Nicola Sturgeon will today demand the Tories clear the way for a second independence referendum after a surge in support for Scotland leaving the UK.
The First Minister will deliver the uncompromising message in a crucial speech at the SNP'’s spring conference in Edinburgh designed to heap pressure on Theresa May while placating factions in her own party desperate for another vote.
It comes after a YouGov poll showing 49 per cent of people living in Scotland now support independence – up from 45 per cent in June 2018.
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The Brexit shambles is believed to be the main driver of the shift in opinion, with 62 per cent north of the Border having voted to remain, versus 38 percent who wanted to leave the EU in 2016.
Sturgeon is expected to tell delegates: “It is time – time for Scotland to become independent.
“The last three years have shown that for Scotland, the Westminster system is broken.
“Scotland needs the choice of a better future. Scotland needs an independent future.
“The UK Government says it will block Scotland’s right to choose.
“A right to choose mandated in not just one but two Scottish elections. And endorsed by the Scottish parliament.
“The Tories say they and not the people of Scotland will decide. They say Westminster should have a veto. Their only friends in Parliament are the Democratic DUP. Well, if they’re not careful, this generation of Tories will go down in history as the Undemocratic Unionist Party.”
Theresa May’s deputy insisted last week that the Scottish Parliament won’t be given the power to hold IndyRef2 by 2021.
Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington said there was “no evidence” of a surge in support for another vote, and claimed the referendum in 2014 had settled matters for a generation.
But in a reference to the YouGov poll which was made public after Lidington’s intervention, Sturgeon will say: “On Thursday, they tried to justify their position by saying there was no upsurge in support for independence.
“Two days later, the latest opinion poll was already proving them wrong. It shows support for independence already up.
“So our job now is to get it surging. And ensure that no Tory government can ever stand in the way of Scotland’s right to choose.”
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The YouGov poll suggests support for independence is at its highest point for four years. The survey also found 53 percent of Scots thought there should not be another referendum on independence in the next five years.
Sturgeon has said she wants to hold another vote before the Scottish parliamentary term ends in 2021.
She has refused to say whether she would call off her plans even if Brexit does not take place.
Asked what would happen if the UK’s exit from the EU was halted, the First Minister would only say that she would not “narrow Scotland’s options” because the country needed “maximum flexibility”.
The SNP’s manifesto for the 2016 Holyrood election made clear that another vote on independence should be held if there was a “material change of circumstance”.
It went on to list Scotland being taken out of the EU against its will as a prime example of that.
Just months later, the UK voted for Brexit, but it is only now that referendum appears to be impacting significantly on public opinion regarding independence.
But opposition politicians have reacted with dismay to Sturgeon’s demand for IndyRef2.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: “The mess of Brexit throws into sharp relief the challenges of leaving a political and economic union. The answer to challenges of the UK leaving the EU never will be Scotland leaving the UK.
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“Leaving the UK would lead to unprecedented austerity for Scotland’s public services.”
Scottish Tory constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said: “Whether there’s a hard Brexit, a soft Brexit or no Brexit at all – the First Minister will make this about independence. The voting public saw through this scam last time and will do so again.
“It’s a shameless approach – Nicola Sturgeon isn’t even pretending to care about Brexit.”
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie added: “Nicola Sturgeon should look at the damage caused by Brexit. Breaking up is hard to do.”
The First Minister is also expected to announce plans today for a crackdown on short- term accommodation lets through firms such as Airbnb.
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She will tell delegates: “For many people, accommodation provider Airbnb has enabled cheaper, more flexible travel.
“It’s one of the reasons Scotland’s tourism industry is booming. But for others it is making it harder to find homes to live in. So today, we are setting out plans to help cities like Edinburgh and islands like Arran get the balance right.
“We want to give councils power to control the number of lets and ensure they make a contribution to services.”
