‘Sturgeon’s pretend indy poll neglects Scots’ real priorities’

NICOLA Sturgeon’s plans to hold a second Scottish independence referendum were slammed last night as critics pledged to boycott a vote next year.

- Richard Percival

Scotland’s First Minister wants to have a “legal, constitutional referendum” and announced a new Bill has been published for a consultative vote on the matter.

It will set out plans for a referendum to be held on October 19, 2023.

But the plan was slated by the Scottish Conservatives and dubbed a “pretend poll”.

Party leader Douglas Ross said they “won’t play Nicola Sturgeon’s games” and stressed they would not take part in a “pretend poll when there’s real work to be done”.

The Moray MP added: “Nicola Sturgeon is at it again. Her eye is off the ball once more. The real priorities of people across Scotland are on the back burner.

“Instead, the First Minister is putting her plans to divide Scotland front and centre.

“She will use government time and resources to further her plan to break up the country, just when we need to be pulling together and working as one.

“In the First Minister’s watch, this is becoming a do-nothing Parliament. A do-nothing Parliament with a First Minister that neglects people’s priorities because she is obsessed with another referendum at all costs.”