Latest news with #ScottishIndependence
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Second indyref not a ‘priority' during my time as Prime Minister
Sir Keir Starmer has said another Scottish independence referendum is not a 'priority' and he cannot imagine one taking place during his time as Prime Minister. The Labour leader said First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney had not raised the issue with him during their recent talks. Scots voted in an independence referendum in 2014, with the No side securing 55% of the vote. Since then, successive UK governments have denied the SNP's pleas for a second referendum. The Prime Minister was speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme on Tuesday, a day after launching the strategic defence review in Glasgow. He was asked if there would be another independence referendum if a nationalist majority emerges after next year's Holyrood election. Sir Keir said: 'I think it's really important to focus on the priorities that matter most. 'We got a big election win last year on the basis that we would stabilise the economy and ensure that on that foundation we build a stronger Scotland in a stronger United Kingdom, and that's what I intend to do.' He was then asked if he could imagine another independence referendum during his time as Prime Minister. Sir Keir said: 'No, and nobody's raising that with me as their first priority. 'Certainly, in the discussions I'm having with the First Minister, that is not – we're talking about jobs, energy, security, and dealing with the cost-of-living crisis.' Last month Mr Swinney said a 'democratic majority' of pro-independence MSPs following the next Scottish Parliament election should result in another referendum. The Prime Minister said whatever the outcome next May, an independence referendum is 'not a priority'. Speaking to Good Morning Scotland, Sir Keir also discussed the defence sector in said there are around 25,000 defence jobs in Scotland and the strategic defence review announcements would 'build on that'. The Prime Minister said: 'I would like to see many, many jobs in Scotland. 'Scotland has an incredible heritage and skilled work people in Scotland. 'We've just been looking at some of the frigates which have been built and are being built in Scotland.' He insisted the SNP is 'wrong' in its opposition to nuclear weapons and said 'we're entering a new era on defence and security'. SNP MP Stephen Gethins responded to Sir Keir's points on the BBC radio programme later on Tuesday, saying: 'I have to say it's a bit disappointing and maybe a bit arrogant of the Prime Minister to think he can speak for everybody. 'This shouldn't be an issue that's decided by one person at Downing Street or elsewhere. This should be a matter for the people of Scotland. 'I would have thought that given Keir Starmer's troubles he would have learned something.' Mr Gethins said he is not privy to private conversations between Mr Swinney and the Prime Minister. Discussing the defence review, he said the policy of 'running down the Army' in recent years has been wrong.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Keir Starmer rules out new Scots independence vote - and says FM Swinney hasn't even asked for one - as poll warns PM Nigel Farage is threat to union
Keir Starmer effectively ruled out a new Scottish independence vote while he is Prime Minister today - suggesting it wasn't even a priority for the SNP government at Holyrood. The Labour leader said he could not imagine a vote happening during his time in power, even if the nationalists win a majority in the 2026 Holyrood election. And he said that First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney had not raised the issue with him during their recent talks. It came after a weekend poll suggested support for a breakaway has risen amid a surge for Reform north of the border. A Norstat poll found 54 per cent backed the separatist cause, the joint highest ever detected by the firm. The eight-point lead - excluding don't knows - swelled to 16 points if people were asked to imagine Nigel Farage was PM. The Prime Minister was asked by the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, if he could imagine another independence referendum during his time as Prime Minister. Sir Keir said: 'No, and nobody's raising that with me as their first priority. 'Certainly, in the discussions I'm having with the First Minister, that is not – we're talking about jobs, energy, security and dealing with the cost-of-living crisis.' Scots voted in an independence referendum in 2014, with the 'No' side securing 55 per cent of the vote. Since then, successive UK governments have rejected the SNP's pleas for a second referendum. Last month Mr Swinney said a 'democratic majority' of pro-independence MSPs following the next Scottish Parliament election should result in another referendum. The Prime Minister said that whatever the outcome in May, an independence referendum is 'not a priority'. The most recent figure of support rose from 50 per cent in the last Norstat poll in January. The highest that support for independence has reached in recent years is 58 per cent, in an Ipsos Scotland poll for STV News in the early months of the pandemic, as Nicola Sturgeon received plaudits for her handling of Covid-19. The figures come ahead of a by-election in Lanarkshire this week, after the death of Scottish Government minister Christina McKelvie. According to polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice, in projections for the Sunday Times, John Swinney was on track to win an unprecedented fifth term in office for his party next year, securing 54 seats. Labour would drop to 20 seats, while Reform would win 18 in their first full political test in Scotland. Meanwhile, the Tories would drop from being the second biggest party to the fourth, with just 17 MSPs, followed by the Lib Dems on 11 and the Greens on nine. Speaking to Good Morning Scotland, Sir Keir also discussed the defence sector in Scotland. He said there are around 25,000 defence jobs in Scotland and the strategic defence review announcements would 'build on that'. The Prime Minister said: 'I would like to see many, many jobs in Scotland. 