Nicola Sturgeon releases letter showing Boris Johnson has REFUSED to let her hold a second independence referendum as PM ‘enters endgame’
- Nicola Sturgeon releases letter from Boris Johnson rejecting Indyref2 bid
- Embattled PM wrote to her to say now was not to time to consider second poll
- First Minister suggested it was one of the last acts of Mr Johnson’s tenure
Nicola Sturgeon tonight released a letter Boris Johnson has written to her stating he refuses ‘now is the time’ for a second independence referendum.
Scotland’s First Minister took to Twitter to share her correspondence with the embattled Prime Minister, who wrote to her to say now was not the time to consider another poll on Scottish independence.
In his letter to Nicola Sturgeon, shared by the Scottish First Minister on Twitter, Mr Johnson said it was not the time to consider another independence referendum.
The PM has faced further calls to quit and a barrage of criticism today as he desperately tries to cling on despite a swathe more ministers resigning and even loyalists turning on him.
Urging a foothold of unity, Mr Johnson highlighted the ‘shared priorities’ of both Governments in tackling the cost-of-living crisis, the Ukraine war and Covid-19.
He wrote: ‘I have carefully considered the arguments you set out for a transfer of power from the UK Parliament to the Scottish Parliament to hold another referendum on independence.
‘As our country faces unprecedented challenges at home and abroad, I cannot agree that now is the time to return to a question, which was clearly answered by the people of Scotland in 2014.
‘Our shared priorities must be to respond effectively to the global cost of living challenge, to support our NHS and public services as they recover from the huge disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic, and to play our leading part in the international response to Russian aggression in Ukraine.
‘These are common challenges across the United Kingdom, which deserve our full attention.’
In his letter to Nicola Sturgeon, shared by the Scottish First Minister on Twitter, Boris Johnson said it was not the time to consider another independence referendum despite his premiership hanging by a thread
Nicola Sturgeon tonight released a letter Boris Johnson has written to her stating he refuses ‘now is the time’ for a second independence referendum
The embattled PM faced further calls to quit and a barrage of criticism today as he desperately tries to cling on despite a swathe more ministers resigning and even loyalists turning on him
Behind the famous black door of No10, the PM is embroiled in a final struggle with senior figures including chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris, who are telling him that the ‘game is up’ after a tidal wave of Tory resignations.
More than 35 Tory MPs have now left Government roles with the PM failing to stem the torrent of departures from his administration – with five ministers even resigning in one joint letter to Mr Johnson.
Newly-appointed Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps are among the group, while Home Secretary Priti Patel and Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan are in the building.
In a spiralling series of events at Westminster, senior Cabinet minister Michael Gove and Tory chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris were also both claimed to have told Mr Johnson his premiership is over.
In her tweet, Nicola Sturgeon suggested Boris Johnson’s letter was one of his last acts as Prime Minister.
Scotland’s First Minister took to Twitter to share her correspondence with the embattled Prime Minister, who wrote to her to say now was not the time to consider another poll on Scottish independence
In her tweet, Nicola Sturgeon suggested Boris Johnson’s letter was one of his last acts as Prime Minister as the Tory coup ramped up late on Wednesday
She said: ‘Just received this from Johnson (one of his last acts as PM?). To be clear, Scotland will have the opportunity to choose independence – I hope in a referendum on 19 October 2023 but, if not, through a general election.
‘Scottish democracy will not be a prisoner of this or any PM.’
The PM received jeers and cheers as he took to his feet in the Commons chamber for PMQs with his prospects of survival looking increasingly tiny, but joked that it is a ‘big day’ because the Government is implementing ‘the biggest tax cut in a decade’.
Flanked by a stony-faced Dominic Raab and new Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, Mr Johnson fended off a series of attacks from Keir Starmer saying Europe was enduring the ‘biggest war in 80 years’ and he was getting on with the job.
The premier was visibly angry when Tory MP Tim Loughton stood up and demanded to know if there are ‘any circumstances’ under which he would quit.
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