The Brexit Party leader hit out at Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and said it is “remarkable” she calls herself a democrat even though she does not accept the Scottish independence referendum in 2014. Speaking to Brexit Party supporters in Edinburgh on Friday evening, Mr Farage said: “The rise of the SNP has been extraordinary. Alex Salmond was a very effective public communicator – let nobody be in any doubt about that. I think his economics of what the oil might do for Scotland was somewhat flawed. But he was a very effective politician. The SNP are not going to disappear from Scottish politics.

It is remarkable that Nicola Sturgeon doesn’t accept the result of the 2014 referendum

Nigel Farage

“They have kind of replaced the Labour Party in many ways in Scottish politics.

“But I do think their influence will diminish as the next few years go by.

“It is remarkable that Nicola Sturgeon doesn’t accept the result of the 2014 referendum, doesn’t accept the result of the 2016 referendum and calls herself a democrat.

“I think in the end it is this issue of the European Union from which the SNP will haemorrhage significant support.

“But I do think when you see what has happened here in Scotland, when you see the way politics in Northern Ireland has changed, I now look at England and Wales dominated by these two parties – Conservative and Labour – and I want the Brexit Party to smash that two party system because they are serving nothing but themselves.”

The comments come as the Brexit Party remains in second place in Scotland, according to a new YouGov poll of 2,212 adults across the UK in the regions of London, the rest of the south, Midlands/Wales, the North and Scotland.

Mr Farage’s party is polling at 14 percent in Scotland according to the YouGov poll, after building its base from nothing in just a few months.

The nationalist SNP are in the lead on 28 percent.

Both figures increase significantly when those who say they will not vote are excluded.

This puts the Brexit Party significantly ahead of Labour, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives.

Respondents were asked, between May 8 and 9: Later this month there may be elections to the European Parliament. If there are elections to the European Parliament on 23rd May, which party will you vote for?

The Conservatives only have 4 percent support in Scotland according to the poll.

Nationally, including those who will not vote, the Brexit Party is in the lead on 22 percent of the vote, according to the poll.

Labour looks set to take 11 percent of the vote whilst the Tories are on 7 percent.

Ms Sturgeon this week promised to “step up” her effort to Remain in the EU even if a second Brexit referendum was once again won by the Leave side.

Speaking to ITV’s Peston, the Scottish First Minister pledged to step up her campaign to allow Scotland to remain in the EU even if Britain voted to Leave for a second time in a new Brexit referendum.

Ms Sturgeon, a supporter of a so-called People’s Vote, admitted her position on Brexit would remain unchanged even if Leave won for a second time.

She said: “I think at that point the struggle for the UK to Remain may be over but I’m not going to speculate beyond that.

“But certainly the struggle for Scotland as an independent country to Remain would be by no means over.

“Perhaps just stepping up a few gears.”

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