Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland’s needs being ‘totally ignored’ by Westminster

Scotland’s needs are being “totally ignored” by Westminster while the case for Scotland governing itself has never been stronger, the First Minister has said.
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Nicola Sturgeon, writing for The Sunday Mail, warned again that Brexit would be bad for Scotland.

She said: “The UK Parliament has not worked in Scotland’s national interest for a very long time, if indeed it ever did.

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“But this was the week in which that was utterly exposed and plain for all to see.

Nicola Sturgeon says Westminster is ignoring the needs of Scots. Picture: John DevlinNicola Sturgeon says Westminster is ignoring the needs of Scots. Picture: John Devlin
Nicola Sturgeon says Westminster is ignoring the needs of Scots. Picture: John Devlin

“We learned that the Scottish Tories are happy to actively vote against our national interests, all but one of them refusing to back plans to definitely rule out the no-deal Brexit which would be ruinous for our economy and society.”

In 2016 Scotland voted in favour of the UK staying in the EU by 62% to 38%, with all of the 32 council areas backing Remain.

Last week Ms Sturgeon argued that the failure of the Commons to agree on a deal meant the issue should now be put back to the public in a new referendum.

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In the article she went on to criticise Jeremy Corbyn, who she said “still isn’t capable of fulfilling the role of an opposition leader” and described Theresa May as “obstinate and stubborn”.

Ms Sturgeon warned against the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal, adding: “In these most uncertain of times, no one should assume anything, and it remains a possibility that through a combination of arm-twisting, bullying, bribery and -brinkmanship, the Brexit deal could yet pass.”

She said the case for Scotland governing itself has “never been stronger”.

“The people of Scotland deserve the chance to choose a better future than this,” she added.

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Maurice Golden, Scottish Conservative chief whip, said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s only goal is independence even though a majority of Scots voted against it.

“The Scottish people just want politicians to get on with Brexit and get the best deal for Scotland.

“Yet again Nicola Sturgeon is prioritising her own political goals above the needs of the Scottish people.”

Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative MP Ross Thomson said if Mrs May’s deal comes back to the Commons he may not necessarily support it.

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The Aberdeen South MP said he had similar concerns as the Democratic Unionists but that he will make up his own mind on the Prime Minister’s deal.

Persuading the 10 DUP MPs to back the deal is viewed as crucial by ministers as they believe allaying the unionists’ concerns about the Irish backstop will help swing Tory Eurosceptics behind the Prime Minister.

Mr Thomson told the BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland programme: “I simply won’t vote for something because the DUP back it but if those similar concerns are addressed round about the place of Northern Ireland, the issues round about the backstop, and I feel that enough protection is there to ensure that we leave the EU as one United Kingdom and do not treat another part of it differently, then of course I will be happy to suck up a lot of the other stuff I don’t like within the withdrawal agreement to see it through.”