Nicola Sturgeon has revealed she believes the case for Scottish independence “transcends” Brexit, oil and even national wealth in an emotional message on the second anniversary of the referendum.
The first minister, who dismissed these and other key issues as less important than self-government, came under immediate attack for the comments
Former Scottish secretary Alistair Carmichael branded the shift in gear from her more measured recent tone a “game changer” that could ultimately “turn the tide” against her.
And he said the intervention confirmed his long-held suspicion there is “no price that would be too high for a nationalist to pay to get independence”.
Willie Rennie, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, claimed Ms Sturgeon was now “trapped” by her own rhetoric and had “lost control” of the timetable for another poll.
At the same time, there was pressure within her own camp, with Gordon MP Alex Salmond arguing she should act sooner rather than later, despite SNP sources claiming she will not call another referendum until support for independence has sat at 60% for a “sustained” period.
The former first minister reminded his successor he called the first independence poll when support for breaking away from the UK was only 27%.
He insisted it was “her judgement and choice”, but added: “If I was willing to call an independence referendum in 2012 for 2014 on 27% support, I’m not certain that Nicola will be too concerned about starting off with an average of 48%.”
Ms Sturgeon said yesterday: “Two years on from the historic independence vote of 2014, the fundamental case for Scotland’s independence remains as it was.
“That case for full self-government ultimately transcends the issues of Brexit, of oil, of national wealth and balance sheets and of passing political fads and trends.
“It is in essence, as the Yes campaign said two years ago, about the simple fundamental truth that the big decisions about Scotland – including the decision about our EU membership – should be taken by those who live and work here.
But speaking at the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton, Northern isles MP Mr Carmichael said: “It’s a more candid way of putting their case than doing what they did in 2014 … and confirms what many of us have always suspected to be the case that there is no price that would be too high for a nationalist to pay to get independence.
“I believe at the end of it, people will still want to know what it will mean for their mortgage.
“I think this could ultimately be a game changer, ultimately be the strategic shift that will turn the tide against them.”
Mr Rennie said the Scottish Parliament elections in May had put the SNP “on the back foot” as the party had been forced to talk about domestic issues.
He described the EU referendum result as a “get out of jail free card”, with many who back independence seeing it as their “big chance” to push on.
But he added: “Now Nicola is trapped on a timetable potentially for another referendum. Because she has pumped it up so much, she will not be able to choose when she has that next referendum.”
