Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland now 'on the cusp' of independent future

Scotland is a "nation on the cusp of history" as independence now lies within grasp, Nicola Sturgeon told supporters this morning.

The First Minister, who added Scotland is ready to join "global family of independent nations, addressed the opening day of the SNP conference after one of the party's leading MPs urged her to ignore Boris Johnson and press ahead with a second referendum if a pro-independence majority is returned at next year's Holyrood election.

Joanna Cherry says the Scottish Government should let the Supreme Court decide on the issue in a subsequent legal challenge.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Picture: Andy Buchanan- Pool/Getty Images

Ms Sturgeon opened her party's annual conference today by telling activists she has "never been so certain" the country will achieve independence.

Consistent polling since the start of the year shows a majority of Scots are now in favour of leaving the UK, while the SNP won a "landslide victory" in Scotland in the UK general election last December taking 48 of the 59 available seats.

Ms Sturgeon told the conference: "Scotland is now a nation on the cusp of making history.

"Independence is in clear sight - and with unity of purpose, humility and hard work I have never been so certain that we will deliver it.

"The people of Scotland have the right to choose their future. Let's now focus all our efforts on making sure we bring about that better country they and future generations deserve.

“An independent future lies ahead - lets grasp it.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said he will not allow another referendum on Scottish independence to take place, but nationalists say a pro-independence majority in next year's Holyrood election should enable such a vote to happen.

The First Minister said last week a referendum could be held "in the earlier part" of the next parliamentary session.

Support for independence among Scots has now "risen to become the sustained and majority view in public opinion", the SNP leader will say today.

She told delegates: "While our primary focus must remain on eliminating Covid-19 from our shores, for which we have renewed hope, Scotland must be ready for what comes next.

"And I know we will be."

The First Minister added: “So this weekend, and over the next few months, let us reach out – to all of Scotland – like never before.

“Let us demonstrate – with cool heads and with patient persuasion – that Scotland is ready to take its place in the global family of independent nations.

"The question for all of us as we look ahead to the election next May is this - who should be taking the decisions that will shape our futures?

"We know that it is the people who live here, wherever they come from, who can best harness Scotland's immense human and natural resources to the benefit of everyone."

Ms Cherry said constitutional change now looms north of the Border as she delivered the Cardiff lecture last night.

"Scotland most certainly does not stand where she did – she is not so much at a crossroads as on a highway to independence,” she said.

Constitutional issues are widely seen as "reserved", with authority lying at Westminster. Mr Johnson has so far ruled out the transfer of power, through a Section 30 order, which would be required to allow a referendum.

Ms Sturgeon has said she believes the pressure on the Prime Minister would become "irresistible" if a pro-independence majority was returned after next year's election.

But Ms Cherry said: "What worries me is that if we are waiting on good will and largesse from Boris Johnson, it could be a very long wait."

Academics have previously disputed whether Holyrood may have the power to grant a referendum on independence, and Aidan O’Neill QC has an argument before the Court of Session on the issue.

The MP cited a speech from Ms Sturgeon on Brexit Day where the First Minister said she was not "ruling out" bringing forward a referendum on independence, then testing it in court.

If a court ruled this legal, it could not be portrayed as a "wildcat referendum", the First Minister said.

And Ms Cherry added: "It is my view that if the pro-independence referendum parties obtain a majority at the Scottish election next year and the PM refuses to come to the table to negotiate a second Edinburgh Agreement, the avenue which the FM contemplated earlier this year should be pursued.

“It would require a carefully crafted bill to be piloted through Holyrood.

"Then, when the inevitable legal challenge came, it would be for the courts to decide whether the bill passed was within the competence of the Scottish Parliament and, thus, whether the referendum so authorised could proceed.”

The case would “undoubtedly” end up in the UK Supreme Court, she added.

"If they found the bill to be within competence, then we would have a lawful referendum - and one which would be hard for unionists to boycott," Ms Cherry said.

Pro-union politicians slammed the First Minister’s focus on the constitution.

Scottish Labour constitution spokesman Anas Sarwar said: "This proves that Nicola Sturgeon only has one priority - dividing the people of Scotland.

"In the midst of a global pandemic, when people are losing their jobs and saying goodbye to loved ones, it is insulting that she wants to focus on independence."

Pamela Nash, chief executive of the pro-UK Scotland in Union group, said: "What people want is a unity of purpose, humility and hard work from the Scottish Government to get us through the coronavirus crisis.

"Issuing a rallying cry for independence when people across Scotland are struggling with the devastating impact of the pandemic is therefore deeply insulting.

"The next few years must be all about recovery from coronavirus and that should be the entire focus for the Scottish Government."

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