Nicola Sturgeon has launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Theresa May amid speculation that the UK Government could block plans for a second independence referendum before 2021.
The First Minister, responding to reports that Mrs May could look to hold off any public vote until after the 2021 Holyrood elections, suggested that the Prime Minister did not have a mandate to stand against the referendum plans.
Taking to Twitter, Ms Sturgeon wrote: “A quick reminder: Tory vote in GE2015 – 36.9% SNP constituency vote in SP2016 – 46.5%.
“Trading mandates does not put PM on strong ground.
“In addition, I was elected as FM on a clear manifesto commitment re #scotref. The PM is not yet elected by anyone.”
The row comes after the First Minister’s bombshell announcement yesterday that she will seek permission from the Scottish Parliament for a second independence vote likely to take place in late 2018 or 2019.
The move drew a furious response from Mrs May who accused the SNP of “playing politics with the future of our country” with a vote that would only create “more uncertainty and division”.
Some reports have suggested that any future vote on Scottish independence could be conditional on the SNP gaining an absolute majority at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.
Mrs May’s comments have been seen as indication that she could look to block any referendum before the 2021 vote in a bid to clear the way for Brexit negotiations.
Downing Street officials were last night reluctant to engage in any speculation about what will happen when a request is made.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said No 10 was “waiting for the Scottish Parliament to reach a decision” on another vote.
Mrs May said: “The tunnel vision the SNP has shown today is deeply regrettable, it sets Scotland on a course for more uncertainty and division creating huge uncertainty.
“And this is at a time when the evidence is that the Scottish people, the majority of the Scottish people, don’t want a second independence referendum so instead of playing politics with the future of our country the Scottish Government should focus on delivering good government and services for the people of Scotland.
“Politics is not a game.”
