The British government “does not believe there should be a second referendum” on Scottish independence, Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokeswoman said yesterday following reports that she is making contingency plans for another vote.
Speculation is mounting that Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will declare her intention to hold a rerun of the September 2014 vote, as a poll published yesterday revealed rising support for independence ahead of Britain’s departure from the European Union.
“We don’t believe that there should be a second referendum. There has been a referendum, it was clear, decisive, it was legal, and both sides agreed to abide by the results of that referendum,” May’s spokesman told journalists yesterday.
Downing Street was responding to a report that it had told Scottish newspaper The Courier it was holding “contingency” talks to deal with a referendum announcement.
Scotland rejected independence by 55% in 2014, but 20 months later it voted to remain in the European Union by 62%, sparking calls for a fresh vote.
The battle over Scotland’s constitutional future is now almost an even split, according to a new poll released yesterday.
Support has risen to 49%, excluding undecided voters, with 51% in favour of staying in the British union, a BMG poll for the Herald newspaper said.
The poll was conducted after May confirmed her intention to take Britain out of the European single market.
Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has said a second independence referendum is now “highly likely”, and allies have suggested it could be as early as 2018.
Former SNP leader Alex Salmond tweeted a picture of the Herald’s front page story on the poll, saying: “Game on...”
The SNP said the latest poll showed the independence debate is now “a virtual dead heat”.
“If the Tories continue with their blind pursuit of a hard Brexit, ignoring the clear view of an overwhelming majority of people in Scotland, then more and more people will see independence as the option delivering certainty and stability,” said SNP chair Derek Mackay.
Conducted among 1,067 voters aged over 16, the poll asked: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” with 43% saying “Yes” and 45% saying “No”. The remainder were undecided or would not say.
It represents a three-point swing towards independence from a similar BMG/Herald poll conducted in December.
However, the survey also found 56% of Scots do not want another independence referendum before the conclusion of Brexit negotiations, expected in 2019.
The Scottish parliament, in a symbolic motion, voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to reject Britain’s march towards the EU exit, with the semi-autonomous government warning Scotland would not be “humiliated”.
The Scottish government said the vote — backed by nearly three quarters of Scottish lawmakers from across the political spectrum — is one of the most important in the parliament’s 18-year history.
May warned yesterday that an independent Scotland “would not be in the European Union.”
Labour leader Corbyn faces a shadow cabinet walkout tonight from potential leadership rival Clive Lewis, as the crunch Brexit vote dealt another blow to Labour unity.
Shadow business secretary Lewis admitted he might quit to rebel against Corbyn’s three-line whip.“I’ve got to make a decision on how I vote,” he told the BBC.“I’m going to make my mind up.”
Asked how he will vote he said: “I don’t know … a lot on my plate, a lot on everybody’s plate.”
In a day of Labour tensions Corbyn’s office was forced to deny rumours he is thinking about stepping down and anointing a successor from the Left.
A source said there was “no truth at all” to the claims.
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott was expected to fall into line after being mocked by colleagues for missing last week’s vote with a migraine.
A source said: “We think Diane has bought a packet of ibuprofen.”
A rebellion by London Labour MPs who are opposed to Brexit looked likely to grow.
Two more, Seema Malhotra and Jim Fitzpatrick, were considering defying the whips.
Theresa May was confident that the Government would cruise to victory in the third reading of the Bill, empowering her to trigger Article 50 and begin Brexit.
Lewis was called to a private one-to-one meeting in Corbyn’s Commons office last night, the Standard learned, after he gave a clear signal in an earlier shadow cabinet meeting that he was prepared to rebel.
But it was clear today that Lewis had not made up his mind.
A terse Corbyn refused to give interviews to reporters outside his north London home this morning.
In comments that will make it hard for  Lewis to avoid rebelling and resigning, the MP said: “It’s my intention to do what’s right by my constituents and my conscience. It’s a really tough call.”
A fellow shadow cabinet member told the Standard that Lewis was “very unpredictable” and seemed to be struggling with the competing pressures.
Among those was a clear sense that he would not receive Corbyn’s support in any future leadership contest if he rebelled tonight.
Lewis is believed to be assessing his own chances as a future leader from the Left.
A Labour MP said: “Clive’s position may become untenable today. From what I understand he is quietly gathering opinion on whether he should launch a bid when the opportunity arises.”
Another added: “He is on manoeuvres and I think he will vote against [at the] third reading and will resign because he recognises if he wants to run for leader he has to have been in a position that’s against Article 50.
“It’s a bit like the Iraq war, you have to be on the right side of the debate.”
Abbott walked away without speaking when the Standard asked her how she would vote today.
Sources said she sat in complete silence at yesterday’s shadow cabinet meeting which discussed the vote.
Corbyn’s office was forced to deny that he had set a “departure date” for a leadership handover, perhaps next year.
But one Labour source said it was believed that Corbyn’s wife, Laura Alvarez, was pushing him to retire, adding: “Jeremy’s wife is definitely concerned about him, upset, and she’s had enough.”
More than half of all London Labour MPs are expected to rebel against Corbyn tonight when they are asked to vote for the final time to trigger Britain’s departure from the EU.


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