'Scotland has an incredible heritage and skilled work people in Scotland. 'We've just been looking at some of the frigates which have been built and are being built in Scotland.' He insisted the SNP is 'wrong' in its opposition to nuclear weapons and said 'we're entering a new era on defence and security'.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Starmer rules out second Scottish independence referendum while PM
Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out holding another Scottish independence referendum during his premiership, even if the SNP wins next year's Holyrood election. The Prime Minister said staging a second vote on breaking up Britain is 'not a priority' and John Swinney had not raised it during their discussions. He said his stance would not change even if the SNP wins a fifth term in office at the May 2026 Scottish Parliament election, or there is a majority of independence-supporting MSPs in the Holyrood chamber. Speaking after he launched his Government's strategic defence review in Scotland, he said he would continue to focus on 'jobs, energy, security and dealing with the cost of living crisis'. But Mr Swinney said it was 'completely unacceptable' for the independence movement 'to be thwarted by a Westminster government that just folds its arms and says no'. The row erupted last month after the First Minister relaunched his independence campaign to break up Britain in a keynote speech marking a year until the election. He said he wanted to restart the debate as voters were feeling 'disaffected and alienated' with Sir Keir's performance in government. Mr Swinney also argued the rise of Reform UK showed Scotland needed independence, despite polls showing a surge in support for Nigel Farage's party north of the Border.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Starmer says no independence referendum while he is prime minister
Keir Starmer has said he cannot imagine another Scottish independence referendum taking place during his time as prime Labour leader insisted it was more important to focus on the economy than the first minister John Swinney recently said he wanted to achieve "demonstrable support" for Starmer - who visited Scotland ahead of Thursday's Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election - said "nobody's raising that with me as their first priority". In an interview to be broadcast on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme later, the prime minister said an SNP victory at next year's Holyrood elections would not change his mind."I think it's really important to focus on the priorities that matter most," he said."We got a big election win last year on the basis that we would stabilise the economy and ensure that on that foundation we built a stronger Scotland in a stronger United Kingdom and that's what I intend to do."Starmer told the programme his recent talks with John Swinney had not focused on said: "Nobody's raising that with me as their first priority, certainly in the discussions I'm having with the first minister. "We're talking about jobs, energy, security and dealing with the cost of living crisis." Last month, the first minister talked about securing "demonstrable support" for breaking up the United compared this to the 1997 referendum for a Scottish parliament, which was backed by around 74% of the first minister also told BBC Scotland News that it was "completely unacceptable" for the independence movement "to be thwarted by a Westminster government that just folds its arms and says 'no'." What could change the approach to indyref2? Former Conservative minister Michael Gove has said there could be a second Scottish independence referendum if the public show "overwhelming support" for who sat in the cabinet for most of the period between 2010 and 2024, said he didn't think another referendum was he conceded that the UK government may have to change approach if SNP popularity and support for another vote was part of a government that rejected requests from the Scottish government for a second denied that this was anti-democratic and insisted that Scotland had "more important" issues to deal now suggests that the likelihood of a second independence vote was linked to the SNP's ability to improve public services."If, for the sake of argument, the SNP make all of those decisions in government in a way that gives people confidence in them then we might be in a different position [on a second referendum]," he said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The SNP: All news, interviews and updates
