THE SNP have responded after Keir Starmer said there would not be a second independence referendum during his time as Prime Minister.
In an interview broadcast on Tuesday morning, the Labour leader said that there would not be another independence referendum if a nationalist majority emerges after next year’s Holyrood election as it was "not a priority".
The Prime Minister also said that First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney had not raised the issue with him during their recent talks.
Starmer said: "Nobody's raising that with me as their first priority.
"Certainly, in the discussions I'm having with the First Minister, we're talking about jobs, energy, security and dealing with the cost of living crisis."
Reacting to the comments, SNP MSP Keith Brown claimed Starmer was only concerned with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
Brown said: “These comments are not remotely surprising – Keir Starmer has proven that he doesn’t care what anyone thinks except Nigel Farage.
"He visited Scotland yesterday and couldn’t be bothered speaking to voters ahead of Thursday’s crucial by-election.
“Independence is essential to tackling the cost of living, improving the economy and delivering more funding for our NHS.
"Not only is Westminster control demonstrably making Scotland poorer – with Brexit and austerity damaging our economy and our living standards – but neighbouring independent countries similar to Scotland are all doing better than the UK. The evidence is staring us in the face.
“Support for independence is rising in Scotland, while support for Labour is collapsing.
"We will continue building up a broad base of support for independence – in the election next year people in Scotland will have the chance to deliver their verdict on Westminster’s contempt for Scottish democracy.”
