Labour, Lib Dem Must Accept Possibility of New Independence Vote – SNP

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called on Labour and Liberal Democratic leaders to stop opposing a follow-up referendum on Scotland's independence, British media reported Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Labour’s Kezia Dugdale and Lib Dem’s Willie Rennie, regional party leaders in Scotland, said this week they would allow their party members to say "yes" to independence, but warned against a referendum.

Speaking at a press lunch in Edinburgh, Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Sturgeon said she welcomed attempts by rival parties to appeal to pro-independence Scots.

She added however that, "It’s not going to cut much ice with supporters of independence in their own parties to say in one breath to them ‘if there’s another referendum you can stand up for what you believe in’ but in the next breath say ‘but we think a referendum should be ruled out forever and a day.’"

Last year, 45 percent of voters supported Scotland's exit from the United Kingdom. Since that time, SNP has been pushing for a follow up secession vote.

Circumstances allowing the vote will be outlined in its 2016 manifesto, Sturgeon said earlier this month.