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Nicola Sturgeon will open the Scottish National Party’s annual conference by telling members that “I have never been so sure” that the country would achieve independence.
The prime minister will declare that Scotland is “now a nation on the verge of making history” as he insists that the SNP’s goal of independence is “in sight”.
His comments will follow last December’s “landslide victory” in Scotland during the UK general election, in which the SNP won 48 of the 59 available seats.
Since then, various opinion polls have suggested that the majority of Scots are in favor of leaving the UK.
While Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that he will not allow another referendum on Scottish independence to take place, Sturgeon said that a majority for his party in next year’s Holyrood election should allow such a vote to take place.
On Thursday, he said a referendum could be held “before” the next parliamentary session.
He added that although the country was still in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, he now had “more hope” that this would end soon.
Sturgeon will tell the conference, which will take place online from Saturday due to the coronavirus: “Scotland is now a nation on the verge of making history.
“Independence is in sight, and with unity of purpose, humility and hard work, I have never been so sure that we will make it.
“The people of Scotland have the right to choose their future. Now, let’s concentrate all our efforts on making sure we achieve that best country that they and future generations deserve ”.
The SNP leader will say that support for independence among Scots now “has become the sustained and majority viewpoint in public opinion.”
She will tell delegates: “While our primary focus must remain to remove Covid-19 from our shores, for which we have renewed hope, Scotland must be prepared for what comes next. And I know we will be. “
The prime minister will add: “Our country has so much talent and potential. We can build a resilient economy, with job creation and equity at its center.
“We can protect and invest in public services like our NHS. We can overcome poverty, inequality and we can contribute to face the climate emergency ”.
She will say that the key question leading up to next May’s elections is: “Who should make the decisions that will shape our future? We know that it is the people who live here, wherever they come from, who can best harness Scotland’s vast human and natural resources for the benefit of all ”.
She will say that the party must “reach all of Scotland like never before” and that the SNP must “demonstrate with a cool head and patient persuasion that Scotland is ready to take its place in the global family of independent nations.”
His opponents have said that Sturgeon should focus on fighting Covid-19.
Scottish Labor constitution spokesperson Anas Sarwar said: “This proves that Nicola Sturgeon has only one priority: to divide the people of Scotland.
“In the midst of a global pandemic, when people lose their jobs and say goodbye to their loved ones, it is an insult that she wants to focus on independence.”
Pamela Nash, executive director of the pro-UK group Scotland in Union, said: “Issuing a rallying cry for independence when people in Scotland are struggling with the devastating impact of the pandemic is deeply insulting. The next few years should be about the recovery from the coronavirus, and that should be the total focus of the Scottish government. “
In early November, an Ipsos Mori poll found that Scottish voters believed that the economy, health and Brexit were more important issues than independence, while a narrow majority of voters did not want a referendum next year, even if the SNP won the most seats.
