Jeremy Hunt said Ms Sturgeon would need to meet three challenges to persuade him to agree to indyref2 if he wins the Tory leadership race and becomes Prime Minister. The first is for the SNP to win an outright majority in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election on a manifesto commitment to hold indyref2. The other two are clarifying the timescale for introducing a new Scottish currency, and ruling out a “wildcat referendum” – a vote without a UK agreement. Nicola Sturgeon hit out at the Foreign Secretary, accusing him of sitting back and “allowing Tory arrogance and incompetence to further strengthen support for independence”.
Ms Sturgeon added in a tweet: “The Scottish people will decide Scotland’s future, no-one else.”
But Mr Hunt quickly used the social media platform to fire back, warning he will not give in to her “grandstanding”, and tweeted: “Yes the Scottish people will decide.
“In poll after poll they’re telling you no to indyref2. So I won’t give in to your grandstanding.”
It is the latest war of words between the Foreign Secretary and Scotland’s First Minister, with Mr Hunt hitting out at Ms Sturgeon in an article for The Times.
He said: “Throughout the Brexit process, Nicola Sturgeon showed she would rather risk Scotland failing than see Britain succeed.
“She didn’t listen to Scottish businesses, fisheries and farmers who backed the withdrawal agreement.
“She grandstanded on Scotland’s ‘democratic deficit’ and demanded a section 30 order for another referendum on Scottish independence.”
Mr Hunt added: “In truth, Scotland’s “democratic deficit” is that the first minister believes only her opinion counts. The timing of a referendum is for the people of Scotland to decide, not just the SNP.
“In poll after poll, Scottish people are saying loud and clear: no to indyref2 — just as they did back in 2014.
“The SNP said they could only propose another referendum if a majority supported independence.
“The Scottish people will hold them to that test. And from the granting of a section 30 order and the negotiations on the wording I will fight for the Union every step of the way.”
The Foreign Secretary added as Prime Minister, his Government would lead the way on opposing independence, opening paths on “restoring Scotland’s economy to its historic strength”.
He warned the SNP “can and will be halted in their tracks” because people throughout the UK want a “Prime Minister with an economic vision to deliver higher wages, better jobs and more money for our vital public services.”
Mr Hunt concluded by saying “Scotland deserves better than the SNP’s obsession with independence”, and would set the stage for the outstanding Ruth Davidson to move Scotland on in 2021”.
