Nicola Sturgeon 'expects' Scotland to be independent by end of next term in 2025


Nicola Sturgeon’s opponents have attacked her plans to hold another vote on Scottish independence during the next Holyrood term, warning this will hinder the country’s recovery – though she has insisted such a referendum will not take place until the immediate health crisis has passed. The SNP leader has insisted she will focus on Scotland’s recovery before campaigning for independence. ITV presenter Peter Macmahon asked whether Scotland will be independent by the end of the next Scottish Parliament.

Speaking to ITV’s Representing Border, Ms Sturgeon said: “Yes, I think it may well be.

“But that is up to the majority in the Scottish population, that is not up to me.

“It is my hope and my expectation but that’s up to a majority of people in Scotland.

“Scotland’s future should and always will be Scotland’s choice.”

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It comes as the SNP could miss out on a majority by six seats in the Holyrood election, a new poll has suggested.

The survey, conducted by Savanta ComRes for The Scotsman, projects the SNP will secure 42 percent of the constituency vote and 34 percent of the list vote.

This would see it return 59 MSPs, four below the 2016 result, with 65 needed for a majority.

However, there would still be a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament as the Scottish Greens are projected to return nine MSPs, three more than in 2016, with 9 percent of the list vote.

According to the poll, the Scottish Lib Dems will secure 8 percent of the constituency and 6 percent of the list vote which would see them return five MSPs, no change on 2016.

Alex Salmond’s Alba Party would return no MSPs, according to the poll of 1,001 Scottish adults aged 18 or over which was carried out between April 30 and May 4.

It comes after a survey for The Times, published on Tuesday evening, suggested the SNP is set for a four-seat majority.

The final study by YouGov for The Times of 1,144 Scots, released just hours before the last televised debate, put the SNP on 52 percent in the constituency and 38 percent on the regional list, and suggests the Scottish Greens will take 13 percent of the regional vote.



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