SNP to 'lose confidence' if Sturgeon is 'tarnished' says expert
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This week, Scotland’s First Minister announced she would set out “bold plans to rebuild the country and put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hand”. Her comments come as the SNP prepares for the upcoming Holyrood elections.
She said: “As we come out of the crisis we will have a new national mission – to rebuild and revitalise Scotland.
“And as we look to the future the fundamental question before people in Scotland is this – who has the right to decide the kind of country we should be?
“Should it be the people who live here or should it be the likes of Boris Johnson? I believe it is for the people of Scotland to decide.”
However, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said they would table a boycott and legal challenge if Ms Sturgeon triggers a rogue independence poll, a move backed by the Scottish Conservatives.
Now, Express.co.uk is asking whether the Prime Minister should boycott an independence referendum led by Ms Sturgeon.
The SNP revealed a roadmap to a second independence referendum and set out how they intend to take forward plans on another vote.
Party chiefs said a “legal referendum” will be held after the coronavirus pandemic if there is a pro-independence majority following the Holyrood election in May.
However, Ms Sturgeon has faced ongoing criticism for focussing on a second independence vote rather than the coronavirus pandemic.
Colin Smyth MSP, Scottish Labour Constitution spokesperson, told Express.co.uk: “At a time of national crisis, the public want our politicians to focus on what unites our country – not more division.
“At this election, Scottish Labour and our leader Anas Sarwar will set out a vision for Scotland that makes the case for a Covid Recovery Parliament instead of more division.
“Rather than accepting that the argument is lost, speculating on distant hypotheticals and fuelling division, Alister Jack should do the same.”
In the 2014 referendum, the Scottish public voted to remain part of the UK but Ms Sturgeon has continued to call for another vote following Britain’s departure from the EU.
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However, Mr Johnson has repeatedly ruled out the prospect of another independence referendum.
Over the weekend, Ms Sturgeon was warned she could lose her seat in the election as the SNP are facing a “festering civil war”.
Brian Monteith, the editor of ThinkScotland.org, explained how the election of Mr Sarwar to lead the Scottish Labour Party could pose a detrimental effect on Ms Sturgeon’s seat in Glasgow.
He said how Ms Sturgeon is ranked second on the SNP’s Glasgow regional list but could be “out of politics” altogether if she does not win Glasgow Southside.
Last week a poll carried out by Savanta ComRes for The Scotsman showed most Scottish voters do not support independence.
The 1,015-person poll was carried out from March 4 to March 5 and found a general ‘No’ voting preference in a referendum asking whether Scotland should be an independent country.
Of those surveyed 46 percent do not approve of independence, with 43 percent approving and 10 percent responding they do not know.
Excluding those who said “don’t know”, 52 percent vote “no” for independence to 48 percent saying “yes”.
Scotland goes to the polls on May 6.
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