Nicola Sturgeon: Westminster handling of EU referendum ‘shameful abdication of responsibility’

Nicola Sturgeon - credit Holyrood/David Anderson

Nicola Sturgeon has hit out at the UK Government’s handling of the EU referendum, calling it “one of the most shameful abdications of responsibility” in political history.

She criticised the lack of preparations for the aftermath of a vote to leave the European Union from both the UK Government and those who ran the Leave campaign.

In a speech to the IPPR think tank, the First Minister reiterated her post-Brexit position, that she pursue “all options” to maintain Scotland’s relationship with Europe, including the open market and free movement of people.

She said she had felt “contempt” for the Leave campaign, and described David Cameron’s decision to hold the referendum as “reckless”.

“The absence of any leadership and the lack of any advance planning both from the politicians who proposed the referendum and from those who campaigned a leave vote surely must count as one of the most shameful abdications of responsibility in modern political history,” she said.

Scottish independence could provide the route to “certainty and stability” she added.

“The UK we voted to stay part of in 2014, a UK within the EU, is fundamentally changing.

“The outlook for the UK is uncertainty, upheaval and unpredictability.

“In these circumstances it may well be that the option that offers us greatest certainty, stability and the maximum control over our own destiny is that of independence.”

She insisted she was “open” to protecting Scotland’s post-Brexit interests whilst remaining in the UK, but said it was a “statement of the obvious” that independence must be an option otherwise.

The Scottish Conservatives warned the SNP not to “flirt” with an idea Scotland rejected in 2014, while Scottish Labour said all sides should “put posturing to one side for the sake of the country”. 

Russell Gunson, Director of IPPR Scotland, said:​ "IPPR Scotland's view is that the electoral wishes of the people of Scotland were clear, with a significant majority in favour of staying within the EU. The Scottish and UK Governments now need to explore all options available to protect Scotland's interests and values following last month's vote."