Sturgeon maintains her indyref2 threat despite poll blow

15 Jun 2017

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson MSP speaking during First Minister's Questions held in the Scottish parliament, Edinburgh today. 09 June 2016. Pic - Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament

Nicola Sturgeon has refused again to remove her threat of a second independence referendum – despite a poll showing 60 per cent of Scots want her to do so.

At First Minister’s Questions today, she was urged to formally drop the idea of returning Scotland to another divisive vote.

This morning, it was reported that six in 10 Scottish voters – including a large chunk of Yes supporters – do not want a referendum rerun.

That follows the SNP losing 21 MPs at last week’s General Election.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the First Minister was “in complete denial” on independence, particularly after putting it “at the heart” of her Westminster campaign.

Instead, Ms Sturgeon said she’d “reflect” on the result, but fell short of ruling out another vote altogether.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:

“The decisive majority of people in Scotland have no wish for a second independence referendum, and that includes many who voted Yes.

“The First Minister needs to take this off the table – or show herself to be in complete denial.

“The SNP’s message on its referendum plan so far appears to be hunker down, attack anyone who asks for a bit of clarity, then hope none of us notice it pressing ahead regardless.

“Within hours of the Brexit vote Nicola Sturgeon pounced to threaten another referendum.

“Yet now, with independence under threat, she’s saying it would be wrong to make such a knee-jerk decision.

“That’s double standards of the highest order.”


This morning, the Daily Record reported 60 per cent don’t want another referendum: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/majority-scots-want-want-second-10624842

Earlier this week, all Scottish Conservative MPs issued a statement telling Nicola Sturgeon to take independence off the table: http://www.scottishconservatives.com/2017/06/new-mps-demand-sturgeon-faces-up-to-indyref2-reality/

News story: Karen Bradley welcomes DCMS Ministers

The ministerial team is as follows:

Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport:

The Secretary of State has overall responsibility for strategy and policy across the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The Department’s main policy areas are:

  • arts and culture
  • broadcasting
  • creative industries
  • cultural property, heritage and the historic environment
  • digital economy
  • gambling and racing
  • libraries
  • media ownership and mergers
  • museums and galleries
  • The National Lottery
  • Office for Civil Society
  • sport
  • telecommunications and online
  • tourism
  • broadband and mobile connectivity
  • broadcasting
  • creative industries
  • cyber security
  • data
  • Digital Charter
  • digital economy
  • digital skills and engagement
  • digital technology
  • internet governance
  • media
  • online safety
  • spectrum
  • telecoms markets and resilience

Tracey Crouch MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport and Civil Society:

  • gambling
  • horse racing
  • Office for Civil Society
  • sport
  • The National Lottery and society lotteries

John Glen MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Arts, Heritage and Tourism:

  • arts
  • culture
  • heritage
  • public libraries
  • museums
  • National Archives
  • tourism

Lord Ashton of Hyde, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State:

  • ceremonials
  • DCMS business in the Lords
  • First World War commemorations