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Nicola Sturgeon confident referendum can be held in 2023 Nicola Sturgeon 'will never give up' on independence
(about 1 hour later)
Nicola Sturgeon has said she is confident a Scottish independence referendum can be held next October. 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 vote on 19 October 2023, and has asked the Supreme Court if MSPs can set one up. The first minister wants to hold a referendum on 19 October 2023, but Prime Minister Liz Truss opposes this.
The UK government has rejected the idea, but Ms Sturgeon said the "vast majority" of Scots would take part. 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.
She said she would "never ever give up on Scottish democracy", and would use a future general election to settle the issue if a referendum is blocked. Ms Sturgeon said the "vast majority" of Scots would take part in any vote.
Prime Minister Liz 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". Live: Nicola Sturgeon interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg
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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."