David Mundell says second independence campaign is "the last thing Scotland needs"

David Mundell - credit: David Anderson

Scottish Secretary David Mundell has responded to the SNP’s new campaign for independence by warning another constitutional debate is “the last thing Scotland needs”.

Nicola Sturgeon kick-started what she called “the biggest listening exercise in Scotland’s history” today, with the First Minister announcing plans to reach two million voters during the next two months.

SNP members have been urged to engage with five people each month for the next three months to try and push up support for independence.

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But with a new poll in the Times showing backing for independence at 46 per cent, Mundell said Sturgeon should be focusing on other issues, with the Scottish Secretary warning that “talk of a second referendum is creating uncertainty that is damaging our economic prospects”.

Mundell said: “The last thing Scotland needs is another drawn out debate on independence. Today’s new poll could not be clearer: people in Scotland do not want another divisive referendum. Nicola Sturgeon should take the idea off the table and concentrate on the issues that people really care about.”

The SNP’s new initiative included the launch of an online survey aiming to gather views on the Brexit vote and Scottish independence, along with the establishment of a ‘Party Growth Commission’, which Sturgeon said will “examine the projections for Scotland's finances in the context of independence”.

The Commission will be chaired by former SNP MSP Andrew Wilson, a founding partner at PR agency Charlotte Street Partners.   

Sturgeon said: “The UK that Scotland vote to stay part of in 2014 has changed — and so too have the arguments. That’s why I believe it is right that our party does now lead a new debate on independence.

“We must not assume that people's views — yes or no — are the same today as they were in 2014. Instead we must engage the arguments with a fresh eye and an open mind. And before we start talking we must listen.

“So today, we are launching the biggest listening exercise in our party's history. We want to understand in detail how people feel now about Europe, Brexit and independence. We want to know the concerns that people have and the questions they want answered. We want to build, if we can, a consensus on the way ahead.”