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Nicola Sturgeon: 'No shortcut route to Scottish independence' | Nicola Sturgeon: 'No shortcut route to Scottish independence' |
(32 minutes later) | |
Scotland's first minister has insisted that a legal referendum is the only way for the country to win independence. | Scotland's first minister has insisted that a legal referendum is the only way for the country to win independence. |
Nicola Sturgeon dismissed claims that the SNP winning a majority of Scottish seats in a general election would be enough for independence to be declared. | Nicola Sturgeon dismissed claims that the SNP winning a majority of Scottish seats in a general election would be enough for independence to be declared. |
She said there was "no easy or shortcut route to independence" and that a future referendum had to be "beyond any doubt in terms of its legitimacy". | She said there was "no easy or shortcut route to independence" and that a future referendum had to be "beyond any doubt in terms of its legitimacy". |
But she insisted that independence was now closer than ever. | But she insisted that independence was now closer than ever. |
The SNP leader was speaking to BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor ahead of her party's three-day conference, which opens in Aberdeen on Sunday afternoon. | The SNP leader was speaking to BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor ahead of her party's three-day conference, which opens in Aberdeen on Sunday afternoon. |
Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly said she wants to hold a second referendum on independence next year - but the move has been ruled out by the UK government. | Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly said she wants to hold a second referendum on independence next year - but the move has been ruled out by the UK government. |
And she is facing mounting pressure from some SNP activists and MPs, as well as others in the wider independence movement, to adopt a so-called Plan B if consent for a referendum is not granted. | And she is facing mounting pressure from some SNP activists and MPs, as well as others in the wider independence movement, to adopt a so-called Plan B if consent for a referendum is not granted. |
There have been calls for an unofficial independence referendum to be held, similar to the disputed one in Catalonia in 2017. | There have been calls for an unofficial independence referendum to be held, similar to the disputed one in Catalonia in 2017. |
And others, including MP Angus MacNeil, have suggested that winning a majority of Scottish seats at Westminster should be enough for independence negotiations to begin without the need for a referendum - which was once the SNP's official policy. | |
However Ms Sturgeon insisted: "I have campaigned for independence all of my life. If there was an easy or shortcut route I would have taken it by now. | However Ms Sturgeon insisted: "I have campaigned for independence all of my life. If there was an easy or shortcut route I would have taken it by now. |
"We have to demonstrate majority support for independence in a process that is legal and legitimate and that crucially - not just domestically in the UK but internationally and in Europe in particular - will be accepted. That is the right way to go." | "We have to demonstrate majority support for independence in a process that is legal and legitimate and that crucially - not just domestically in the UK but internationally and in Europe in particular - will be accepted. That is the right way to go." |
A general election is widely expected to be held before the end of the year, which Ms Sturgeon said would offer Scottish voters the chance to demonstrate their support for a referendum and independence. | A general election is widely expected to be held before the end of the year, which Ms Sturgeon said would offer Scottish voters the chance to demonstrate their support for a referendum and independence. |
But she pointed out that the SNP has previously won a majority of Scottish seats in a general election on a minority of the votes. | But she pointed out that the SNP has previously won a majority of Scottish seats in a general election on a minority of the votes. |
And she said "nobody in Europe would listen to me in terms of the legitimacy of that" if she was to claim it was a mandate for independence. | And she said "nobody in Europe would listen to me in terms of the legitimacy of that" if she was to claim it was a mandate for independence. |
The SNP leader added: "I am absolutely confident we will win independence sooner rather than later, but the only way to do that is to clearly demonstrate that the majority of people in Scotland want it. | The SNP leader added: "I am absolutely confident we will win independence sooner rather than later, but the only way to do that is to clearly demonstrate that the majority of people in Scotland want it. |
"I think we're closer to that than we've ever been before and we should stick with that course, because it's the right one and ultimately it will be the successful one". | "I think we're closer to that than we've ever been before and we should stick with that course, because it's the right one and ultimately it will be the successful one". |