An SNP general election victory in Scotland would provide a second independence referendum “triple lock”, Nicola Sturgeon said before admitting she would consent to pushing another ballot back for Brexit.
Launching the party’s manifesto in Perth, a key battleground seat in next month’s vote, the First Minister also pledged to balance the budget by the end of the next parliament.
No costing was published to show how such a promise would be fulfilled.
On independence, the manifesto says: “Last year’s Holyrood election delivered the democratic mandate for an independence referendum.
“The recent vote of Scotland’s national parliament has underlined that mandate. If the SNP wins a majority of Scottish seats in this election, that would complete a triple lock, further reinforcing the democratic mandate which already exists.
“And, in such circumstances, any continued Tory attempts to block the people of Scotland having a choice on their future – when the time is right and the options are clear – would be democratically unsustainable.”
On timing, Ms Sturgeon added: “I’ve said autumn 2018 to spring 2019 for a reason – because that’s when Theresa May is saying the Brexit process will end, so I have taken her at her word.
“If that changes, and I said this on the day I set out these plans, if that changes, then of course we’ll have to consider our timing in light of that.”
The SNP won 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland in the 2015 general election and is expected to take the most again, despite polls suggesting it is likely to lose some constituencies.
Opposition parties said the manifesto pledge confirmed independence remains the SNP’s top priority.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: “Nicola Sturgeon tried her usual trick today of trying to ignore independence in her speech, but making sure she’s pushing for it in her manifesto. Nobody is fooled any more.
Labour’s Kezia Dugdale said: “Nicola Sturgeon has once again confirmed that her number one priority in this election is her plan for another unwanted and divisive independence referendum.”
Willie Rennie, of the Liberal Democrats, said: “They barely mentioned independence today but we know independence will be their top priority once the election is over.”
Addressing supporters at Perth Concert Hall, SNP leader Ms Sturgeon said being taken out of the EU and the single market would put 80,000 jobs in Scotland at risk and would pose “a real danger to our farmers and fishermen, our universities, our food and drink businesses, to almost every sector of our economy”.
The manifesto also sets out “anti-austerity” plans to invest almost £120 billion in UK public services and pledges to increase the minimum wage to £10 an hour.
Further pledges include a plan for additional NHS spending that would increase the health budget in Scotland by up to an extra £1 billion, a call to abolish the two-child cap and the so-called rape clause, backing for the triple lock on pensions and support for a UK-wide increase in the higher rate of taxation from 45p to 50p.
Pressed by The Courier for detailed costings, Ms Sturgeon said the plans would “raise an additional £10 billion over the lifetime of the parliament”, while spending would “add up to £80 billion”.
