The leader of the Scottish National Party and first minister also challenged the UK government to adopt a four-nation approach to mitigating the cost-of-living crisis, just as it did during the pandemic. Amid growing fears that the Russia-Ukraine conflict will continue next year, Sterzon said: “I have not changed my position on the timetable for which we won the election last year.” Sterzon was speaking on the SNP election bus after knocking on doors around Glasgow with candidates in Thursday’s general election. The party’s local manifesto includes a reiteration of its electoral commitment for Holyrood in 2021 to hold a second independence referendum by the end of 2023. There has been growing speculation that the ongoing war in Europe could affect this timetable and that the party’s stance on an independent Scotland without a Trident does not fit into the public mood in a time of international conflict. Sterzon acknowledged that “everyone in the European Union is essentially reconsidering defense and security”, but insisted that this did not equate to the need for a more flexible post-independence nuclear policy. “My party is very strong in the first place and for practical reasons against nuclear weapons, and that is not going to change. “We have to remember that the vast majority of countries in the world do not have nuclear weapons.” The issue of NATO membership has split nationalist views – the SNP changed policy in 2012 to remain in the alliance if Scotland becomes independent, prompting the resignation of 3 MSPs. Sturgeon said her party should be “much more committed” to the question of what an independent Scotland would bring to NATO. “What would be the specialties and know-how we could put on the table to be a much more constructive partner in this security alliance?” Last week, Scotland’s Information Commissioner ordered the Sturgeon government to publish its legal advice on whether it would have the necessary powers to hold a second referendum without the consent of Westminster – which Boris Johnson has consistently refused – after a long battle for the FOI with the Scotsman. Do the ministers intend to publish this information or challenge the decision in court? “The commissioner has made his decision, now is the deadline for June 10, any government will carefully consider all aspects of this and I will not anticipate this consideration,” Sterzon said. “The question is not whether the Scottish Government will comply with the law. We will. “The question is whether the political opponents and really the Democrats are willing to support their cause democratically and let the people decide.” The SNP, the largest local government party now in power in Holyrood for 15 years, faces serious challenges to its reputation for capabilities, including delays and mismanagement of vital ferry services and growing NHS waiting times. There has been outcry over funding cuts handed over to local services under Scotland’s latest budget. However, the latest poll shows that the party will retain its dominance, although the latest Panelbase detective for the Sunday Times has support for the party six points below last November. Scottish Labor is expected to push Conservatives into third place as union-backed voters react to Partygate. But as the constitution continues to guide voters’ choices, election expert Sir John Curtice emphasized that any referendum in Scotland was a “quasi-referendum”. “The anger at Partygate, nurtured and nurtured by the anger and genuine anxiety people feel about the cost of living, is palpable,” Sturgeon said. He rejects the latest comments made by Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross that Johnson was “suitable for the post”, despite the fact that he had previously demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister. “He rightly received some praise for doing so – not easy within his own party – but then he made the U-turn and now argues against all evidence to the contrary that Boris Johnson is in fact capable of becoming prime minister. . he seemed unprincipled, inconsistent, indecisive and a little silly. “ In presenting her party council manifesto, Sturgeon promised a “pandemic-level” response to the cost-of-living crisis, highlighting the doubling of the new weekly child-paying low-income family, the tax cut program and efforts to reduce it. fuel poverty. He is now calling for a concerted effort by four nations, as he did throughout the Covid crisis, a point he said he made last week with Michael Gove. “Inevitably this has to involve a lot more action on the part of the UK Government, because most of the resources and leverage are there.” there, properly committed. “ Scotland elects councilors on a pro rata basis, making coalitions and minority administrations the norm, but Scottish Labor leader Anna Sarwar has ruled out deals with other parties. “What he is telling me,” he said, “is that Anas Sarwar is a politician deep in the opposition mentality, that he is not someone who is not yet close to thinking about what it means to be in power and to take responsibility.” “In STV elections, if you have this position, you are essentially freezing yourself in opposition.”
