Indyref2: Scottish Government workers ready for new vote

Scotland's civil servants have reportedly been told to brace for another independence referendum.

By The Newsroom Thursday, 9th February 2017, 12:28 pm Updated Wednesday, 1st March 2017, 9:54 am

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has previously believes a second independence referendum may be the only way to avoid a damaging Brexit. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Government staff have received notice that the First Minister is poised to demand the legal right to another constitutional vote, The Courier reports.

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A Scottish Government source said: “We have made clear an independence referendum is very much on the table as an option if it becomes clear it is the best or only way to protect our vital national interests.”

A senior Labour insider said: “Voters will despair to hear that our two nationalist governments are preparing the groundwork for a second independence referendum.”

Yesterday it was revealed that the UK Prime Minister is drawing up secret plans to combat the next independence campaign in the belief that Nicola Sturgeon will demand a referendum next August.

Increased referendum speculation came as a new poll found that support for independence has been boosted after Theresa May vowed to remove the UK from the European Union’s single market, in a so-called ‘hard Brexit’.

Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond tweeted the polling results, adding “Game on...”

Scottish Labour’s Westminster spokesman Ian Murray called on the SNP to rule out another independence referendum.

He added: “Rather than working constructively, the SNP is instead fixated on a second independence referendum.