SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, insisted a second independence referendum was “not dependent” on Brexit at the party’s conference in Glasgow yesterday.
Ms Sturgeon repeatedly referred to “being in the driving seat” instead of a passenger “at the mercy of events” in an attempt to show how Scots could have more control in an independent country.
But the SNP leader also distanced herself from her previous position on the potential for a second independence referendum before the UK leaves the EU.
She said: “The case for independence doesn’t depend on Brexit – but Brexit does show us what can happen when we don’t control our own future.”
Ms Sturgeon also announced several new policies and plans for the north, building on the launch of a £6m rural development fund expected to boost the Highlands and Islands, as previously reported in the Press and Journal.
The SNP leader also unveiled “a global first”, confirming she will officially open the world’s largest floating windfarm off Peterhead as Scotland continues to build its foundations in renewable energy technology.
She said: “By leading the way in using new technology, we send a message to the world that Scotland is the best place to develop it.
“I will officially open the world’s largest floating windfarm, situated right here in Scotland, off the coast at Peterhead.”
Ms Sturgeon also declared she would roll out Aberdeen’s free tampon pilot scheme to all schools, colleges and universities from August in “a groundbreaking commitment to tackle the gender injustice of period poverty”.
And a new community ownership scheme was given the green light when she confirmed residents of Ulva, off the west coast of Mull, will be able to buy their island in the same way the people of neighbouring Eigg did 20 years ago.
However, opponents criticised the SNP leader’s focus on independence.
Scottish Conservative chief whip Maurice Golden said she should have apologised for recent election failings which cost the party its Holyrood majority and slashed the number of MPs.
He added: “Despite people making it clear they want a break, the First Minister also made clear her Scottish Government will continue to bang on and on about the only thing it really cares about – splitting our country in two.
Scottish Labour interim leader Alex Rowley said she was only offering “watered down” Labour policies and added: “Nicola Sturgeon is clearly worried about a Labour party offering radical change within the UK.”
And Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said the leadership had been unable to convince SNP members of plans to back away from another referendum because “independence is all the SNP cares about”.