Sturgeon outlines six reasons for independence

Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled six reasons for Scots to vote Yes in the referendum, which will be staged six months today.

Nicola Sturgeon said support for a Yes vote was rising. Picture: Hemedia

The Deputy First Minister said a No vote would mean handing control “straight back to Westminster”.

The reasons set out by Ms Sturgeon comprise: more jobs after a Yes vote; getting control of Scotland’s taxes; protecting the NHS; Scotland not ending up with Conservative governments it doesn’t vote for; the prospect of retiring later than south of the Border and the creation of an oil fund to make the most of Scotland’s North Sea resources.

“Today I am setting out six reasons for Yes with six months to go,” Ms Sturgeon said. “The referendum is a choice between taking Scotland’s future into Scotland’s hands or leaving our future in the hands of an out-of-touch Westminster establishment.

“The No campaign call themselves Project Fear but we have seen a move to Project Threat in recent days with increasingly over-the-top comments.

“So it’s no wonder that support for Yes continues to advance in the polls while the No campaign has stalled, with a swing of only around 5 per cent now needed to secure a Yes vote.”