
UK: Scottish First Minister Sturgeon claims "cast iron mandate" for IndyRef2
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon claimed a "cast iron mandate" for a second Scottish independence referendum during a speech at her Scottish National Party (SNP) conference in Aberdeen on Tuesday.
“Brexit shows that the Westminster system is broken. And it is broken utterly beyond repair. Conference, we have a cast iron mandate for an independence referendum. That fact is beyond doubt." Sturgeon said.
She also stated in her speech that before then end of 2019 she will petition Westminster for a "transfer of power" so that the referendum has a legal basis which is "beyond any doubt." At an earlier point in her speech she also emphasised that the proposed independence referendum 'must happen next year.'
"Brexit is a disaster. Whatever happens over the next few weeks it will continue to dominate Westminster for years to come. There is no sense in which it will be 'done'. We don't yet know whether the UK will leave with a deal or without. But we do know that neither of these outcomes is in Scotland's interests. A no deal Brexit is unthinkable," she added.
The SNP leader also accused UK PM Boris Johnson as being "unfit" for his position and added that "he cares nothing for the human consequences of his disastrous Brexit policy."

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon claimed a "cast iron mandate" for a second Scottish independence referendum during a speech at her Scottish National Party (SNP) conference in Aberdeen on Tuesday.
“Brexit shows that the Westminster system is broken. And it is broken utterly beyond repair. Conference, we have a cast iron mandate for an independence referendum. That fact is beyond doubt." Sturgeon said.
She also stated in her speech that before then end of 2019 she will petition Westminster for a "transfer of power" so that the referendum has a legal basis which is "beyond any doubt." At an earlier point in her speech she also emphasised that the proposed independence referendum 'must happen next year.'
"Brexit is a disaster. Whatever happens over the next few weeks it will continue to dominate Westminster for years to come. There is no sense in which it will be 'done'. We don't yet know whether the UK will leave with a deal or without. But we do know that neither of these outcomes is in Scotland's interests. A no deal Brexit is unthinkable," she added.
The SNP leader also accused UK PM Boris Johnson as being "unfit" for his position and added that "he cares nothing for the human consequences of his disastrous Brexit policy."