Sturgeon Plays Down Talk Of IndyRef In 2021

First Minister won’t be drawn over poll date

- Katrine Bussey

NICOLA Sturgeon has refused to be drawn on the possibility of IndyRef2 being held in 2021 – despite the SNP’s Westminster leader indicating that such a vote could take place towards the end of this year.

Ian Blackford insisted that a vote on Scotland leaving the United Kingdom could take place “as early as late 2021”.

His comments drew a furious reaction from opposition politicians, with Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross insisting such a vote would be “reckless and wholly irresponsible”.

Sturgeon, asked at her daily briefing about the prospect of holding a second independence vote in 2021, said: “I am not getting in to political questions right now. This is a Covid briefing, I am going to stick to that today.”

Her comments came after Blackford said he wanted a second referendum to take place “as quickly as is practically possible”.