Canadian newspaper calls for Sturgeon to take charge of UK

SHE has been praised across the UK for her steely response to the EU referendum result, her decisive actions reigniting the independence debate and winning attention in Brussels.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has won support from an unlikely source. Picture: Jane Barlow

Now Nicola Sturgeon has been tipped for further success - by taking charge of the whole of the UK.

The unlikely endorsement came from the Toronto Star, a Canadian daily newspaper.

Mocking the Conservative leadership contest, and Labour’s internal strife under Jeremy Corbyn, the Star suggested now was the time for the SNP leader to take charge at Westminster - and even compared her to James VI of Scotland, who succeeded to the throne of England in 1603.

In an editorial published on July 4, the paper wrote: “The only British politician who has so far weathered the crisis with her reputation enhanced is not English at all. It’s Nicola Sturgeon, the doughty leader of the Scottish National Party and First Minister of Scotland for the past two years.

“While all about her were losing their heads, Sturgeon kept hers.

“She stepped confidently forth to make Scotland’s case for staying in the EU and for having another crack at a referendum on independence, now that English voters have re-written the rules on membership in the United Kingdom.

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“Desperate times call for desperate measures.

“And for Britain, these are indeed politically desperate days.

“As England’s political class casts about for new leadership to guide them through the crisis, they could do worse than look north to a small nation that’s looking like a beacon of stability by comparison.”

The First Minister won a mandate from MSPs last week to meet with EU leaders to discuss potential ways of Scotland retaining its links with Europe.

But the Scottish Government must overcome several substantial barriers if it is to achieve its goal of retaining membership for Scots.

One that may prove insurmountable is the opposition of other EU member states which are already concerned about separatist movements within their own borders.

Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy said last week: “I want to be very clear, Scotland does not have the competence to negotiate with the European Union. Spain opposes any negotiation by anyone other than the government of United Kingdom.”

Reportedly the Toronto Star is deadly serious, but as yet, the First Minister has no plans to extend her leadership beyond Scotland’s borders.