Nicola Sturgeon calls for 'patience' as she admits indyref2 may not take place this year
2 min read
Nicola Sturgeon has admitted a second Scottish independence referendum may not take place this year.
The First Minister has previously called for 'indyref2' to take place in 2020, arguing that the mandate handed to the SNP in December's general election means Boris Johnson cannot ignore Scottish calls for a fresh vote.
But, speaking in Edinburgh ahead of the UK’s exit from the EU, Ms Sturgeon acknowledged that the case for “a different and better future for Scotland” had to be made with “patience and respect".
And she instead hinted that a public vote could take place after Scotland’s parliamentary elections in 2021.
She said: “My job instead is to offer a path that can deliver independence.
“To achieve independence, a referendum, whenever it happens - whether it is this year as I want, or after the next Scottish election - must be legal and legitimate. That is a simple fact.”
Boris Johnson has already rejected Ms Sturgeon’s demands for Westminster to approve a second Scottish vote, arguing it would “continue the political stagnation” north of the border.
Despite that slapdown, Ms Sturgeon said: “The Tories are not governing Scotland – they are goading Scotland.
“But as a wise woman once said - when they go low, we go high.
“So let’s keep focused on the job at hand - and take heart from the fact that we are winning…
“History tells us that change often comes quickly after many years when the obstacles seemed great.
“In Scotland I believe we are on the cusp of such a moment.”
The rallying cry came after a YouGov poll published this week put support for Scottish independence at 51%.
This was the first time the pollster has put the pro-independence campaign in the lead since 2015.
However, 56% of Scots oppose Ms Sturgeon's calls for indyref2 to take place this year - although most want one to take place within the next five years.
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