SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has issued a warning to her unionist opponents that “no politician has the right to stand in the way” of another independence referendum if Scotland votes to have a re-run.
Ms Sturgeon has faced repeated calls to reveal whether she will propose another independence referendum in her manifesto for the Holyrood election next year, amid unionist concerns that another SNP landslide could be seen as a mandate for a second referendum.
Prime Minister David Cameron flatly refused to consider another independence referendum this week, and indicated that any decision by the Scottish Government to unilaterally decide to hold a referendum would not be legitimate.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell said on Monday that he does not believe “it is for the SNP themselves to determine whether the people of Scotland are in favour of having another referendum”.
Ms Sturgeon addressed the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents’ Club this morning as part of her visit to the Chinese administrative region this week.
She said: “Two questions I get asked often these days – will there be another independence referendum and, if so, when?
“My answer is simple. It will be if and when the Scottish people decide and not a moment before.
“No politician can impose a referendum on Scotland, no matter how much some of us would like Scotland to be independent.
“And it’s worth pointing out that the reverse is also true. If the Scottish people do vote in future to have another referendum, no politician has the right to stand in their way.”