‘You can’t blame it ALL on Brexit voters and Westminster’ Ridge SLAPS DOWN Sturgeon
NICOLA Sturgeon suffered a cringe-worthy interview this morning after she was accused of blaming all of Scotland’s problems on Westminster and Brexit voters.
Sturgeon GRILLED over Scotland's major economic problems
Nicola Sturgeon desperately tried to save face in an astonishing interview with Sophy Ridge this morning that left the SNP leader speechless.
Ridge was relentless in her questioning of what Mrs Sturgeon had in mind for an independent Scotland.
The hard-hitting interview on Sky News came after Mrs Sturgeon’s pledge of a referendum was warmly received by the SNP Spring Conference yesterday.
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Mrs Sturgeon said that she was open to discussions with Theresa May on when to hold the referendum, with the earliest possible date in Autumn 2018.
However, the Sky News anchor made Mrs Sturgeon squirm when she asked whether the SNP plan for a second referendum on independence was just a "distraction from domestic problems".
Ridge said: "Scotland has a £15 billion deficit. That is higher than every EU member state including Greece.
"The economy is growing a third of the speed of the rest of the EU. Be frank, can Scotland really afford to be an independent country?"
In response, the First Minister said that the deficit had been created on Westminster’s watch.
Ridge immediately hit back: “But you’ve been in government for years, you need to take responsibility for it, don’t you?
“You blame Westminster but you get a £28 billon block grant from them. You can’t blame it all on Brexit and Westminster.
"Talking about the independence referendum is quite convenient for you. Because it can distract from the domestic performance of Scotland under the SNP."
You can’t blame it all on Brexit and Westminster
The Sky News presenter noted that Scotland’s education standards were slipping, while the number of children and old-age pensioners in poverty was rising compared to the rest of the UK.
Ridge continued to turn up the heat on the Scottish leader, forcing Mrs Sturgeon to concede that she has no clue what currency an independent Scotland would use.
Mrs Sturgeon said: “In 2014, we proposed using the pound in a currency union. It is our currency too.
“We have a growth commission looking at the currency options for Scotland. We will publish the results in the next few months. We are doing serious work.”
Following this, Ridge bluntly interrupted: “You’re calling for a referendum and you don’t know what currency you will be using?
“This is a massive risk. You could end up ruining your entire career for this.”
When pressed further, the SNP leader also explained that Scotland would apply to rejoin the European Union as the soonest possible date.
Ridge argued that Mrs Sturgeon’s plan was a “huge distraction” from the delicate Brexit negotiations, before accusing her of not caring about the rest of the UK.
She said: “Do you not care all all about the instability this would create? Do you not care about the rest of the UK?”
People on social media applauded the Sky News anchor’s skewering of the SNP leader.
One said that Mrs Sturgeon was “relentlessly attacked” while others praised Ridge’s focused and driven interview style.
Another added: “Scotland's deficit blamed on Westminster, same old grievances from the SNP."