Nicola sturgeon scottish independence

Nicola Sturgeon has claimed that Jeremy Corbyn will grant the powers for a Scottish independence referendum in 2020 if she is in a position to make him the next prime minister in the event of a hung parliament. Speaking on a BBC Question Time special featuring the four main party leaders the First Minister disputed the Labour leader’s claim on the same programme that he would not allow a new vote on breaking-up Britain in the first two years of a Labour government. Ms Sturgeon, who said to loud applause that she could not “in good conscience put Boris Johnson into Number 10”, said Mr Corbyn would not give up the chance to tackle austerity by refusing a new vote in Scotland. Asked earlier how... … [Read more...] about Nicola Sturgeon claims Jeremy Corbyn will back IndyRef2 next year if she can make him PM

Jeremy Corbyn's closest ally has raised the possibility of a Labour-SNP pact at Westminster by saying a future Labour government would not block a second Scottish independence referendum.In a break with party policy which has incensed some Scottish Labour MPs, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said any decision about holding a vote on independence would be up to the Scottish parliament.Speaking in Edinburgh, Mr McDonnell also declared that Mr Corbyn would "never" step down if other opposition parties demanded it to form a government of national unity in a bid to break the Brexit deadlock.He said that in the event of Boris Johnson losing a vote of confidence in parliament, Labour would form a minority government, seek to implement its manifesto and if it was voted down hold a general election.Mr McDonnell's highly significant statements on the Scottish National Party's demands for another independence vote and the Brexit stalemate came in an interview with broadcaster Iain Dale at the … [Read more...] about Labour would not block new Scottish independence referendum, says John McDonnell

LABOUR suffered a day of chaos yesterday with a manifesto launch that threatened tax raids on business and failed to address key issues — including Brexit. Today, election party leaders are set to go head-to-head in a two-hour special on Question Time. Read our live blog below for all the latest General Election news and Brexit updates. Phoebe Cooke43 minutes ago22nd November 2019SMALL SCREEN CLASH Need another fix after the Johnson/Corbyn ITV clash? A two-hour Question Time special should give you plenty to chew on tonight. An audience will quiz Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mr Corbyn, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for 30 minutes each. The live programme, hosted by Fiona Bruce in Sheffield, will be broadcast on BBC One at 7pm. Phoebe Cooke2 hours ago22nd November 2019 'NOT CREDIBLE' JEREMY Corbyn’s fantasy spending were slammed as “not credible” by an economics expert after the Labour manifesto was … [Read more...] about General Election 2019: Latest news as party leaders go head-to-head on Question Time tonight

Labour's John McDonnell has ruled out joining a national unity government with the SNP to delay Brexit if Boris Johnson is brought down over his plans for no-deal.The shadow chancellor said he would refuse any coalition with parliament's third-biggest party because "they're Tories" and "we're a socialist party".He confirmed he had "ruled out any pact, any coalition whatsoever" with the party that some have suggested could join forces with Labour to block a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader, responded by saying she would be willing to partner with Labour to stop the prime minister "taking the UK in such a catastrophic direction".A government of national unity has been tipped by several MPs including the Conservative backbencher Dominic Grieve as a way to stop Mr Johnson taking the UK out of the EU without a withdrawal agreement in less than 90 days' time. Advertisement Speaking at an Edinburgh Festival Fringe event, Mr McDonnell explained why Labour … [Read more...] about Unity government plan scuppered by Labour’s refusal to deal with SNP ‘Tories’

The justice secretary, Liz Truss, is embroiled in an extraordinary row with the country’s barristers, after she was accused by the Bar Council of not fulfilling her role as “the conscience of the government”. Truss has failed to condemn vitriolic attacks on the three judges who last week ruled that parliament must be given a vote before Britain triggers article 50, launching the Brexit process. Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, the chairman of the Bar, the representative body for barristers in England and Wales, told the Observer that the cabinet minister had a duty to uphold the rule of law. “[Her job] is sometimes called the conscience of the government and one would expect her to speak out on something like this,” she said. The high court ruling on Thursday, which the government has said it will appeal, unleashed a torrent of personal abuse directed at the judiciary, with one prominent cabinet member claiming the judges’ decision was … [Read more...] about Brexit: lawyers confront Liz Truss over ‘dangerous’ abuse of judges