Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Nicola Sturgeon forced to rule out wildcat independence referendum

Nicola Sturgeon
Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon was yesterday forced to rule out a wildcat Scottish independence referendum after her deputy claimed another poll could be held without Westminster permission.

The first minister took the step after SNP depute leader Keith Brown indicated an unofficial poll could be held when he spoke with Aberdeen-based independence supporters.

In a video of a meeting with the Aberdeen Independence Movement, Mr Brown discussed a Section 30 Order, the device which would transfer power from Westminster to Holyrood to hold a referendum.


>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The P&J newsletter


Mr Brown said: “I don’t think that certainly the SNP – and I don’t think the Yes movement – should be willing to anticipate a refusal of a Section 30 Order as a reason not to call a referendum. If we want a referendum then we decide we are going to have a referendum.

“But there is a worry – I know Nicola’s concerned with the fact – that the arguments over a Section 30 can start to dissipate the support for independence.”

Ms Sturgeon was challenged over Mr Brown’s remarks at First Minister’s Questions where she said the “legal basis for the next referendum” should be the same as the last independence vote.

She added: “We are talking about the issue only because of the disgracefully anti-democratic stance of the Conservatives” who were refusing to recognise the SNP’s mandate for a second poll.

Later the first minister was tackled by journalists on the issue. Asked if she was open to the possibility of an unauthorised referendum, she replied: “I am not open to that possibility.”

The split at the top of the SNP emerged as Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Theresa May would say “no” to a second referendum.

On a visit to Glasgow University, Mr Hunt was asked what the prime minister’s response would be if the first minister asked for a Section 30 Order.

Mr Hunt said: “The answer of course would be no.” The foreign secretary added: “We think the Scottish Government should be focusing on the concerns of Scottish voters, which is not to have another very divisive independence referendum but to focus on an education system which used to be the envy of the world and standards are now falling, to focus on long waits in the NHS.

“That’s what Scottish voters want the Scottish Government to focus on and I am sure that that is what Theresa May will tell Nicola Sturgeon if she makes that request.”