Nicola Sturgeon has come under fresh pressure to rule out another poll on Scottish independence.
The SNP leader exclusively told The Courier she would “know in my gut” whether or not to include plans for another referendum in the party’s 2016 Scottish Parliament election manifesto.
Stating she could even go against her own party’s wishes on the matter, she said: “I think I will know in my gut whether it’s the right thing or wrong thing to do and that will be down to not what the SNP wants or what the SNP thinks is right but what I think is right for Scotland and what I think the people of Scotland want.”
Scottish leaders of her political opponents reacted angrily to the revelation.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s gut should remember that Nicola Sturgeon’s mouth said there would not be another referendum for a lifetime.
“Instead of being all mysterious, Nicola Sturgeon should rule out another referendum now.
“This latest statement takes one-member one-vote to the extreme.
“If Nicola Sturgeon and Nicola Sturgeon alone knows when the nationalists will put forward a second referendum, then Nicola Sturgeon should tell us now when it will be.
“She used to say the independence referendum was a once-in-a-generation event. This puts beyond all doubt that the SNP have reneged on their promise to the people of Scotland.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Kezia Dugdale said: “Nicola Sturgeon just needs to be straight with the Scottish people about her plan for another referendum.
“It’s clear the First Minister’s gut is telling her to put another referendum in the SNP’s manifesto next year. It’s about time she let the people of Scotland know that.
“Scots were promised during the referendum that it was a once-in-a-generation thing, but the SNP are going back on their word already.
“It’s clear the SNP are getting ready to claim the election in May will give them a mandate to call another referendum.
“A vote for the SNP will put Scotland on the road to another divisive referendum. Only Labour will focus on giving working class families a better chance in life. The only way to get a Labour Government is to vote for Labour.”
Ms Sturgeon said this week: “I have been very clear that votes for the SNP in this election I don’t take as mandate for another referendum.
“The decision that I have to make in future SNP manifestos is whether to propose another referendum.
“The decision of whether there will be another referendum then lies with the voters because they will have to decide whether or not to vote for our manifesto.”
She said: “We are not at that point yet but I think I will know in my gut whether it’s the right thing or wrong thing to do and that will be down to not what the SNP wants, or what the SNP thinks is right but what I think is right for Scotland and what I think the people of Scotland want.
“When it comes to it, I think that decision will probably be pretty obvious one way or the other.”