Humza Yousaf to make use of subsequent normal election to demand independence referendum

Humza Yousaf has set out plans to make use of the subsequent normal election to demand a contemporary Scottish independence referendum if the SNP wins essentially the most seats north of the border.

The Scottish First Minister mentioned the SNP’s manifesto will clarify on “page one, line one” {that a} vote for the nationalist social gathering is direct assist for independence.

He mentioned a majority of seats in Scotland could be thought-about a mandate to push for indyref2.

The SNP chief added that he was being pressured to take action as a result of a second poll has been “denied time and time again” by Westminster.

Mr Yousaf informed Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme: “Our preferred option, the option for which we have multiple mandates for, the option which the majority of the Scottish Parliament backs, is of course for that legally binding referendum.

“That has been denied time and time once more by the UK Government.

“So my message is pretty simple, we will use the next general election to test the proposition.

“We will put a quite simple proposition to the folks of Scotland on web page one, line one, of our manifesto: a vote for the SNP is a vote for Scotland to turn out to be an impartial nation.

“If we win that general election we will seek to negotiation with the UK Government how we give democratic effect to that proposition.

“We’re solely happening this route after all as a result of the UK Government continues to disclaim us the precise to a referendum.”

The two main parties at Westminster – Labour and the Conservatives – have said they will not grant a referendum.

And the latest PanelBase poll predicts the SNP will take 21 of the available 59 Scottish seats at the next election – down from their current 45 – while Scottish Labour are predicted to win 26 seats, meaning the SNP could fall short of the majority sought by Mr Yousaf.

Pressed on what he would do if Rishi Sunak or Sir Keir Starmer refuses, Mr Yousaf said: “I might put it to Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak very merely, you proceed to inform Scotland that this can be a voluntary union then show it.

“If you’re saying that you can’t have your independence via a referendum, I’m afraid we will not accept any mandate that’s given to you via a general election.

“This is a voluntary union, how on earth does Scotland turn out to be impartial?”

Mr Yousaf used the SNP’s independence convention at Dundee’s Caird Hall yesterday to set out his vision for breaking up the UK.

Scottish Tory constitution spokesman Donald Cameron said: “Humza Yousaf’s newest push of his independence obsession seems to be an much more excessive model of Nicola Sturgeon’s unpopular de facto referendum technique.

“He knows fine well that Scots will be voting on a number of issues, but Humza Yousaf – the self-styled first activist – has thrown another slab of red meat to nationalists to deflect from the chaos engulfing his party.

“The SNP delegation that bothered to show as much as Dundee are talking to themselves about their primary precedence whereas individuals are scuffling with the worldwide cost-of-living disaster and our public companies are below unimaginable stress.”

Mr Yousaf’s predecessor Nicola Sturgeon wanted the next general election to be fought as a “de facto referendum”, with greater than 50 % of the votes thought-about sufficient to open negotiations.