The Scottish National Party (SNP) are a centre-left and socially democratic party. The SNP have been in power since the 2007 election, after which they formed a minority government. Over the last 18 years, the country's leading party has been championing Scottish independence from the United Kingdom. Read on for all the latest SNP news, interviews and updates on the party. Hamilton by-election campaign enters final days Pro-independence party leaders urged to stand against genocide in Gaza SNP criticise Labour's plans to increase UK's defence spending First Minister John Swinney is the current leader of the SNP and the MSP for Perthshire North. The party's group leader at Westminster is Stephen Flynn, who is tipped to be a future leader of the SNP. The SNP are the biggest party in the Scottish Parliament, with 61 MSPs in Holyrood. They have nine MPs in the Westminster Parliament, a significant drop from the 2019 General Election when they returned 48. The MPs are: Kirsty Blackman (Aberdeen North), Dave Doogan (Angus), Stephen Flynn (Aberdeen South), Stephen Gethins (Arbroath and Broughty Ferry), Chris Law (Dundee West), Graham Leadbitter (Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey), Seamus Logan (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East), Brendan O'Hara (Argyll and Bute), Pete Wishart (Perth and North Perthshire). The MSPs are: George Adam (Paisley), Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast), Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw), Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar), Tom Arthur (Renfrewshire South), Colin Beattie (Midlothian North & Musselburgh), Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire & Dunblane), Siobhian Brown (Ayr), Stephanie Callaghan (Uddingston and Bellshill), Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley), Angela Constance (Almond Valley), Graeme Dey (Angus South), Natalie Don (Renfrewshire North and West), Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn), James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart), Jackie Dunbar (Aberdeen Donside), Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath), Fergus Ewing (Inverness & Nairn), Jim Fairlie (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire), Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West), Kate Forbes (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch), Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North), Jenny Gilruth (Mid Fife & Glenrothes), Mairi Gougeon (Angus North and Mearns), Christine Grahame (Midlothian South Tweeddale & Lauderdale), Neil Gray (Airdrie and Shotts), Emma Harper (South Scotland), Clare Haughey (Rutherglen), Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth), Fiona Hyslop (Linlithgow), Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland), Richard Lochhead (Moray), Gordon MacDonald (Edinburgh Pentlands), Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston), Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Beardsen), Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith), Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South), Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East), Michael Matheson (Falkirk West), Mairi McAllan (Clydesdale), Ivan McKee (Glasgow Provan), Paul McLennan (East Lothian), Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde), Marie McNair (Clydebank and Milngavie), Jenni Minto (Argyll and Bute), Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine), Angus Robertson (Edinburgh Central), Shona Robison (Dundee City East), Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands), Shirley-Anne Somerville (Dunfermline), Collette Stevenson (East Kilbride), Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central), Kaukab Stewart (Glasgow Kelvin), Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow Southside), John Swinney (Perthshire North), Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East), Maree Todd (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross), David Torrance (Kirkcaldy), Evelyn Tweed (Stirling), Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley), Humza Yousaf (Glasgow Pollock). Earlier this year, the SNP forced a vote, supported by MPs, demanding compensation for women born in the 1950s who were affected by changes to the state pension age. The forced vote was presented by the SNP's group leader, Stephen Flynn, who demanded that the Labour Government compensate the Waspi women. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn (Image: PA) Last March, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) had recommended compensation between £1000 and £2950 per person due to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) communication failures. However, the Labour Government announced before Christmas that no compensation would be given. MPs voted by 105 votes to 0 for the UK Government to issue compensation. The Scottish Greens were kicked out of power in 2024 by Humza Yousaf, who was the first minister at the time. Yousaf sacked Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater as ministers, dramatically bringing the SNP's power-sharing deal with the Greens to an end after they were brought into government anywhere in the UK for the first time by Nicola Sturgeon in 2021 with the Bute House Agreement. Yousaf said the Green membership's upcoming vote on the Bute House Agreement threatened the stability of his government. This decision triggered a crisis in the government and directly led to his resignation as the first minister. Speaking at a press conference in Bute House on April 29, 2024, Yousaf said he "underestimated' the level of hurt he caused by ending the power-sharing deal. He said: "Unfortunately in ending the Bute House Agreement in the matter I did I clearly underestimate the level of hurt and upset that caused Green colleagues. 'For a minority government to be able to govern effectively trust when working with the opposition is clearly fundamental.' Earlier this year, Sturgeon said his decision to end the deal was 'catastrophic'. She told the Institute for Government think tank: 'I think crashing that agreement was catastrophic and – politics aside – totally the wrong thing to do for stable government.'
