Scottish Government

The Conservatives who would like a court ruling that Holyrood cannot hold an independence referendum without the Prime Minister’s permission should be very careful – the anger that this would create in Scotland would lead to a boost in support for independence.

This is the first in a series of articles looking at the topics which will dominate the coming independence referendum campaign. These pieces are aimed at undecided voters and soft no voters. In this first piece I look at why Scotland is justified in seeking another independence referendum.

The big problem that the Scottish Government faces is that it has to fight the coronavirus with one hand tied behind its back. A surge in infections in England will indeed have an inevitable knock-on effect in Scotland.

The two big constitutional questions of the age have caused complicated divisions that help explain party support — Here’s how Brexit and independence referendums split voters into four tribes.

It cannot be stressed enough just how important the May elections are for the future of Scotland. Toxic divisions and infighting between Sturgeon and Salmond supporters need to end. If they do not, we will all lose.

It’s crunch time this week with the publication of the report of the Holyrood committee inquiry into the botched Scottish Government investigation into the complaints made against Alex Salmond.

As the Salmond Inquiry row fires up again, Sir John Curtice’s latest analysis on the role it and other considerations (such as Brexit and coronavirus) may have (or have not) played in the fall in SNP support for the 2021 Scottish Elections and the Yes in IndyRef2.