Nicola Sturgeon called for a Scottish independence referendum to take place next year, pledging to “demand the transfer of power” that “puts the legality of that referendum beyond any doubt” by the end of 2019. Speaking at the SNP conference in Aberdeen, Ms Sturgeon declared: “Our job is not just to deliver a referendum, conference our job is to deliver independence. My call is that the referendum must happen next year. And we are getting ready. 

“By the new year we will have completed our legislative preparations, we are already working to update the independence prospectus.

“I can confirm today that before the end of this year I will demand the transfer of power that puts the legality of that referendum beyond any doubt.”

“And friends, when I do, the question should not be to the SNP ‘what will we do if Westminster refuses?’

“The question should be demanded of the Westminster parties, ‘what gives you any right to deny the people in Scotland the ability to choose our own future?’

“Conference, the Westminster refusal is not sustainable, we can already se the cracks appearing. 

“The Labour leaderships in London and Wales has recognised a right to choose, they make Scottish Labour look even more ridiculous than normal.

“All of the other parties are so lacking in confidence that a referendum can be blocked that they are now trying to rig the question. Just like us, they know there is going to be a referendum, and they know that when there is Scotland will choose independence.

“Support is rising, our task is to build it even further and to make the demand irresistible.

“And soon, we will the chance to show the strength of public opinion, a general election is imminent and it cannot come soon enough. 

“When it does, our message will be clear, simple and unambiguous: vote SNP to demand independence and secure Scotland’s right to choose.

“And some polls suggest that an election might result in a hung parliament. Well the SNP will never put the Tories into power, but I have a message for any Westminster party that wants SNP’s support.

DON’T MISS

Brexit LIVE: Panicked Brussels plans emergency EU Summit [BLOG]
Sturgeon’s deputy attacks ‘buffoon’ Boris for ‘deadly Brexit farce’ [VIDEO]
Brexit deal: Where each party stands and how they’ll vote on deal [INSIGHT]

“If you don’t respect Scotland’s right to choose our own future at a time of our own choosing, don’t even bother picking up the phone.”

The comments come as new data shows support for independence has risen to 50 percent in a new poll.

The Panelbase survey for The Sunday Times Scotland also found more respondents than not believe the Scottish economy would be better off with independence in the EU than in the UK after Brexit.

The 50 per cent backing independence marks a five-point rise on Panelbase’s poll average last year, which mirrored the 45 per cent Yes, 55 per cent No result of the 2014 referendum. It is up on the 49 per cent from the paper’s last poll in June and is a record high for its regular Panelbase polls.

Given a choice between a no deal Brexit and an independent Scotland, there was a 54-46 lead for the latter, up two points since April.

Source: Read Full Article