Nicola Sturgeon rules out indyref in 2017

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Ms Sturgeon was speaking during a visit to Midlothian Community Hospital in Bonnyrigg Scotland"s first minister has explicitly ruled out holding a second referendum on independence this year.
The Scottish government has already drafted legislation for a referendum after Nicola Sturgeon said another ballot was highly likely in the wake of the UK voting to leave the EU.
But Ms Sturgeon told STV News that any referendum would not been held in 2017.
Her predecessor, Alex Salmond, has predicted a vote on independence will be held in the autumn of next year.
Ms Sturgeon said: “There is not going to be an independence referendum in 2017, I don"t think there is anybody who thinks that is the case.”
Scottish politics – six things to look out for in 2017 Sturgeon: "I"m not bluffing" on indyref2 Soft Brexit could put aside indyref – FM She has previously said a vote on independence will be held if the Scottish government concl..

Read More

Nicola Sturgeon warns PM she is not bluffing on indyref2

Image caption Nicola Sturgeon told Andrew Marr she was not “in any way bluffing” on the issue of a second independence referendum Nicola Sturgeon has warned Theresa May that she is not “bluffing” on the promise of a second independence referendum if Scotland is “driven off a hard Brexit cliff”.
Scotland"s first minister told the BBC"s Andrew Marr she felt the prime minister had “no plan” in terms of her strategy for the UK leaving the EU.
She said she was prepared to compromise and wants Ms May to do the same.
The UK government has said a special deal for Scotland is unrealistic.
The prime minister plans to trigger the Brexit negotiations by the end of March.
Voters in Scotland backed the UK staying in the EU by 62% to 38%.
Ms Sturgeon has said she wants the UK to retain membership of the European single market, the so-called soft Brexit option.
"Opportunity to decide"She has also indicated a soft Brexit would see the prospect of Scottish independence “put aside” i..

Read More

Sturgeon suggests soft Brexit could take indyref off table in short term

Media captionNicola Sturgeon says she is “willing to put aside my preferred option of independence in the EU” in favour of a soft Brexit Nicola Sturgeon has suggested a soft Brexit would see the prospect of Scottish independence removed – in the short term.
Speaking on the BBC"s Good Morning Scotland programme, the first minister said she believed Scotland"s “direction of travel” was towards independence.
But she said this could be “put aside” in the short term as she seeks “consensus and compromise” over Brexit.
Opposition parties want Ms Sturgeon to rule out a second referendum.
Ms Sturgeon said she wanted the UK to retain membership of the European single market, the so-called soft Brexit option.
If the UK as a whole was to leave the market, she has set out terms on which Scotland could potentially stay in, but these would require new powers being devolved to Holyrood.
Voters in Scotland backed the UK staying in the EU by 62% to 38%.
Ms Sturgeon said she favoured Scotland..

Read More

Sturgeon"s summer

Media captionNicola Sturgeon received huge applause from the SNP conference when she announced the drive in March The SNP"s initiative to listen to concerns on independence – and persuade doubters – has just come to an end. Initially announced by Nicola Sturgeon back in March, most of the work has been happening out of the public eye. So what"s been going on?
“This summer, the SNP will embark on a new initiative to build support for independence.”
Those were the words spoken by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon at her party"s conference in March.
It attracted by far the biggest reaction from the faithful gathered in Glasgow.
Independence, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the issue that excites many in the SNP the most.
Ms Sturgeon pledged a listening exercise – not to browbeat opponents of independence but to listen, to evolve their arguments and ultimately to convince.
What since?Eight months on – lots has happened in the political world.
Ms Sturgeon"s party won the elect..

Read More

Sturgeon: single market membership "least worst" Brexit option

Media captionNicola Sturgeon says membership of the single market is the "least worst option" for business Nicola Sturgeon has told a summit of the British-Irish Council in Cardiff that remaining in the single market is the UK"s “least worst” Brexit option.
The first minister said staying inside the common market after leaving the EU would be best for every part of the UK.
Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones, hosting the summit, also backed “full and unfettered” single market access.
But he cast doubt on whether Scotland could secure a separate deal if the rest of the UK left.
Mr Jones said he thought individual deals for any of the home nations were unworkable.
Also in attendance at the summit were figures from the UK government and the devolved nations as well as Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny, with whom Ms Sturgeon held a bilateral meeting.
"Least worst outcome"Ms Sturgeon she said she and Mr Jones had a similar position on the UK"s place in the single marke..

Read More