SCOTTISH LibDem leader Willie Rennie had MSPs groaning during FMQs as he went on an anti-independence rant, comparing the prospect to the UK Government’s chaotic Brexit mess.
“We’ve had a glimpse in the last 48 hours at Dover of what happens when you break an economic partnership,” he told the Chamber. “Yet the First Minister wants to repeat the same mistakes by this time next year with her referendum.
“I know that Christmas is a time for sequels but we have now seen what Brexit 1 is like. Yet the First Minister still wants Brexit 2: The Break-up Of Another Economic Union.
“Why does the First Minister want another break-up by next Christmas?”
READ MORE: Scottish independence: New vote 'could be held before end of 2021'
MSPs groaned and heckled through Rennie’s question.
Scotland’s Constitution Secretary Michael Russell has previously said a new referendum could be held before the end of 2021, while the First Minister has pledged to include a manifesto commitment to a legal referendum in the early part of the next parliament if the SNP win a majority in May.
Rennie did not make clear how holding a Scottish referendum would lead to scenes of lorries queueing up in Kent as seen this week.
Sturgeon responded to the MSP, first by backing his support for essential workers – with a special thank you for parliamentary staff.
After that the “Christmas spirit” she said she’d try to maintain quickly evaporated during the exchange with Rennie.
“The only reason right now we are faced with the prospect of a No-Deal Brexit in Scotland is because we’re not independent and it has been foisted upon us against our will,” she told the Chamber.
“Independence is not the same as Brexit. Independence would see Scotland joining other independent countries in the European Union working together where we need to including on matters like Covid and charting our own future.
“And that prospect of charting our own future, being responsible and yes at times for our mistakes, but building our own success and prosperity instead of having our future foisted upon us by the likes of Boris Johnson and his band of Brexiteers, it’s that positive prospect of being in charge of our future, presiding officer, that sees now a sustained majority of the Scottish population supporting Scotland becoming a normal, equal, independent country.”
The exchange comes day after the 17th consecutive poll found majority support for Scottish independence, this time a Savanta ComRes survey putting the figure at 58%.
In the Chamber Rennie responded to Sturgeon by quoting her claim that compounding the Covid-19 crisis with a No-Deal Brexit would be “unconscionable”. He said this made her “oblivious to the irony” that she plans a referendum next year.
“I want the crisis to stop,” he said. “Her plans would add to it.”
“I know the First Minister has supported independence all of her political life,” he went on. “But holding an independence referendum now in the midst of one of the worst health and economic crisis this country has ever seen is not the right thing to do.”
Heckling and groaning continued again through his comments.
The First Minister rose to her feet, telling Rennie: “Actually I’ve worked out what Willie Rennie is up to today. He’s realised that people are really missing pantomimes. So he’s decided to provide one all of his own. It’s actually a public service.”
Sturgeon said she didn’t know where to start. She first reminded MSPs that the LibDems are now a pro-Brexit party and have given up on their opposition to leaving the EU.
She also said she was not planning an independence referendum “right now”. She reminded him that planning for a vote was paused when the pandemic took hold.
“I’m not planning to have a referendum while we’re in the midst of a global pandemic because my focus is on leading the country through the pandemic,” Sturgeon told Rennie.
“But do you know what? As we start to recover from this pandemic, as all of us across the world start to ask ourselves what kind of countries, what kind of societies do we want to live in, I want the people of Scotland to be in charge of answering that question. Not the likes of Boris Johnson.
READ MORE: FMQs: Nicola Sturgeon tells MSPs she is sorry for face mask breach
“That’s why becoming an independent country is so essential to making sure we build the Scotland we know is possible as we come out of this Covid crisis.”
Although the French border was reopened this morning – if drivers first receive a negative test – there are still issues in Kent. Grant Shapps said “severe delays” were continuing.
He said: “Testing has begun as we look to get traffic moving again between the UK and France.
“However, French border police only acting on agreement from this morning and severe delays continue.
“Please AVOID Kent while the backlog is cleared. Arriving in the area will delay your journey.”
Speaking at the Scottish Parliament at the start of First Minister’s Questions, Sturgeon said: “The news that France has lifted its ban on accompanied freight vehicles is welcome but important challenges remain in clearing the backlog.
“As part of that it’s important that the transport of perishable goods, including seafood, is prioritised and the Scottish Government is ready to help in any way we can including with testing of drivers.”
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