Sturgeon on target for another expensive FAILURE: SNP MEMBERS round on leader
NICOLA Sturgeon has been attacked by her own SNP members over claims her own rhetoric will cost them a second Scottish independence referendum - should there be one.
SNP veteran on the party's MAIN tactic for independence
Senior SNP figures have warned the First Minister that she needs to “spell out” her second referendum strategy.
And they claim she needs to time another vote carefully amid concerns the SNP leader could risk losing for a second time.
The SNP was trounced in the referendum on Scottish independence – losing by a massive 10 percent margin (55% voted to stay in the union).
The last referendum also cost the British tax payer £16 MILLION to host.
Despite this Sturgeon is demanding a re-run claiming the Brexit result may have changed Scots' minds.
Incredibly some MPs close to Theresa May believe a second referendum is increasingly likely.
Sturgeon could risk losing the referendum with her pushy attitude
And Ms Sturgeon set off for Aberdeen this week for the upcoming SNP conference, amid mounting pressure for her to set a date for another vote.
But behind closed doors the Yes movement is split over the potential referendum, with senior figures revealing their fears that the economy, Brexit and the impact on trade could all affect an upcoming vote.
The SNP lost the first referendum by 45 to 55 per cent
Sturgeon has pushed ahead with her indyref2 plans
SNP veteran Jim Sillars roasted the embattled leader for her “irrespnsible” hyping over indyref2 - comparing her comments to the 1513 Battle of Flodden, where James IV’s Scottish army was crushed by the English.
He claimed Scotland was not ready for another vote, and warned that pushing the issue could result in another devastating loss for independence campaigners.
Mr Sillars said: “Yes cannot afford to lose again, and lose we shall if the timing is wrong.
“The rhetoric and hype from Nicola Sturgeon since the EU referendum has been irresponsible.
Sturgeon BLASTED for pushing indyref2
Ms Sturgeon set off for Aberdeen this week for the upcoming SNP conference
“The Scots deserved a composed, factual exposition of the position, but did not get it.
“Scotland’s leaders have too often whipped up emotion to overcome reason, with defeat the price.
“Flodden and Dunbar are examples where emotion driven to a high pitch saw strategic advantage thrown away, delivering Scots into the hands of opponents.
“Be misled again with emotion brushing aside reason, and we shall repeat the follies of the past.”
Scotland’s leaders have too often whipped up emotion to overcome reason, with defeat the price.
The former SNP deputy leader added he believes the referendum would end in certain defeat if pushed through too quickly and without a coherent strategy.
And he claims the vote should be delayed until 2020, when the outcome of Brexit can be properly analysed.
He added: “The Yes movement may be willing to fight a referendum now, but it is not ready.
“Where is the critical analysis of why we lost in 2014, and what we need to put right?”
The SNP could split over the referendum issue
Current polls suggest support for or against independence is 50:50
Last week, an STV Ipsos MORI poll revealed Yes and No support was neck and neck at 50 per cent each.
But a Survation poll for the Sunday Post revealed that support for staying in the UK stands at 70 per cent among the over 60s - a devastating blow for the Yes camp.
And Alex Neil, a former Cabinet minister, warned that the SNP needed to do much more work on the case for independence before any vote cold be held.
Nicola Sturgeon: Independence referendum inevitable
He said: “Public opinion is very fluid.
“It is not just about Brexit, it is also about clarity on what we are taking to the people. I think Sturgeon has got to spell out a strategy.”
First Minister Sturgeon has said autumn of 2018 would be the “common sense time” for a vote.
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