Scottish Labour brands SNP Brexit plans an “excuse to impose another referendum on the people of Scotland”

Nicola Sturgeon - credit: Parliament TV

Scottish Labour has branded SNP Brexit plans an “excuse to impose another referendum on the people of Scotland”.

Alex Salmond yesterday told the BBC that Nicola Sturgeon, who will outline her party’s response to Brexit tomorrow, would not have “any compunction” about calling a second independence referendum, even if polls still showed support to be below 50 per cent.

The SNP plans, included in a strategy called "Scotland's Place in Europe", will explore means for Scotland to retain access to the single market post Brexit, while calling for the transfer of new devolved powers.

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Salmond said that if the party’s input was ignored it would be in a “strong position” to win a second independence campaign.

But opposition parties responded by accusing the SNP of “sabre-rattling”, with Tory MSP Adam Tomkins claiming Sturgeon needed to show she is “prepared to be a first minister for Scotland, not a first minister for the SNP”.

Speaking to the Daily Politics, Salmond said: "The last time, when I was first minister and embarked on this process, support for independence was 28 per cent and after two years in 2012 we ended up at 45 per cent. So I don't think Nicola Sturgeon would have any compunction about calling an independence referendum with support in the mid 40s.

"What it depends upon is the arguments, and in a situation where the United Kingdom government was determined, despite being given every opportunity, to sever Scotland's European links, to sever our ties – a thousand-year-old European nation – then I think that would bring many people who were previously sceptical about independence onto the 'Yes' side."

Labour Europe spokesman Lewis Macdonald responded to say his party would scrutinise the plans, adding, “Alex Salmond gave the game away when he made it clear that the Nationalists are only really interested in finding an excuse to impose another referendum on the people of Scotland.”

He said: "The UK is Scotland's most important single market. The SNP’s own figures confirm that remaining part of the UK single market is more important for Scotland’s economy than even being in the EU. Being part of the UK secures hundreds of thousands of jobs in Scotland, grows our economy and funds the public services that we all rely on every day.

“It’s time for the SNP to accept that remaining in the UK is even more important to Scotland than being part of the European Union. That’s why Scottish Labour will oppose any attempts by the SNP to force another independence referendum on the people of Scotland.”

Tomkins said: “Scots don't want to go through another divisive independence referendum but Alex Salmond today repeated the SNP's threat to press ahead regardless.

“As we begin negotiations to leave the EU, we need a Scottish government that ends the sabre-rattling, and focuses instead on the national interest, not its own political interest.

“As she publishes her paper this week, it is vital that Nicola Sturgeon shows she is prepared to be a first minister for Scotland, not a first minister for the SNP.”