A senior SNP MSP has said the chances of indyref2 this year are “zilch” as a result of Coronavirus.
Alex Neil added that Nicola Sturgeon should “at some point” confirm a second referendum will not take place this year.
The Nationalist veteran also said the chaos caused by Covid-19 could delay next year’s Holyrood election.
The Scottish Government has called for indyref2 this year, with SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford saying recently that “all our efforts” are geared towards making it happen.
However, the spread of Coronavirus has led to a reappraisal in some quarters about the wisdom of pushing for another vote during a pandemic.
SNP councillor Chris McEleny, who has previously been impatient for indyref2, said this week there is no prospect of another referendum this year.
Neil, a former SNP Health Secretary, echoed this view:
“There’s no way you could run a campaign, with the near lockdown we’ve already got, never mind probably a further tightening at some point, of the lockdown. Nobody knows how long it is going to last.
“It could be another year before we get a vaccine. Coronavirus has changed everything.”
He added: “The chances are zilch.”
Asked whether Sturgeon should make a statement ruling out indyref2 this year, he said:
“If the legislation isn’t introduced by the end of April, irrespective of Coronavirus, it would be impossible to get the necessary legislation through both parliaments, even if you got a Section 30 order, by the end of the year.
“At some point, she should just confirm that that is the case.”
He also said the political ramifications of Coronavirus could be felt deep into next year:
“We could even have the possibility that the elections for the Scottish Parliament could be delayed. We just don’t know.”
