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General Election 2015: Nicola Sturgeon refuses to rule out fresh Scottish independence referendum during the next parliament

The First Minister said she did not have the 'right to decide' on a referendum

Sunday 19 April 2015 17:49 BST

(AFP)

Nicola Sturgeon has said she cannot guarantee there will not be an independence referendum during the next parliament, as it is for the “Scottish people to decide”.

While the First Minister said she was “not planning” a referendum, she could not rule one out as she did not believe she had the “right to do that”.

The SNP leader was speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show about a deal between her party and Labour after the election.

When questioned on the possibility of another Scottish independence referendum, the First Minister said: “I have made very clear that if you vote SNP in this election, that is not a vote for independence, nor is it a vote for another referendum.

“I'm not planning another referendum. Why do I fall short of categorically ruling it out? Because I don't think as a single politician I have got a right to do that.

In pictures: Experts' predictions for the General Election - 11/04/15

Show all 10

1/10In pictures: Experts' predictions for the General Election - 11/04/15

In pictures: Experts' predictions for the General Election - 11/04/15

Andrew Hawkins (ComRes)

“Events last week have reinforced my prediction that the Tories will be the largest party. Ukip’s slow puncture may help the Tories most, and Nicola Sturgeon may well fulfil her wish to keep David Cameron in No 10 by reducing Labour’s Scottish MPs to numbers that could fit in a stretch limo.”

Andrew Hawkins

In pictures: Experts' predictions for the General Election - 11/04/15

Joe Twyman (YouGov)

“The national picture remains largely unchanged, but YouGov’s Scotland polling shows the SNP at an all-time high. Only 44 per cent of Labour supporters felt Jim Murphy performed best in the first Scottish leaders’ debate.”

In pictures: Experts' predictions for the General Election - 11/04/15

Ben Page (Ipsos MORI)

“I need to see a more decisive shift in the polls to think that Labour have definitely moved ahead of the Conservatives. There has been more good news for Labour than the Conservatives, with Ed Miliband’s personal ratings improving. Still, a hung parliament remains the most likely option.”

In pictures: Experts' predictions for the General Election - 11/04/15

Rick Nye (Populus)

“No change.”

In pictures: Experts' predictions for the General Election - 11/04/15

Nick Moon (GfK)

“I haven’t changed my broad view that the Tories will be the largest party, but Labour is likely to form a minority government. Last week’s projection (Con 280, Lab 273) looks pretty likely to me. The risk for Labour was that, as decision time looms, voters might take ahold of nurse, but that may be mitigated by Miliband’s showing in the debates.”

In pictures: Experts' predictions for the General Election - 11/04/15

Damian Lyons Lowe (Survation)

“Unchanged, except for an SNP uptick at Labour’s expense. The SNP’s surge in Survation’s polling continues unabated. Nicola Sturgeon scored well in our debate polling.”

In pictures: Experts' predictions for the General Election - 11/04/15

Michelle Harrison (TNS)

“Despite all the sound, fury and bluster, there has been no game-changer. If anything, it’s become even tougher for the major parties, with signs of a softening in Conservative support and continued evidence that the SNP will inflict major damage on Labour.”

In pictures: Experts' predictions for the General Election - 11/04/15

James Endersby (Opinium Research)

“Our latest polling figures, published today, show movement back towards the Conservatives (a two-point Tory lead). My prediction last week of a shaky sway back in favour of the Tories on election day holds fast; and with a hung parliament, who on earth knows who’ll be able to form a government?”

In pictures: Experts' predictions for the General Election - 11/04/15

Martin Boon (ICM)

“At the equivalent point before the 2010 election, our poll suggested 37 per cent for the Tories and 31 per cent for Labour, which more or less nailed the actual result. I think that campaigns mostly reinforce perceptions rather than change minds.”

In pictures: Experts' predictions for the General Election - 11/04/15

Lord Ashcroft (Lord Ashcroft Polls)

He refuses to make predictions. “My polls are snapshots, not predictions.”

Rex

“Whether there is another referendum, and whether Scotland becomes independent is not a matter for me to decide. It is a matter for the Scottish people to decide.”

Ms Sturgeon also confirmed that she would lead any post-election discussions with Ed Miliband, scotching rumours that Alex Salmond, who looks set to return to Westminster as an MP, would head any negotiations.

The SNP is expected to become biggest party north of the border after the General Election, meaning it would hold the balance of power in the next parliament.

Some forecasters have suggested the party could win more than 50 of Scotland’s 59 parliamentary seats, wiping out Labour in the country, which currently has 41 Scottish MPs.

In the likely event of a hung parliament Labour could be reliant on SNP MPs to pass legislation, even though Ed Miliband has ruled out a formal coalition.

In this scenario it has been speculated that the SNP would push for a referendum or further concessions for Scotland.

The Independent has got together with May2015.com to produce a poll of polls that produces the most up-to-date data in as close to real time as is possible.

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All data, polls and graphics are courtesy of May2015.com. Click through for daily analysis, in-depth features and all the data you need. (All historical data used is provided by UK Polling Report)

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