Sturgeon must end Indyref2 threats

14 Nov 2017

Nicola Sturgeon must rule out a second independence referendum when she meets the Prime Minister later today, Scottish Conservatives have warned.

The call comes after senior SNP MP Tommy Shepherd yesterday threatened a second independence referendum if the Scottish Parliament fails to support UK Government Brexit legislation.

He said that, if the UK Goveernment “ignored” the Scottish Government “the mandate from 2016 is there, and it will be executed, because we will give the people of Scotland a right to decide.”

Mr Shepherd’s comments appear to contradict those of Nicola Sturgeon who said in June that she would “reset” the SNP’s timetable for a referendum, following the party’s losses in the general election.

Ahead of her meeting with the Prime Minister today, the Scottish Conservatives are urging Nicola Sturgeon to make clear she will dump the referendum threats – and instead engage with the UK Government to find a common solution on Brexit which both protects the UK internal market and delivers a stronger Scottish Parliament.

Ross Thomson, the MP for Aberdeen South said:

“So much for the SNP listening to people – Tommy Shepherd has once again shown the Nationalists will use any excuse to take Scotland back to a second referendum.

“It’s a complete outrage. Nicola Sturgeon is in Westminster today and she needs to take this threat off the table immediately.

“End the games – and stop using Brexit to try to split out country in two.”

Adam Tomkins, MSP for Glasgow and the party’s constitution spokesman added:

“The Scottish Conservatives are committed to delivering Brexit in a way that protects the UK internal market and respects devolution.

The way to deliver that is through dialogue and compromise – not through the same old tired Nationalist threats.

“It’s time the SNP listened for once and respected the results of both referendums we have been through.”