No UK Government plans for another independence referendum

Scottish Secretary David Mundell has confirmed the UK Government is not making plans for another referendum on Scottish independence, even if the SNP win another majority at Holyrood next year.

The statement comes after former First Minister Alex Salmond said a second referendum was “inevitable” in a television interview at the weekend.

In response to a written question from SNP MP Margaret Ferrier, Mundell said: “My department has not prepared contingency plans for the possibility of a further referendum being the policy of the Scottish government after the Scottish Parliament election in 2016.”

He told BBC Radio Scotland this morning even if the SNP includes a referendum in its manifesto, the Scottish Parliament election would be fought on issues such as health and the performance of Police Scotland.

Given Scotland rejected independence last September, it shouldn’t just be solely up to the SNP to decide, he argued.

“I think Nicola Sturgeon needs to be much clearer. Is it the SNP policy to have a second referendum or not?” he said.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly said the timing of another referendum would be up to the people of Scotland, and SNP Business Convener Derek Mackay told the same programme the party was not preparing for one.

"There is no preparation or planning for a second referendum, but we still believe in independence for Scotland because we think it could so much good for the country,” he said.