News / Politics

Scottish Liberal Democrats reiterate opposition to independence

Sunday, 02 May 2021 5:38 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 04 May 2021 2:31 PM ]

Willie Rennie has risked over-promising and under-delivering at the Holyrood election on May 06

As the Scottish parliamentary election fast approaches, the Scottish Liberal Democrats are at pains to underline their fundamental opposition to Scottish independence.

Scottish Liberal Democrats leader, Willie Rennie, has said he wants the next Scottish Parliament to focus on education, mental health and climate change, as opposed to independence.

Speaking to the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show (May 02), Rennie said he and his party would vote against a second independence referendum even if – as widely expected – the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) wins a majority at the Holyrood election, scheduled for May 06.

Rennie claimed that the first Scottish independence referendum in September 2014 had caused “deep divisions” in Scottish society.

"Let's focus on actually what this election is about, and this is about whether we have a parliament that's focused on independence, or whether we want a parliament that's focused on recovery", Rennie proclaimed in apparent reference to the Covid-19 pandemic and associated economic challenges.

Two months ago, at the beginning of the campaign for the Holyrood election, Rennie made the bold claim that the Scottish Liberal Democrats can stop the SNP from “winning an overall majority” at the polls.

Scottish Liberal Democrats launch early Holyoord campaign

For her part, the SNP leader and Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, gave a combative interview to the BBC’s The Sunday Show earlier today (May 02) in which she claimed the SNP was the only serious choice in terms of Scottish governance.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon ready for 'most important' election

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