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Nicola Sturgeon 'will never give up' on independence | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Nicola Sturgeon has said she will "never, ever give up on Scottish democracy" if UK ministers continue to reject plans for an independence vote. | |
The first minister wants to hold a referendum on 19 October 2023, but Prime Minister Liz Truss opposes this. | |
The Supreme Court is to debate whether MSPs could set up a vote alone, and Ms Sturgeon has said she could use a future election to settle the issue. | |
Ms Sturgeon said the "vast majority" of Scots would take part in any vote. | |
Live: Nicola Sturgeon interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg | |
More news from Scottish politics | |
Ms Truss has said "no, no, no" to the idea of a referendum, but Ms Sturgeon said this rejection was "one of the most powerful arguments for Scotland being an independent country". | |
Ms Sturgeon was interviewed during the SNP conference in Aberdeen, ahead of her speech on Monday. | |
She has set out plans for a referendum in just over a year's time, and told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg that she was "confident that can happen". | |
Watch: Nicola Sturgeon: "I detest the Tories and everything they stand for" | |
Watch: Nicola Sturgeon: "I detest the Tories and everything they stand for" | |
The first minister said she did not want to pre-judge the deliberations of the Supreme Court, which is to examine whether MSPs can pass legislation to set up a referendum without Westminster's backing. | |
But she said the "vast majority" of Scots would take part in a "lawful referendum" if the court paved the way for that, regardless of what position UK ministers take. | |
And she said her "last resort" option would be to use a future general election as a single-issue vote on independence. | |
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She said: "That is not my preference, but we have to have an alternative. | |
"If the route by which it would be right to consider and decide this issue - a lawful constitutional referendum - is blocked by Westminster because they fear the democratic choice of the people of Scotland then for me and the SNP the choice is simple. | |
"We put the case to people in an election or we give up on Scottish democracy. And I want to be clear today I will never give up on Scottish democracy." | |
'Detest the Tories' | |
Ms Sturgeon said she would "try to work constructively" with Ms Truss as prime minister. | |
However, she also said "I detest the Tories and everything they stand for" when asked if she would rather have Labour in government. | |
She said she was "really disappointed" that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had "thrown in the towel" over Brexit. | |
She added: "Being better than the Tories is not a high bar to cross right now. We need to see more of a radical alternative from Labour, rather than a pale imitation. | |
"And do I think either Westminster Tory or Labour government is good enough for Scotland? My answer to that is no." | |
Speaking on BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said Ms Sturgeon comparing the two parties "insults the intelligence of voters across the country". | |
He said: "In the last three general elections I don't believe people thought Labour could win. I think this next election will be different. | |
"I think people can see that Labour can win ,and I hope Labour will win that election and that's a really different framing. | |
"That's why yesterday you heard the SNP conference focus their attacks on the Labour Party - it almost sounded like they preferred a Tory government." |