SNP depute leader ‘very confident’ of winning second independence vote

The SNP’s depute leader has said he wants a fresh vote on Scottish independence “as soon as possible”, insisting he is “very confident” the public will vote to leave the UK.

Just over 12 years on from the 2014 ballot, Keith Brown pointed out that Holyrood now has a “higher number of MSPs who support both a referendum and independence than at any point in history”.

The May election saw 73 SNP and Green MSPs returned – although the SNP did fail to win the overall majority at Holyrood that First Minister John Swinney had set as a being a mandate to demand Westminster permits a new ballot.

Despite that, the SNP has now pledged to spend £100,000 over the new few months on a “hearts and minds” campaign to boost support for the cause.

MSPS will debate a motion from First Minister John Swinney which says that ‘Scotland is a nation that has a right to decide its own future’. (Jane Barlow/PA)

The issue will also be centre stage at Holyrood again as MSPs debate a motion from the SNP leader which states “Scotland is a nation that has a right to decide its own future”.

The motion is set to be passed with the support of Green MSPs, despite Prime Minister Andy Burnham having made clear another referendum is “off limits”.

The Prime Minister however had to pull back from comments he made in the Commons chamber, which appeared to suggest a second ballot on independence could be possible if Scots support one.

Mr Brown however said the “obstinacy” of the pro-UK parties is because “they know we will win it”.

He told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme: “I’m very confident we will win a referendum.

“I think that is one of the reasons you are seeing the obstinacy from some of the unionist parties, why they don’t want to have it. They know we will win it.

“So yes, I would have a referendum as soon as possible.”

Asked if there is support for another referendum, Mr Brown noted the Scottish election in May had returned a record number of MSPs who support independence.

He insisted: “We have stood on that platform, both for a referendum and for independence, and we have won that election out of the park, especially if you consider both the Green vote and the SNP vote.

“Of course we have the backing of the people of Scotland.

New Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra is opposed to another independence ballot being held. (Lesley Martin/PA)

“But the one way to decide it and for the opposition parties to continue to say this is a distraction, we don’t want to discuss it, they’ve got the remedy in their own hands – we have the referendum and then it is dealt with. That is the way to proceed.”

New Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra has made clear he does not support another vote.

Mr Marra, who was elected to the post on Saturday, insists he is “against another referendum”.

He said: “The Labour Party’s position long-term has been that we don’t think another referendum is required, that certainly remains the case.”

He argued that another vote is “not the priority of the people of Scotland”, saying instead that Scots want action on the cost-of-living crisis, and are also “concerned about the state of our NHS, the state of our schools”.

The Labour MSP demanded: “I want to see the Scottish Government focus on those issues first and foremost.”