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Ian Blackford is preparing to gather SNP MPs over the coming weeks to discuss how best it can push forward with plans for Scottish independence. The party’s Westminster leader hinted some of these details will be revealed soon after he recently told colleagues in the House of Commons to prepare for a “new phase” of campaigning. At a briefing in London, he was asked about some of the measures that could be involved in this latest stage of campaigning for independence.
Mr Blackford highlighted Brexit – which Scotland voted against in 2016 – and “the cost of the living crisis”, claiming some of the issues the SNP had warned about in relation to leaving the EU are “now coming to pass”.
He told Scottish pro-independence newspaper The National: “I do have concerns about what looks like what’s going to be a winter of discontent.
“It’s up to us in the context of all of that to say ‘well okay what’s the alternative?’
“It’s right coming through the Covid crisis, knowing that the government is going to bring forward a referendum bill that the SNP Westminster group is playing its part.”
The SNP’s Westminster leader was asked to provide firm details about whether issues dominating independence – including those related to the border with England and currency – would be considered.
He was also quizzed on whether SNP MPs believe it is enough to rely on “the winter of discontent” and on the unpopularity of Prime Minister Mr Johnson in Scotland.
Mr Blackford replied: “I think it’s fair to say that I will be discussing with the group.
“I haven’t done it yet but I will be discussing with the group how we bring a sharpness and a focus to that, but I’ll say something about these things in the near future.”
READ MORE: Ian Blackford sparks fury as he loses voice ‘where is his mask!?’
But amid the constant rejections from the Prime Minister over a second independence referendum, frustration has been increasing among independence supporters who believe the SNP have not made enough progress on the issue.
Alister Jack, the Secretary of State for Scotland, recently warned the UK Government will not allow for another independence vote to happen for another 25 years.
This would also be dependent on polls consistently showing 60 percent of Scots supporting a new vote.
But earlier this month, Ms Sturgeon sent another huge warning to the Prime Minister, warning: “I have democracy on my side”.
She told the Financial Times: “I can’t look ahead and tell you exactly how this constitutional impasse is going to resolve itself, but it will resolve itself – and it will resolve itself on the side of democracy because actually, the alternative is pretty unthinkable.
“I’ve got democracy on my side … if they think it’s about playing a waiting game.
“I’ve probably got time on my side as well.
“You look at the demographics of the support for independence – well, I’m not sure that’s going to get you out of this conundrum.”
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