we haven’t decided on the date when we would seek to introduce the bill,” she told the BBC.
“This is about democracy. It’s about allowing the people of Scotland to choose our own future.
“For goodness sake, when we look at everything that is happening – and has been happening for years now – at Westminster, the chaotic instability, the unpredictability, there are a growing number of people who think we could do better as an independent country.”
More to follow…
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