SNP MP squirms as reason why Sturgeon ‘doesn’t want the referendum now’ is exposed

Indyref2: Sturgeon 'doesn't want vote now' claims expert

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Fraser Nelson hit out at the SNP MP for pushing for a bill on Scottish independence when Scotland being part of the Union has been a “lifeline” for many Scots during the Covid pandemic. Nicola Sturgeon’s party failed to win an overall majority, the eight Green MSPs who were elected mean that 72 of the 129 members support independence. The SNP leader has already told Mr Johnson that the second independence referendum is now a matter of “when not if”.

Speaking on BBC Two’s Politics Live, Mr Nelson said: “The UK government pools the resources to come up with things like the furlough scheme that has been a lifeline to so many Scots.

“The vaccination programme, there is no way that wasn’t plugged into the UK scheme, the most successful scheme in the whole of Europe.

“This is why Nicola Sturgeon isn’t wanting the referendum now.

“First of all, she will probably lose it and this is why it’s so strange hearing Pete thinking there should be a referendum bill in the Queen’s speech.”

He added: “The support for independence has gone nowhere in the past four years.

“The SNP has gone backward since Alex Salmond’s day. It’s not a particularly encouraging outlook.”

Mr Wishart replied: “We’re getting told that we’re subsidised by the rest of the UK.

“Resourceful, rich Scotland – to try and suggest that we require subsidies in order to prosper is absolute nonsense.”

SNP should be focused on 'recovery' says Nadine Dorries

Downing Street has refused to be drawn on issues relating to Scotland’s future, insisting the focus must be on tackling coronavirus

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Throughout the recent elections all party leaders across the UK said Covid recovery should be our shared priority and that’s what the UK Government is going to be focusing on.”

However, Ian Blackford said the Scottish election result meant there was now a “cast-iron mandate for a post-pandemic independence referendum”.

Ms Sturgeon has always stated a second vote on Scotland’s place in the UK would not take place until the immediate health crisis of coronavirus has passed.

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With the Tories doing well in local English elections, including winning the Westminster constituency of Hartlepool in a byelection, Mr Blackford argued that “England and Scotland are on different political paths”.

He added: “We have two governments and Parliaments with different priorities.”

Speaking ahead of the Queen’s Speech, the SNP MP insisted: “Boris Johnson must respect the will of the Scottish people – who voted overwhelmingly to re-elect the SNP with a cast-iron mandate for a post-pandemic independence referendum.”

Mr Blackford continued: “When it comes to recovery, Scotland voted for a parliament that will back transformative policies to create a fairer society but instead the Tories are repeating the same damaging mistakes of the last economic crisis, by imposing austerity cuts, a hard Brexit, a public sector pay freeze and slashing Universal Credit – pushing millions of people into poverty.”

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