Nicola Sturgeon fired a warning to any future prime minster who dared block Scotland’s will on independence as she said the UK we knew no longer exists.
The SNP leader appeared on the Andrew Marr Show this morning buoyed by a Sunday Post poll which showed 59% of Scots now back independence.
She said independence is “not my starting” point as a way to protect Scotland’s relationship with the Europe, but said it is an option the country has the “right to take” to save its EU status.
“This is not going to be a rerun of the 2014 referendum. The context and the circumstances have changed dramatically,” she said.
“The UK that Scotland voted to remain within in 2014 doesn’t exist anymore. And this is a case of how we best protect stability and the interests of Scotland.”
Ms Sturgeon said she looked on at Westminster with a “sense of utter despair” on behalf of those in England and Wales as a “vacuum of leadership” develops in the Tories and Labour.
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She said there is strong leadership in Scotland, adding: “I will do everything I possibly can to prevent Scotland being taken out of the EU because the consequences of allowing us to do so will be devastating.”
As the Conservative party leadership contest looks poised to descend into chaos, she warned any future prime minister against blocking a Holyrood vote to hold a second independence referendum.
“I don’t think it’s acceptable in the context we find ourselves in of anybody trying to dictate to Scotland the terms of how we seek to take the country forward,” she said.
“It’s simply not acceptable and I would caution any future prime minster against putting themselves in that position.”
