NICOLA Sturgeon has said she wants people in Scotland to be able to go the polls one year from today and choose a "better future" away from the "travesty" of Westminster.
The Scottish Government has proposed that a fresh vote on Scotland’s future is held on October 19 2023 if the Supreme Court rules Holyrood has the power to legislate for a referendum.
Speaking to mark one year to go until that date, the First Minister said that the fact all Westminster parties are against holding another referendum shows their “so-called case for continued Westminster control is collapsing like a house of cards”.
She said if Scotland was independent now it would not choose to be in a “travesty of a partnership” which “routinely ignores our democratic wishes”.
While independence is “no guarantee of success”, she said it would offer a guarantee of getting rid of Tory governments which people in Scotland have not voted for.
Her comments come as the latest paper in the Scottish Government’s independence prospectus was published this week.
The third in a series of papers focused on plans for the economy, covering issues including currency, energy policy, rejoining the EU and the setting up of a fund for oil and gas revenues.
If the Supreme Court rules against the Scottish Parliament holding a referendum, the First Minister has said she plans to fight the next General Election as a "de facto" referendum.
Sturgeon said: “The very fact that the Westminster parties all refuse to respect the right of the people of Scotland to decide their own future shows that they know that their so-called case for continued Westminster control is collapsing like a house of cards.
“The Scottish Government’s renewed prospectus for independence is making the case for an economy that works for everyone - dedicated to helping people live happier, more fulfilling lives.
"And the more questions we answer about Scotland’s future under independence, the more the questions pile up for those advocating continued Westminster control.
“If Scotland were independent right now, there is no chance that we would look at today’s UK and believe it was in our interests to be ruled by Westminster.
“We would never choose to be in a travesty of a partnership which routinely ignores our democratic wishes, a country with an under-performing economy and growing inequality – in short, a political system which is dragging us down the wrong path.”
She added: “Independence is no guarantee of success, but it is a guarantee that we will get rid of Tory governments we don’t vote for, for good - and no one will ever take better decisions about our future than the people living here.”
The First Minister pointed to figures outlined in the economy paper, which found comparable independent countries in Europe have national incomes that are on average more than £10,000 per person higher than Scotland in the UK.
She added: “Being independent offers us the power to take better decisions – and use our extraordinary resources – that will help us match that success.
“A year today, I want people in Scotland to be able to go the polls and choose that better future. And I am certain that when they are given that choice – they will vote to become independent.”
On Monday in response to the launch of the Scottish Government's paper on the economy, Downing Street said Liz Truss remains of the view “it is not the time to be talking about another independence referendum”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “People in Scotland want their governments to be focused on the issues that matter to them, things like energy security, the cost of living and obviously supporting Ukraine in their war against Russia.”
