Nicola Sturgeon and former SNP leader Alex Salmond at the launch of the public consultation on independence in 2007.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has said that another referendum could be on the cards after the next Scottish Parliament election in 2016.
Asked by a member of the STV Scottish leaders’ debate audience if the SNP would continue to campaign for independence, Sturgeon said that she would respect the result of the first referendum. But when pressed on whether the SNP would propose another referendum in their 2016 Scottish election manifesto, she said: “That’s another matter. Let’s fight one election at a time.”
“We will write that manifesto when we get there. I will fight one election at a time. I’m putting forward in a couple of weeks a manifesto for this election and I will decide the content of our next manifesto when we get there, and people can decide whether or not they vote for that.”
Her reply prompted jeers from the audience. After last September’s independence poll, Alex Salmond pledged there would not be a second referendum for another generation.
Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson accused Sturgeon of wanting to join forces with Labour in order to push for another referendum. “She’s going to put Ed Miliband into government because she knows it’s good for independence. Because he will be a weak leader. What’s she going to ask for in return?” she said.
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