Boris Johnson ‘terrified of Scotland having its say’ claims Nicola Sturgeon

Boris Johnson is accused of being “terrified of the Scottish people having their say” by Nicola Sturgeon as she makes a renewed independence push.



The Scottish First Minister will say the Prime Minister’s continued rejection of a second referendum cannot go on as there is now a "cast-iron democratic mandate" for it.

She is using the date of the UK’s departure from the EU to set out the "next steps" for the future of Scotland, which did not back Brexit.

And her speech in Edinburgh comes the day after a YouGov poll put support for independence at 51%.

Ms Sturgeon will say: "We have a cast-iron democratic mandate for an independence referendum - and the latest polling shows a majority back Yes.

"Boris Johnson is terrified of the Scottish people having their say but his bid to stand in the way of democracy will not succeed."

The PM has repeatedly said he will not support “indyref2”, using the SNP’s claim in 2014 that the first referendum was a “once in a generation” opportunity.

But Ms Sturgeon has argued Brexit represents a change in circumstances which requires Scots to have their say again.

The First Minister will say: "Tonight Scotland will be taken out of the European Union against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of people in Scotland.

"Nothing could more starkly demonstrate how our nation's needs are no longer served by a broken, discredited Westminster union.

"But there is the prospect of a brighter, better future as an equal, independent European nation.

"And today I will lay out the next steps on Scotland's journey to independence.”

Thursday’s opinion survey was the first time the pollster has put the pro-independence campaign in the lead since 2015.

It also found that one in five of those who voted No in the 2014 referendum and Remain in the EU referendum two years later are now in favour of Scotland going it alone.

However, 56% of Scots oppose Ms Sturgeon's calls for "indyref2" to take place this year, although most want one to take place within the next five years.