This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-63186284
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Nicola Sturgeon 'will never give up' on independence | Nicola Sturgeon 'will never give up' on independence |
| (31 minutes 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. | 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 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. | 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. | Ms Sturgeon said the "vast majority" of Scots would take part in any vote. |
| More news from Scottish politics | 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 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. | 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". | 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 says she is confident Scotland will become independent | Watch: Nicola Sturgeon says she is confident Scotland will become independent |
| Watch: Nicola Sturgeon says she is confident Scotland will become independent | Watch: Nicola Sturgeon says she is confident Scotland will become independent |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | And she said her "last resort" option would be to use a future general election as a single-issue vote on independence. |
| 'Fairytale economics' now a nightmare - Blackford | 'Fairytale economics' now a nightmare - Blackford |
| SNP seek to exploit Truss's faltering start as PM | SNP seek to exploit Truss's faltering start as PM |
| Sturgeon says lack of contact from Truss 'absurd' | Sturgeon says lack of contact from Truss 'absurd' |
| She said: "That is not my preference, but we have to have an alternative. | 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. | "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." | "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." |
| Nobody at the SNP conference is expecting a big new announcement from Nicola Sturgeon on independence, because she has already made her strategy clear. | Nobody at the SNP conference is expecting a big new announcement from Nicola Sturgeon on independence, because she has already made her strategy clear. |
| If UK ministers won't agree to a 2014-style deal, she hopes the Supreme Court might sign off a vote. If that goes awry, she could use a future general election instead. | If UK ministers won't agree to a 2014-style deal, she hopes the Supreme Court might sign off a vote. If that goes awry, she could use a future general election instead. |
| Her government is directing distinct arguments at three different groups in a bid to win independence, and we heard several of them rehearsed today. | Her government is directing distinct arguments at three different groups in a bid to win independence, and we heard several of them rehearsed today. |
| There are the technical, legal points set to be addressed to Supreme Court judges, starting from Tuesday. | There are the technical, legal points set to be addressed to Supreme Court judges, starting from Tuesday. |
| That case is part of the attempt to persuade or force the UK government into backing a vote - with Ms Sturgeon calling them out today essentially as chickens who are running scared of the contest. | That case is part of the attempt to persuade or force the UK government into backing a vote - with Ms Sturgeon calling them out today essentially as chickens who are running scared of the contest. |
| And then there's the wider argument aimed at winning Scots over to independence, which Ms Sturgeon terms as an expression of democracy - arguing that blocking this would make a powerful case for her side. | And then there's the wider argument aimed at winning Scots over to independence, which Ms Sturgeon terms as an expression of democracy - arguing that blocking this would make a powerful case for her side. |
| Ms Sturgeon said she would "try to work constructively" with Ms Truss as prime minister. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | "And do I think either Westminster Tory or Labour government is good enough for Scotland? My answer to that is no. |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadhim Zahawi responded to Ms Sturgeon's comments on the same programme. He said: "I think that language is really dangerous. | |
| "I prefer to work with my colleagues in Scotland on delivering the freeports, the greenports, as I want to do with (deputy first minister) John Swinney and others." | |
| 'Deluding herself' | 'Deluding herself' |
| 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". | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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." |
| Meanwhile the Scottish Conservatives said Ms Sturgeon was "deluding herself" that there was appetite among the public for a referendum. | Meanwhile the Scottish Conservatives said Ms Sturgeon was "deluding herself" that there was appetite among the public for a referendum. |
| MSP Donald Cameron said it was "the wrong priority at the worst possible time", instead calling for the government focus on the cost of living crisis and NHS waiting times. | MSP Donald Cameron said it was "the wrong priority at the worst possible time", instead calling for the government focus on the cost of living crisis and NHS waiting times. |